19th Jan 2006 10:11
Konami Corporation19 January 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2006 KONAMI CORPORATION 2-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Kagemasa Kozuki Representative Director and CEO Stock code number: 9766 at TSE1 Contact: Noriaki Yamaguchi Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Tel: +81-3-5220-0573 Announcement on Konami and IIJ to Establish a Joint Venture Company, to Operate Comprehensive Portal Sites TOKYO, January 19, 2006 -- Konami Corporation (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, hereafter referred to as "Konami")and Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, hereafter referred to as "IIJ") announced todaythat the two companies had agreed to establish a joint venture company, "Internet Revolution Inc." (hereafter referredto as "i-revo"), to operate comprehensive portal sites. "i-revo" will provide portal sites, merging Konami's expertise in developing digital entertainment content and IIJ'scultivated and highly reliable technology for developing system and network operations. For network society seeking convenience and efficiency, "i-revo" will offer content and sites that target a wide rangeof users from children to the elderly, through services focusing on "relationships, sense of security, convenience ofuse and impressions". The Internet has become inseparable from society, due to remarkable advances in digital technology and the developmentof infrastructure. Internet has become an integral part of people's lives. In addition, in today's digitalized society,"individuality" is attracting more attention and is becoming more widespread. "i-revo" will provide online communityusers comfort and warmth through comprehensive portal site feature stet linking together people's "individuality"."i-revo" also will enhance the importance of the internet though its ideas and services. 1. Summary of the joint venture company (1) Registered name Internet Revolution Inc(2) Date of incorporation February 1, 2006(3) Head office location 6-10-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Roppongi Hills)(4) Capital 1,250 million yen(5) Amount of investment 2,500 million yen(6) Investment ratio Konami 70% IIJ 30%*Internet Revolution Inc. will become a consolidated subsidiary of Konami and an equity methodaffiliate of IIJ(7) Main business Operating the Internet portal sites(8) Directors Representative Director: Kazuya Takahashi (President of Online Company, Konami) Director: Hiroshi Nagaoka (Senior Manager of Online Company, Konami) Director: Takashi Taniguchi (General Manager of System Engineering and Operation Division, IIJ) Director (External): Akira Tamai (Corporate Officer and Division Director of Finance and accounting, Konami) Director (External): Hideshi Hojo (Managing Director, General Manager of Sales Department, IIJ) 2. Contents Summary (1) Name: i-revo (2) Commencement Date: Mid-March, 2006 (3) Contents: -New communication service -Internet connectivity service -Distribution of products related to music and video -Distribution of games -Search service -Information service -E-commerce • Statement by Kagemasa Kozuki, President, Konami Corporation Konami has strengthened its online business with its expertise in developing content and digital technologies in itsdigital entertainment business. By establishing a joint venture company with IIJ, with proven Internet technology andoperations, we will offer portal sites which every user can enjoy with a sense of security. We appreciate your continuing support. • Statement by Koichi Suzuki, President and CEO, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. IIJ has provided a highly reliable network solution as its core competence to mainly companies, government, otherpublic offices and carriers. We will contribute to the further realization of a safer and more user-friendly networksociety through the provision of an integrated Internet service including new concepts and technologies with Konamiwhich has leading content in the world. • Statement by Kazuya Takahashi, President, Internet Revolution Inc. We will promote business which will bring revolutionary change to the Internet industry by taking advantage of Konami'sexpertise in content services and IIJ's Internet technologies. We will provide services which match people's lives andbring happiness and excitement to users. Though this, we aim to be a company valued by society. We hope that users willfeel the message, "relationships, sense of security, use of convenience and impressions" through the services. Asalways, we appreciate your support. • KONAMI CORPORATION Konami Corporation was established in1973. Konami has Digital Entertainment business, including 'Computer & VideoGames', 'Toy & Hobby', 'Amusement', 'Online' and 'Multi-Media', Health & Fitness business and Gaming & System business. Konami is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Stock Exchange of Singapore, the London StockExchange and the New York Stock Exchange. • Internet Initiative Japan Inc. Founded in 1992, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, NASDAQ: IIJI, Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers: 3774) is one ofJapan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. IIJ and its group of companies providetotal network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. The company's services include high-qualitysystems integration and security services, Internet access,hosting/housing, and content design. Moreover, the company has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks inJapan, and between Japan and the United States. IIJ was listed on NASDAQ in 1999 and on the Mothers market of TokyoStock Exchange in 2005. For more information about IIJ, visit the IIJ Web site at http://www.iij.ad.jp/en/. For inquiries: KONAMI CORPORATION Publicity Group 2-4-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-6330 Japan Tel: +81-3-4332-0573 Fax: +81-3-5220-9905 Email: [email protected] www.konami.net Internet Initiative Japan Inc. Corporate CommunicationsTel: +81-3-5259-6310 Fax: +81-3-5259-6311 E-mail: [email protected] www.iij.ad.jp < President's Profile > Kazuya Takahashi President Internet Revolution Inc. (Will be established on February 1, 2006) Born in 1969 April, 1990: Joined Konami Industries Co., Ltd. (currently KONAMI CORPORATION) April, 2001: Appointed as Producer of Amusement Division October, 2004: Appointed as Vice President of Konami Online, Inc. April, 2005: Appointed as President of Online Company of Konami February, 2006: Will be President of Internet Revolution Inc. (President of Online Company of Konamij Mr. Takahashi's representative product is the "Dance Dance Revolution". He has also developed the "e-AMUSEMENT", KonamiGroup's online network system for amusement arcades. He serves as president of Online Company of Konami for expanding the online business since April, 2005. Cautionary Statement with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements:Statements made in this document with respect to our current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs, including theabove forecasts, are forward-looking statements about our future performance. These statements are based onmanagement's assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it and, therefore, you should notplace undue reliance on them. A number of important factors could cause actual results to be materially different fromand worse than those discussed in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changesin economic conditions affecting our operations; (ii) fluctuations in currency exchange rates, particularly withrespect to the value of the Japanese yen, the U.S. dollar and the Euro; (iii) our ability to continue to win acceptanceof our products, which are offered in highly competitive markets characterized by the continuous introduction of newproducts, rapid developments in technology and subjective and changing consumer preferences; (iv) our ability tosuccessfully expand internationally with a focus on our video game software business, card game business and gamingmachine business; (v) our ability to successfully expand the scope of our business and broaden our customer basethrough our exercise entertainment business; (vi) regulatory developments and changes and our ability to respond andadapt to those changes; (vii) our expectations with regard to further acquisitions and the integration of any companieswe may acquire; and (viii) the outcome of contingencies. 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