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May 28, 2007
FamilyMart and NTT DoCoMo Agree on Capital Tie-Up and Strategic Alliance
TOKYO, JAPAN, May 28, 2007--- FamilyMart Co., Ltd. and NTT DoCoMo, Inc.announced today that they will form a strategic alliance through a capital tie-up in which DoCoMo will acquire 2,930,500 shares of common stock owned by FamilyMart as treasury stock -- approximately 3% of total issued shares -- for about 9 billion yen on June 13, 2007.
From July 10, FamilyMart convenience stores nationwide will begin accepting mobile credit via DoCoMo’s iD™ platform, thereby enabling users to make payments simply by waving their phones over a reader/writer. Currently, the iD platform is accepted in about 140 FamilyMart stores in Tokyo, Nagoya and Fukuoka cities.
The two companies expect to leverage mutually beneficial strengths, including FamilyMart’s nationwide network of approximately 7,000 convenience stores and expertise in retail store operations, and DoCoMo’s some 52 million customers and expertise in Osaifu-Keitai™ wallet services, as well as mobile credit services via the iD platform. These strengths, as well as the two companies’ powerful brands, will foster value-added services that offer customers increased convenience and flexibility.
Initially, FamilyMart will upgrade reader/writers at FamilyMart payment counters for compatibility with DoCoMo’s ToruCa™ information-capture service, thereby enabling customers to download coupons and useful information into their DoCoMo phones. In addition, Osaifu-Keitai compatible reader/writers will be installed in “Famiport” multimedia terminals in all FamilyMart stores. These services will become available by the end of May 2008.
The strategic alliance will be enhanced in other ways as well, including:
- Introduction of iD mobile payments for purchases made on FamilyMart’s shopping website (http://www.famima.com/).
- Introduction of the “Famima iD” mobile credit card for “Famima Card” credit-card users. (FamilyMart currently offers credit and non-credit [points and other benefits only] versions of the Famima Card, numbering 1.67 million cardholders as of April 2007.)
- Provision of benefits for using DoCoMo’s DCMX™ and FamilyMart’s “Famima iD” mobile credit cards via the iD platform at FamilyMart stores.
- Trial use of Famima Cards by owners of DoCoMo phones with Osaifu-Keitai capability.
Going forward, the two companies will consider other options, including:
- Incorporation of Osaifu-Keitai services in FamilyMart’s customer relationship management (CRM) operations.
- Test marketing of other mobile-related services at selected FamilyMart stores.
- Exchanges of personnel to further develop value-added mobile-related services at FamilyMart stores.
For further information, please contact:
Takehiko Kigure or Saori Katayama
Corporate Communications and Investors Relations Department
FamilyMart Co., Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-3989-7670
Fax: +81-3-3590-0497
Website:
http://www.family.co.jp/english Masanori Goto or Makiko Furuta
International PR
Public Relations Department
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
Tel: +81-3-5156-1366
Fax: +81-3-5501-3408
Website: www.nttdocomo.com
Inquiries may also be made through the following URL:
http://www.nttdocomo.com/contact About FamilyMart
FamilyMart centered on its core business of operating convenience stores through a network of more than 13,000 stores in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, China and the United States of America, engaging in retailing business that provides more than 10 million customers everyday with high-value-added merchandise garnished with sincerity and hospitality.
FamilyMart’s business policy is to conduct convenience store operations in a way that enables customers, franchisees, business partners, and employees to interact harmoniously, and also to be an innovative corporate group that is the most advanced in its industry. FamilyMart is listed on the Tokyo stock exchange (8028).
For more information, visit www.family.co.jp/english
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world’s leading mobile communications company. DoCoMo serves more than 52 million customers, including 36 million people subscribing to FOMA™, launched as the world’s first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA in 2001. DoCoMo also offers a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services, including i-mode™, the world’s most popular mobile email/ Internet service, used by more than 47 million people. With the addition of credit-card and other e-wallet functions, DoCoMo mobile phones have become highly versatile tools for daily life. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit www.nttdocomo.com.
i-mode, FOMA, Osaifu-Keitai, iD, ToruCa and DCMX are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA service is only available to subscribers in Japan.
"Osaifu-Keitai" refers to mobile phones equipped with a contactless IC card for useful online functions/services such as electronic money, credit card payments, electronic ticketing, memberships, and more.
