Rakuten Establishes Rakuten Sales Solution,Inc.

TOKYO, November 1, 2011 -- Rakuten, Inc. (JASDAQ: 4755) today announced the establishment of Rakuten Sales Solutions,Inc. (“Rakuten Sales Solutions,” President: Yoshihisa Yamada, Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo), which will be responsible for developing new member stores for three Rakuten Group service businesses, including Rakuten Card, a credit card issuer, Edy, Rakuten’s e-money provider, and Rakuten Dining, a search portal for restaurants. Rakuten Sales Solutions officially commenced operations today, November 1, 2011.

1. Purpose of Establishment

Rakuten Sales Solutions is a new company and wholly owned subsidiary of Rakuten that will specialize in the development of new member stores for Rakuten Card, e-money Edy and Rakuten Dining. Rakuten Sales Solutions was established in order to accelerate the growth of new member stores through more efficient sales and marketing activities as well as to expand the payment and marketing businesses in real stores for Rakuten Super Points. This is because these three businesses share the common member store segment of restaurants and retail stores.  

2. Main Business Activities

First, Rakuten Sales Solutions will focus on developing new member stores that will mainly include smaller, independent stores centered on the service industry, including restaurants and retail stores, primarily in Tokyo Metropolis, Chiba Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture and Saitama Prefecture. At the same time, each of the three businesses will continue to provide marketing support to existing member stores and seek to develop new major chain store member stores as before.  

3. Overview of Rakuten Sales Solutions,Inc.

・Company Name: Rakuten Sales Solutions,Inc.
・Location (Planned):3F, Nissay Takanawa Bldg. No. 2, 2-16-37 Takanawa,
                                      Minato-ku, Tokyo,Japan
・ President:Yoshihisa Yamada
・ Capital:125 million yen
・ Date of Establishment: October 17, 2011
・ Commencement of Operations:  November 1, 2011
・ Employees: Approx. 60 (planned)
・ Business Description: To develop new member stores for Rakuten Card,
                                 E-money Edy and  Rakuten Dining.                  

4. Supplemental Information

Rakuten Card
・ Company Name: Rakuten Card Co., Ltd.
・ President: Masayuki Hosaka
・ Date of Establishment:December 6, 2001
・ Member stores: Approx. 440,000 (as of October 1, 2011)

E-Money Edy
・ Company Name: bitWallet, Inc.
・ President: Yoshihisa Yamada    
・ Founded: January 18, 2001
・ Member stores: Approx. 279,000 (as of October 1, 2011)

 Rakuten Dining
・ Company Name: Rakuten, Inc.    
・ Chairman & CEO:Hiroshi Mikitani
・ Commencement of Services: February 15, 2010
・ Member stores: Approx. 3,300 (as of October 1, 2011)