Frequently Asked Questions

About SoftBank Corp.

About stock

About shareholder returns

About general meeting of shareholders

About earnings and financials

About SoftBank Corp.

  • What is your relationship with SoftBank Group Corp?

    SoftBank Corp. (the “Company” or “we”), consolidated to SoftBank Group Corp. is a primary operating company in the group of SoftBank Group Corp.

    SoftBank Corp. structure

  • When was SoftBank Corp. established?

    The Company was originally established on December 9, 1986 as Railway Telecommunication Co., Ltd. In 2006, it became a subsidiary of SoftBank Group. In 2015, it is merged with SoftBank BB Corp., SoftBank Telecom Corp. and Ymobile Corporation and its trade name was changed to SoftBank Corp.

    History

  • What kind of business do you do?

    SoftBank Corp. and its subsidiaries (“the Group”) is one of the leading platform companies in Japan, holding a nationwide telecommunications network, the comprehensive Internet service Yahoo! JAPAN, the cashless payment service PayPay, and the communication app LINE.
    In the Consumer segment, we provide mobile communications services, including sales of mobile devices and broadband services to consumers. In the Enterprise segment, we provide enterprise customers with mobile communication services, handset rentals, fixed-line phones, and network construction as telecommunication services, as well as a wide range of services and solutions, including cloud computing, security, IoT products and services, and digital marketing. In addition, we are developing the Distribution segment, which is the founding business of the SoftBank group, and other businesses such as HAPS Mobile (High Latitude Platform Station telecommunication platform located in the stratosphere).
    In the Media & EC segment, the Group offers services that center on media and commerce, covering online to offline services in a comprehensive manner. In the media field, the Group provides advertising-related services on the Internet and LINE. In the commerce field, the Group provides e-commerce services such as Yahoo! JAPAN Shopping and ZOZOTOWN, and reuse services such as Yahoo! JAPAN Auction.
    In the Financial segment, the Group provides cashless payment services, such as QR and barcode payments and credit card services, as well as smartphone-based securities services mainly for individual customers. We also provide payment processing services, mainly for corporate customers, offering one-stop payment solutions for diversified payment methods including credit cards, electronic money, and QR codes.

    Our Business

    [Note]
    1. *
      From FY2023, segment name of Yahoo! JAPAN/LINE has been changed to Media & EC. Accordingly, the five reportable segments became Consumer segment, Enterprise segment, Distribution segment, Media & EC segment, and Financial segment. This change only pertains to the segment name, and there are no changes to the segment classification, scope, or measurement methods.
  • What are SoftBank Corp's ESG initiatives?

    In April 2020, based on the concept of “A world where all things, information, and minds are connected”, we have identified six material issues: “Building society and industry through DX”, “Connecting people and information to create new excitement”, “Creating new business through open innovation”, “Contributing to the global environment with the power of technology”, “Building high-quality social infrastructure”, and “Developing a resilient management foundation”. We aim to enhance our corporate value and realize a sustainable society by addressing these issues through our Beyond Carrier strategy. We have also established the ESG Committee, chaired by the CEO, as an advisory body to the Board of Directors to promote an integrated approach to our growth strategy and sustainability.

    For more information on our initiatives, please see Sustainability.

  • What kind of social contribution activities do you do?

    We have decided on five areas of focus for social contribution activities: “Promotion of an Information-Oriented Society,” “Development of the Next Generation,” “Support for a Diverse Society,” “Conservation of the Environment and Precious Resources,” and “Disaster Response and Reconstruction Support.” We will work with group companies to bring about a society that enriches the lives of people throughout the world. We have CSR offices in the Tohoku, Tokai, Kansai and Kyushu areas in order to work closely with communities and help them find solutions to social issues. In addition, we provide options such as Charity Smile Donation, which allows users to make donations while paying their monthly smartphone bills, and the smartphone-based donation platform TsunagaruBokin. We also utilize ICT to support extracurricular activities and assist children with disabilities in their leaning and daily lives, among others. Leveraging our business capabilities, we are committed to addressing social issues in a way unique to SoftBank.

    Social Contribution Activities

  • Please let me know your approach for disasters.

    We recognize that communications infrastructure is a lifeline and we make emergency preparations daily and work to ensure that our telecommunications facilities can recover as quickly as possible in the unlikely event of a disaster. In order to offer telecommunications services that can act as lifelines by continuing to function in the wake of a disaster, we are building a robust network and are setting up systems capable of responding rapidly when disaster strikes.
    Also, in preparation for emergency accidents, disasters, etc., we have concluded a Disaster Response Agreement with the Ministry of Defense and the Maritime Safety Agency to develop an action protocol for smooth cooperation, and set up a scheme to make sure the actions will be taken to rapidly restore telecommunications networks.
    We are deploying mobile power supply vehicles, mobile base station vehicles across Japan to retain uninterrupted communication services even during a power outage. In case the base station is unable to operate, we have developed a moored-balloon wireless relay system throughout Japan, that can relay the mobile base stations on the ground, moving with ships or vehicles.

    Disaster countermeasures and reconstruction support

  • What is your view on corporate governance?

    With a fundamental concept of “Freedom, Fairness, and Innovation”, guided by a management philosophy of “Information Revolution — Happiness for everyone,” the Company is striving to maximize corporate value based on telecommunications business nationwide in Japan and taking initiatives to provide products and services that utilize cutting-edge technologies. The Group recognizes that it is vital to ensure effective corporate governance in order to realize this vision and continues to strengthen corporate governance.

    Corporate Governance

  • What is your view on parent company SoftBank Group Corp. and SoftBank Corp. as its subsidiary both listed on the stock exchange?

    SoftBank Corp. listed its shares on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2018. Prior to that, the Company was a primary operating company in the telecommunications business field in Japan, as a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp.
    There are two main reasons why we became a public company.
    First, through the listing of our shares, we expect the respective roles and values of SoftBank Group Corp. and the Company to be clearly defined. SoftBank Group Corp. is a strategic holding company that aims to maximize the corporate value of the entire SoftBank group through global investment activities including the SoftBank Vision Fund. The Company is responsible for business operations in Japan. The two companies also have different business nature. SoftBank Group Corp. focuses on the effect of AI on the creation of new industries and invests in companies around the world that have superior AI business models and services, while the Company operates a relatively stable telecommunications-based various business mainly in Japan. Therefore, the investment results expected to be obtained by investing in each are also different. The Company believes that listing the Company's shares and making it independent will provide investment opportunities that combine stable and high shareholder returns with growth as an operating company that takes advantage of being a member of the SoftBank group. In addition, the Company believes that the possibility of a conflict of interest between the two companies is low, since SoftBank Group Corp. is an investment company and does not have business operation, while the Company is a business operation company.
    Second, due to the difference in business nature between SoftBank Group Corp. and the Company, the two companies need different management resources (people, goods, money, and information), and have different management decision points. Through the listing of our shares, we are able to speed up our decision-making process and maximize our corporate value through greater autonomous and transparent management, while receiving direct market evaluation.
    With these reasons, the Company believes that aiming to realize our corporate philosophy and maximize our corporate value while listing our shares on the stock exchange contribute to the interest of many of our stakeholders. On the other hand, we recognize that since our parent company SoftBank Group Corp. and the Company as its subsidiary are both listed on the stock exchange, it is vital to establish an effective corporate governance system, taking “Corporate Governance Code” into account, to maintain the Company's independence from SoftBank Group Corp., and to protect the minority shareholders of the Company.

    Please refer to Corporate Governance System for our corporate governance system.

  • What is your view on holding listed subsidiaries such as LY Corporation?

    As of March 31, 2024, the Company has 239 subsidiaries, including several listed subsidiaries. SoftBank Corp. and its subsidiaries is engaged in a variety of businesses in the information and technology fields under the shared corporate philosophy of “Information Revolution — Happiness for everyone.” While valuing and ensuring the independence of its subsidiaries, the Company aims to create synergies and continue to evolve and grow together with them, with a view to maximizing the corporate value of the Group.
    In terms of listed subsidiaries, the Company, from the standpoint of independence, values their proprietary management decision-making and respects their business activities based on their autonomous deliberations and determination of business strategies and relevant measures. As part of its group management method, the Company has established the Subsidiaries and Affiliates Management Regulations for the purpose of managing each of its investees, requiring prior approval of or reporting to the Company regarding important decision-making at subsidiaries. With respect to listed subsidiaries, to keep such approvals and reporting down to a minimum, the Company limits the items that require such prior approval only to the conclusion of contracts that include clauses that are binding on (including non-compete clauses) non-contracting parties, such as SoftBank Group Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates, so that the Company will not unfairly constrain their decision-making.
    Regarding the importance of having listed subsidiaries, the Company believes that it is desirable for each listed subsidiary to conduct its business while receiving recognition in the stock market and to carry out autonomous management that takes into account the interests of minority shareholders, which will contribute to the growth of each subsidiary. At this time, the Company deems that it is desirable for each listed subsidiary to remain listed.
    The positioning in the Group's management strategy and the significance of ownership specific to each listed subsidiary are as follows.

    • LY Corporation
    • LY Corporation*1 provides national services such as Yahoo! JAPAN, one of the largest internet services and LINE, a communication app in Japan. In June 2019, Z Holdings Corporation (formerly Yahoo Japan Corporation), the predecessor of LY Corporation, became a consolidated subsidiary of the Company.
      Since before making Z Holdings Corporation a consolidated subsidiary, we have deepened our cooperation as we were under the same parent company SoftBank Group Corp. Specifically in addition to executing a business collaboration agreement regarding various telecommunications-related businesses beginning with “Yahoo! BB”, we have expanded our services for smartphone customers with our collaboration mainly in e-commerce, improved the comprehensive value of telecommunications and its related services through the realization of synergy effects, and differentiated ourselves from other carriers. In June 2018, we and Z Holdings Corporation incorporated the joint venture, PayPay Corporation, and embarked on endeavors to expand new businesses such as cashless payment service PayPay. Both the Company and LY Corporation believe that there are a wide range of synergies that can be created by the collaboration between our two companies, and the collaboration will be a key factor in our Beyond Carrier strategy to achieve growth in the non-telecom business fields. On the other hand, LY Corporation operates a highly neutral internet media business and has a broad customer base that is not limited to users of the Company. The Company believes that securing a certain degree of independence of LY Corporation will contribute to the enhancement of its business relationships and ultimately to the increase of its corporate value. The Company believes that maintaining the independence and autonomy of LY Corporation as a listed company, optimally allocating management resources based on an integrated strategy, and maximizing synergies, will contribute to improving the corporate value of the Group as a whole.

      [Note]
      1. *1
        On October 1, 2023, Z Holdings Corporation, as the surviving company, completed an intra-group reorganization involving mainly itself and two of its core wholly owned subsidiaries, LINE Corporation and Yahoo Japan Corporation, and changed its trade name to LY Corporation.
    • ITmedia Inc.
    • ITmedia Inc. specializes in media management that provides IT-related information on the Internet. The Company made it a subsidiary in April 2018 for the purpose of pursuing business synergy and expanding businesses into a brand range of domains. The Company believes that maintaining the independence and autonomy of ITmedia Inc. as a listed company and a media company, while it collaborates with other companies in the Group as a member of the Group, will contribute to improving the enterprise value of the Group as a whole.

    • eMnet Japan co. ltd.
    • eMnet Japan co. ltd. is mainly engaged in the Internet advertisement business. The Company made it a subsidiary in June 2021 for the purpose of collaborating as peers in the same industry and creating synergy. In contrast with the Company's customer base, which mainly comprises large companies, eMnet Japan co. ltd. has a broad reach in various regions mainly among small- to medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, the Company believes that maintaining the independence and autonomy of eMnet Japan co. ltd. as a listed company, while it collaborates with other companies in the Group as a member of the Group, through the mutual exchange of human resources and the mutual utilization of knowledge and technologies in the digital field, will contribute to improving the enterprise value of the Group as a whole.

About stock

  • When was SoftBank Corp. listed?

    Common Shares were listed on December 19, 2018.
    Series 1 Bond-Type Class Shares were listed on November 2, 2023.
    Series 2 Bond-Type Class Shares were listed on October 4, 2024.

  • Where is SoftBank Corp. listed? What is SoftBank Corp.'s stock ticker code?

    It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market.

    Common Shares (TSE code: 9434)
    Series 1 Bond-Type Class Shares (TSE code: 94345)
    Series 2 Bond-Type Class Shares (TSE code: 94346)

  • What is the unit of share transactions (share unit number)?

    100 shares (share unit number).

  • How many outstanding shares of SoftBank Corp. are there?

    Please refer to General Stock Information.

  • Where can I find historical data on the share price of SoftBank Corp.?

    Please refer to Stock Price Chart.

  • Who is the administrative agent of the list of shareholders?

    Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

    Transfer Agent Division,
    Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.
    Tel

    0120-288-324 (toll free)

    Business hours Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 except national holidays
  • What is the procedure for the notification or change of name and address?

    Your securities company will be the contact for any change of registrations. If you do not have any specific securities company for the transaction, please contact the administrative agent of the list of shareholders (Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.).

  • What is the procedure for the notification or change of registration for the shareholders who reside abroad?

    Your securities company will be the contact for any change of registrations. If you do not have any specific securities company for the transaction, please contact the administrative agent of the list of shareholders (Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.).

  • What is the procedure for the notification or change of registration for the representative of corporation?

    Your securities company will be the contact for any change of registrations. If you do not have any specific securities company for the transaction, please contact the administrative agent of the list of shareholders (Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.).

  • What is the procedure to specify a receiving method for dividend, or to change the bank account for transfer?

    Your securities company will be the contact for any change of registrations. If you do not have any specific securities company for the transaction, please contact the administrative agent of the list of shareholders (Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.).

  • What is the procedure to sell fractional shares (shares less than 100)?

    Your securities company will be the contact for any purchase claim for fractional shares. If you do not have any specific securities company for the transaction, please contact the administrative agent of the list of shareholders (Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.).

  • What shares are subject to the stock split?

    The Company's common shares are subject to the stock split. The Company's bond-type class shares are not eligible.

  • What is the purpose of the stock split?

    The purpose of the stock split is to make the Company's shares more accessible to investors by reducing the amount of investment per share. By doing so, the Company will strive to increase the liquidity of its shares and expand its investor base.

  • Will the stock split have any impact on the asset value of the shares held by shareholders?

    Comparing before and after the stock split, the number of shares held by shareholders of common shares will increase by a factor of 10, whereas the net asset value per share will decrease to 1/10 of the previous amount. There will be no changes to the Company's assets or equity. Therefore, excluding other factors such as stock market trends, the stock split will not change the asset value of the shares held by shareholders.
    Furthermore, the Company's Seriec 1 Bond-Type Class Shares are not subject to the stock split.

  • Do shareholders need to follow any procedures regardring the stock split?

    No procedures need to be carried out.

  • Will the stock split increase the dividends that shareholders are entitled to receie?

    The number of shares held will increase by a factor of 10, but the dividend per share is planned to decrease to 1/10 of the previous amount. For this reason, there will be no change in the total amount of dividends received.

  • What happens to the number of shares and voting rights held by shareholders as a result of the stock split?

    The number of shares held by shareholders of the Company's common shares after the stock split will be the number of shares held by the shareholders of record as of September 30, 2024 multiplied by 10. The number of voting rights will be one voting right for every 100 shares held after the stock split.

  • Could you please provide the schedule for the stock split?

    Thursday, September 26, 2024: Final day of trading for the Company's shares based on the current stock price and number of shares held
    Monday, September 30, 2024: Record date of stock split
    Tuesday, October 1, 2024: Effective date of stock split

  • Is there a period during which trading of shares is suspended due to the stock split?

    There will be no trading suspension period. From Friday, September 27, 2024, trading will be based on the new stock price and number of shares held.

About shareholder returns

  • What is the policy for shareholder returns?

    Please refer to Shareholder Returns & Dividends for the policy.

  • What are the dividend record dates?

    The year-end dividend record date is March 31 and the interim dividend record date is September 30.

  • When are dividends paid?

    Year-end dividends are paid in June. Interim dividends are paid in December.

  • How much is dividend payment?

    Please refer to Shareholder Returns & Dividends.

  • What is the purpose of establishing the shareholder benefits program?

    The purpose of the shareholder benefits program is to grow the Company's investor base by encouraging investors to hold the Company's stock for the medium and long terms. Furthermore, the Company would like investors to increase their understanding of the Group's business by using services associated with the Company.

  • What are the conditions of eligibility for the shareholder benefits program?

    The shareholder benefits program will be offered to shareholders who hold 100 or more of the Company's common shares and is conditional upon holding the shares from March 31 to March 31 of the following year.
    The holding period shall be from March 31*1 to March 31*1 of the following year, and the first period shall be from March 31, 2025*1 to March 31, 2026*1,2.

    [Notes]
    1. *1
      Refers to the date on which the shareholder is entered or recorded in the Company's shareholder register, and differs from the dates on which the shares are acquired, etc.
    2. *2
      Refers to shareholders entered or recorded with the same shareholder number in the Company's final shareholder register on March 31 and September 30 at least 3 consecutive times
  • Could you please elaborate on the benefits of the shareholder special benefit program?

    The Company will provide PayPay Money Lite (JPY 1,000 worth) to shareholders who meet the conditions of eligibility.

  • Where can I use the PayPay Money Lite granted as a shereholder special benefit?

    The PayPay Money Lite can be used for payments for shopping at PayPay merchants and for online shopping, such as purchases from the official PayPay store, among other places.

  • Do the PayPay Money Lite awarded as a shareholder benefit change depending on the number of shares held?

    The Company will uniformly provide PayPay Money Lite (JPY 1,000 worth) to shareholders who hold 100 shares or more.

  • Could you please provide details on how to apply for the shareholder benefits and the application period?

    In order to receive the shareholder benefit, an application must be made through the dedicated website. Details will be announced on the Company's website and in the Notice of the General Meeting of Shareholders, etc. in June 2025.

About general meeting of shareholders

  • When is the general meeting of shareholders held?

    We hold an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in late June of every year. Schedules are available at IR Calendar.

About earnings and financials

  • Where are the latest earnings results briefings online?

    Please see earnings results briefing materials at Events and Presentations on our website.

  • Where can I find the past performance online?

    Please see Financial Information on our website.

  • Where are key indices, such as ROE and interest-bearing debt balance?

    Please see Financial Highlights on our website.

  • What accounting principles are used for financial statements?

    We use International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs).

  • When are the earnings results announcements?

    We disclose earnings results quarterly. Earnings results announcement schedules are available at IR Calendar.

  • When is the fiscal year-end?

    Our fiscal year ends on March 31 of every year.