Announcement of a Change in AEON Holdings Shareholders

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―Utilizing the Assets of Both Companies to Accelerate the Application of ICT to Education―

No.2017-147

  • KDDI CORPORATION
  • AEON Holdings Corporation of Japan

November 22,2017

KDDI CORPORATION (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President Takashi Tanaka, hereinafter "KDDI") and AEON Holdings Corporation of Japan (Head office: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Chairman and President: Kiyoshi Aki, hereinafter "AEON HD") hereby announce that they concluded a share transfer agreement for KDDI to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares in AEON HD from the company shareholders on November 22, 2017.
KDDI plans to acquire all of the shares in AEON HD on January 22, 2018, with the goal of entering into the education market which is expected to continue to grow and expand.

The need for foreign language learning is anticipated to increase from the year 2020 with English becoming a formal subject in elementary schools, the introduction of the four English proficiency tests in university entrance examinations, and support for inbound demand due to the rapid increase in foreign tourists visiting Japan, so the foreign language education field is expected to be a domestic growth market.
As the leading company in foreign language education, AEON HD continues to provide a comprehensive lineup of services in the fields of English, Japanese, and Chinese language instruction as well as overseas study support in a market which is expected to continue to grow and expand.

The goal of the shareholder change is to combine the information and communications technologies ("ICT") cultivated by KDDI with the "highly experienced instructors, original educational materials, and study abroad services" developed and accumulated by AEON HD over many years to jointly offer learning content that is tailored to each individual customer and provide new forms of value and services to customers.
KDDI will merge the assets of both companies going forward and is exploring services such as curriculum optimization support for learners using AI technology and virtual English conversation programs using VR technology.

KDDI possesses a customer base of over 39 million (as of the end of September 2017, not including corporate customers) au cell phones and smartphones and over 9.5 million (as of the end of September 2017) fixed-line communication services. In addition to these communication services, the company is also engaged in the fields of energy, commerce, finance, payment, and travel as a "life design company" which provides services that are embedded in the daily lives of their customers.
To meet the social need for high-quality language learning in a global society, KDDI and AEON HD will combine "education" and "ICT" to promote "EdTech", which is essential in the life events of all people.

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KDDI Overview

  • (1)
    Trade name:
    KDDI CORPORATION
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Telecommunications business
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    June 1, 1984
  • (4)
    Head office:
    2-3-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
  • (5)
    Representative:
    President Takashi Tanaka
  • (6)
    Capital:
    141,852 million yen (as of March 31, 2017)
  • (7)
    Consolidated operating revenue:
    4,748,259 million yen (FY2017 results)
  • (8)
    Consolidated number of employees:
    35,032 (as of March 31, 2017)

AEON HD Overview

  • (1)
    Trade name:
    AEON Holdings Corporation of Japan
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Operation of 349 language schools starting with English conversation
    Production and sale of language learning materials
    Internet and telephone-based language education
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    April 1973
  • (4)
    Head office:
    2-3-23 Kosei-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
  • (5)
    Representative:
    Chairman and President Kiyoshi Aki
  • (6)
    Capital:
    100 million yen (as of March 31, 2016)
  • (7)
    Consolidated operating revenue:
    27,343 million yen (results as of December 31, 2016)
  • (8)
    Consolidated number of employees:
    3,461 (as of December 31, 2016)

Overview of AEON Group Subsidiaries

  • (1)
    Trade name:
    AEON Co., Ltd.
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Operation of 251 "AEON" and "AEON Kids" English conversation schools around Japan
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    May 1973
  • (4)
    Head office:
    2-3-23 Kosei-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
  • (5)
    Representatives:
    Chairman Kiyoshi Aki
    President Yoshikazu Miyake
  • (6)
    Capital:
    10 million yen (as of March 31, 2016)
  • (7)
    Operating revenue:
    18,962 million yen (results as of December 31, 2016)
  • (8)
    Number of employees:
    2,538 (as of December 31, 2016)
  • (1)
    Trade name:
    Amity Corporation
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Operation of 85 "Amity" English conversation schools for infants and children
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    November 1993
  • (4)
    Head office:
    2-3-23 Kosei-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
  • (5)
    Representatives:
    Chairman Kiyoshi Aki
    President Takahito Yamazaki
  • (6)
    Capital:
    10 million yen (as of March 31, 2016)
  • (7)
    Operating revenue:
    4,226 million yen (results as of December 31, 2016)
  • (8)
    Number of employees:
    612 (as of December 31, 2016)
  • (1)
    Trade name:
    Ryugaku Journal Inc.
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Provides study abroad information and agency services for study abroad (five locations within Japan)
    Production and sale of study abroad informational magazines
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    September 2003
  • (4)
    Head office:
    34 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
  • (5)
    Representatives:
    Chairman, CEO and President Kiyoshi Aki
    Executive Vice President Yukari Kato
  • (6)
    Capital:
    254 million yen (as of March 31, 2016)
  • (7)
    Operating revenue:
    2,412 million yen (results as of December 31, 2016)
  • (8)
    Number of employees:
    124 (as of December 31, 2016)
  • (1)
    Trade name:
    MPI Matsuka Phonics Institute
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Development and publication of English conversation learning materials for infants and children (provided to 3,012 classrooms)
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    July 1979
  • (4)
    Head office:
    2-16-2 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
  • (5)
    Representatives:
    Chairman Kiyoshi Aki
    President Chieko Takemura
  • (6)
    Capital:
    50 million yen (as of March 31, 2016)
  • (7)
    Operating revenue:
    423 million yen (results as of December 31, 2016)
  • (8)
    Number of employees:
    18 (as of December 31, 2016)
  • (1)
    Trade name:
    HAO Chinese Academy
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Operation of 11 Chinese language schools
    Administration of Chinese language certification exams
    Production, development, and sale of Chinese language learning materials
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    February 1999
  • (4)
    Head office:
    1-1 Shimomiyabi-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
  • (5)
    Representatives:
    Chairman Kiyoshi Aki
    President Hiroshi Minami
  • (6)
    Capital:
    50 million yen (as of March 31, 2016)
  • (7)
    Operating revenue:
    426 million yen (results as of December 31, 2016)
  • (8)
    Number of employees:
    241 (as of December 31, 2016)
  • (1)
    Trade name:
    Intercultural Institute of Japan
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Operation of a Japanese language school
    Japanese language teacher training business
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    March 1977
  • (4)
    Head office:
    2-20-9 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo
  • (5)
    Representatives:
    Representative Director Kiyoshi Aki
    Representative Director Sanae Kato
  • (6)
    Capital:
    10 million yen (as of March 31, 2016)
  • (7)
    Operating revenue:
    498 million yen (results as of December 31, 2016)
  • (8)
    Number of employees:
    91 (as of December 31, 2016)
  • (1)
    Trade name:
    AEON Intercultural USA Corporation
  • (2)
    Main business:
    Recruiting of teachers in the United States
  • (3)
    Date of establishment:
    February 1997
  • (4)
    Head office:
    222 N. Sepulceda BLVD. STE 2000 EL Segundo CA 90245
  • (5)
    Representative:
    CEO Kiyoshi Aki
  • (6)
    Capital:
    100,000 USD (as of March 31, 2016)
  • (7)
    Operating revenue:
    547,250 USD (results as of December 31, 2016)
  • (8)
    Number of employees:
    2 (as of December 31, 2016)
  • The information contained in the news releases is current at the time of publication. Products, service fees,service content and specifications, contact information, and other details are subject to change without notice.