OFFICE RELOCATION EXAMPLE – CRITEO S.A.

We decided to undertake the office relocation because we wanted to secure a larger office space where our employees could work in comfort. There were two background factors involved in this decision. For one thing, our businesses had remained strong in Japan: our performance had continued to improve steadily, and our employee numbers grew as a result. Under these conditions, we needed an office whose space matched the size of our workforce.
In addition, our Tokyo office oversees not only our operations in Japan, but also our business undertakings in South Korea, Australia, China, Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia as Criteo's headquarters for the Asia Pacific region. Our employees in the Asia Pacific region come to the Tokyo office frequently for training and meetings. We needed to secure the necessary space and functions to manage their visits. That was the second factor.
We had gradually increased the amount of floor space at our previous office in Ebisu. In the end, we were using three floors there. But we still felt cramped, because the office was in a building that was not very large. Above all, our employees found it hard to communicate with each other because the office occupied multiple floors. We decided to relocate our office to solve these problems.

Our relationship with Ken Corporation goes back to the time when we began to consider relocating from an office that we had rented. We had only five employees when we developed the desire to move out of that office. We asked Ken Corporation to look for a prospective property of about 50 tsubo (about 165 square meters) in size for us. I still clearly remember what the Ken Corporation employee in charge told us in response to our request. With a concerned look, the employee said, "I don't think you need a property that large."
My impression of Ken Corporation remains unchanged from that time. I feel that Ken Corporation is a company that provides us with advice based on careful consideration of what we want and need. I have had opportunities to talk with other companies over time. But from the start, my mind was set on asking Ken Corporation about this relocation because I knew that it would respond to our requests for advice and provide us with proposals sympathetically.

Another important aspect was the fact that we are headquartered in France. For that reason, we have to prepare contracts in English. To be frank, doing that in house takes time. Since it has extensive experience with foreign-owned companies, Ken Corporation also provided us with support in that area. In addition, Ken Corporation helped us to make residential arrangements for foreign employees who were transferred from overseas bases to Japan. In addition to its office relocation services, the broad range of services provided by Ken Corporation appeals to us.

In terms of the area of our new office, I requested Ebisu, which we knew well, or Shibuya. Of the six properties we inspected, one was an office in Ebisu, the area I had requested. However, it took almost 15 minutes to reach East Japan Railway Company's train platform from this property because of the way the building was structured, even though it was directly linked to the JR Ebisu Station. The property was inferior in terms of mobility. By comparison, we are able to walk from this Shin-Meguro Tokyu Building to the JR Meguro Station in one minute. We can catch a train and travel to Ebisu or Shibuya from here in just a few minutes.
In addition to this, properties in the Shin-Meguro Tokyu Building cost less than those in Ebisu and Shibuya, even though the building was brand new. There was also a vacancy on its top floor. Taking these factors into account, we ultimately decided on our current office in Meguro. Ken Corporation also advised us that an office in a new building would be better suited to the image of an Internet advertising and ad technology company like us.
The building was still under construction when we visited it to carry out an inspection. We wore hard hats on that occasion. But all of us from Criteo, including the top managers from our head office in France, rated the property highly. Almost all of our employees also visited our new office in Meguro to undertake internal previews after the building was completed.

In the new office, all our employees were able to be located on a single floor. We sought to keep our office space open without installing partitions and dividing the space on a sectional basis. We now have around 60 employees (as of July 31, 2014), but we have secured sufficient space for 100 desks to prepare for a time in the future when our employees reach that number. The office relocation made it easier for our employees to communicate with each other. In addition, they became able to see whether others were present or absent at a glance. As a result, operational efficiency improved. About a year has passed since our office relocation in April 2013, and our business results have continued to improve steadily during this time.
In 2014, we added three conference rooms to our office to make videoconferences with overseas bases easier. Efforts to communicate more actively with overseas bases are increasing as a result. We also have shower stalls in the basement. Our employees can use them to refresh themselves, and for other purposes. They are convenient when we return from an overseas business assignment on a night flight and start working immediately the next morning.
In addition to the office space, we set aside a huge space to provide our employees with a place for relaxation. Our employees use this space for lunch. We also put this space to practical use in various ways, including office-wide meetings, new solutions announcements for invited press corps and briefings. We hold monthly events at which our employees can connect with each other over sushi and pizza, and we also use this space for those events.
We have used our corporate colors throughout the entire office. We installed an artwork modeled in imitation of Earth at the entrance to express our global office atmosphere. In addition, we have mathematical formulas printed on the walls, which can be seen as symbolizing our expertise. We have been receiving favorable comments from visiting customers, such as, "It's a stylish office."

Criteo plans to continue increasing its employee numbers in step with its growth. When our workforce expansion requires greater space and causes us to think about undertaking another office relocation, we will consider engaging Ken Corporation again.
Ken Corporation knows us well. It provides us with appropriate support before we even realize we need it. Ken Corporation is an important partner for us. We hope to remain in close communication with Ken Corporation, and we anticipate that the company will continue to supply us with appropriate information.

Company name
Criteo S.A.

For this office relocation, we attached the highest priority to the selection of an office that would suit the brand image of Criteo, a global leader in digital performance advertising. The contracted property was in a different area from the area initially requested by Criteo. It was also located in a building that had not been completed. These points weighed on my mind until Criteo moved in. After taking up residence, Criteo informed us of its satisfaction with the new office in a variety of aspects, including convenience. These comments pleased me.
I visited the new Criteo office after the relocation. The entrance to the office resembles a tunnel, which hints at a playful spirit. I saw Criteo employees from different countries deepening their interactions in a communication space furnished with ping-pong tables and the like. They smiled as they worked. These sights made a strong impression on me. I will always hasten to the Criteo office immediately upon request in order to ensure that our relationship continues indefinitely.