Value Creation History

PMI Progress and Group Synergies

• January1996

  Foundation of Yahoo Japan Corporation

  Yahoo! JAPAN service was launched as Japan's first commercial search engine. Has worked to expand and improve its services with the aim of becoming a "life engine" used in all aspects of daily life, so that it can accurately meet the changing needs of users along with the proliferation of the Internet.

  

• FY2012

  Transitioned to a new management structure

  To respond to rapid changes in the Internet usage environment, such as the rapid expansion of smartphone use, renewed the management structure that had been in place since 1996. Rejuvenated the management team and transitioned to a new executive structure.

  

• FY2013

  Announced new e-commerce strategy

  Eliminated all store tenant fees and loyalty payments in Yahoo! JAPAN Shopping, transitioning from a fee-based revenue model to one based on advertising. In a similar manner, decided to eliminate store tenant fees in YAHUOKU! (auction service).

  

• FY2018

  Launched "PayPay"

  Established PayPay Corporation through joint investment with SoftBank Corp. Succeeded in rapidly acquiring users and merchants through large-scale promotions, etc. Playing a central role in promoting cashless transactions, has established a dominant position in the QR/barcode payment market in Japan.

  

• FY2019

  Transitioned to a holding company structure, changed trade name to Z Holdings Corporation

  Transitioned to a holding company structure that enables flexible and agile decision-making, optimal allocation of management resources, and more rapid implementation of business strategies to further expand business domains and maximize corporate value in the rapidly changing Internet industry. Changed trade name to Z Holdings Corporation.

  

• FY2020

  Completed business integration with LINE Corporation

  Formed one of Japan's largest Internet service corporate groups, providing over 200 services in Japan. Leveraging LINE Corporation's large-scale user base, will boldly create a future that only the Z Holdings Group can create through synergies generated in each business.

  

• FY2021

  Start of New Z Holdings

  Capitalizing on group synergies to enhance and update existing services. Steady progress in collaboration can be seen in each business domain to maximize the effects of business integration. In Media Business, began ad distribution of Yahoo! JAPAN Ads in LINE NEWS sections. In Commerce Business, promoted the introduction of LINE Official Accounts to stores of Yahoo! JAPAN Shopping and PayPay Mall^*. Expanded Yahoo! JAPAN Mart by ASKUL through the collaboration among Yahoo! JAPAN, Demae-can and ASKUL. In Strategic Business, began QR code integration between PayPay and LINE Pay, and launched PayPay Atobarai (deferred payment).

  * Integrated with Yahoo! JAPAN Shopping as of October 12, 2022

  

LINE has continued to evolve into a "life platform" supporting all aspects of life 24/7

LINE, which started as a messenger app that brought people closer together, has gradually expanded its range of services and made users' lives more convenient as a smart portal connecting people, information, services, and everything else. Initially, the content business, such as stickers and games, was the mainstay of LINE's revenue, but the advertising business, based on 176 million users (as of March 31, 2022) in four major countries and regions, is now the main revenue source. In the future, we intend to expand our financial businesses, including payments, banking, securities, and loans.