Rakuten Strengthens Company-Based Organizational Structure to Further Accelerate Decision-making

Tokyo, June 11, 2018 - Rakuten, Inc. today announced a reorganization of its structure aimed at further accelerating decision-making by the companies that make up the group. The new organizational structure, to be implemented from July 1, will see businesses in similar fields brought together to further increase speed and productivity, fostering more autonomous and dynamic operations.

Under the reorganization, the four FinTech companies will be integrated into a single company to deepen cooperation across the different services, while also maintaining their independent qualities. The E-Commerce Company and Life & Leisure Company will also be integrated under the Commerce Group Company to maximize synergies and promote the group’s partner strategies between similar services, including the O2O strategy. In addition, in order to optimize the allocation of management resources in each core business, the Media & Communications Company, Rakuten Interactive Company and Sports Company will be reorganized into the Communications & Energy Company, which will lead the group’s mobile communications businesses (MNO and MVNO), and the Media Business Company, which will develop the group’s ad, media and sports businesses.

Through this reorganization, Rakuten will transition to a five company system.

Rakuten has worked to build the Rakuten Ecosystem, a diverse collection of services that members can use with a common Rakuten ID. In recent years, as the barriers between the online and offline world are broken down and customer lifestyles and needs diversify, Rakuten has worked to optimize the services that make up its ecosystem.

Through the reorganization, Rakuten has optimized the organizational structure to align with each area of business in order to maximize synergies within and between companies and make it possible for companies to respond flexibly to changes in the business environment. As a result, each company responsible for a strategic business domain will be able to develop its business more dynamically, while maintaining accountability and transparency, and enhancing global competitiveness.

Going forward, Rakuten will continue to evolve as it pursues further innovation and the sustainable growth of its business, while providing even more attractive and convenient services for its users.