This share transfer is conditional on approval from the Fair Trade Commission, and a new management structure will be announced promptly after the completion of the share transfer (scheduled for August 30).
Hiroshi Shono, Representative Director and President, Kashima Antlers FC Co., Ltd.
"Kashima Antlers, in addition to Nippon Steel, which has supported the club for a long time since the Sumitomo Metal Industries era, is now welcoming Mercari. While preserving the traditions of our early days, we will forge a new era. Toward the sustainable growth and development of the club, we will leverage Mercari's various assets and, together with our hometown and stakeholders, pursue Antlers' eternal theme of "Football Dream."
[Kashima Antlers FC Co., Ltd. Overview]
Company Name: Kashima Antlers FC Co., Ltd.
Location: 2887 Aotohigashiyama, Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 314-0021
Business Activities: Professional football club management, designated management of Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium
Representative: Hiroshi Shono
■Reference Material: Joint Announcement Release from the Three Companies
July 30, 2019
Mercari, Inc.
Nippon Steel Corporation
Kashima Antlers FC Co., Ltd.
Announcement Regarding Share Transfer of Kashima Antlers FC Co., Ltd.
We would like to announce that Mercari, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and CEO: Shintaro Yamada; hereinafter "Mercari") and Nippon Steel Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Eiji Hashimoto; hereinafter "Nippon Steel") have today concluded a share transfer agreement for Mercari to acquire 61.6% of the 72.5% of outstanding shares of Kashima Antlers FC Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Hiroshi Shono; hereinafter "Kashima Antlers") held by Nippon Steel and its subsidiaries (hereinafter "this share transfer"). This share transfer is conditional on approval from the Fair Trade Commission.
*Shareholding ratios are rounded to one decimal place.
Since the establishment of the J.League in 1993, Kashima Antlers has established itself as a community-based club. With a club vision of continuing to be a strong club that challenges the world, Kashima Antlers has achieved a total of 20 titles, including 8 league championships, 6 J.League Cup championships, 5 Emperor's Cup championships, and 1 AFC Champions League championship, making it one of the top clubs in the J.League.
Mercari sympathizes with Kashima Antlers' ambition to be a top team not only in Japan but also globally, and has supported Kashima Antlers since signing a club official sponsorship agreement in 2017 as a partner striving for global success together.
This time, we determined that providing Mercari's technology and management expertise would lead to further strengthening the management foundation, and therefore entered into an agreement with Nippon Steel to acquire the shares. Moving forward, we aim to contribute to the promotion of sports business in unity with the Kashima area (Kashima City, Itako City, Kamisu City, Namegata City, Hokota City), which is Kashima Antlers' hometown, in a tripartite collaboration of Mercari, Kashima Antlers, and the local community, and strive to be loved by all Antlers family members.
Nippon Steel (then Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.) established Kashima Antlers in 1991 together with local governments and businesses to revitalize the Kashima area where the Kashima Steel Works is located, and has supported Antlers as the lead shareholder for approximately 30 years.
Respecting this history and philosophy, Nippon Steel will continue to be involved in the management of Kashima Antlers as a major shareholder even after this share transfer, and will also strive to support the club as an official club sponsor.
Kashima Antlers, in addition to Nippon Steel, which has supported the club for a long time since the Sumitomo Metal Industries era, is now welcoming Mercari. While preserving the traditions of our early days, we will forge a new era. Toward the sustainable growth and development of the club, we will leverage Mercari's various assets and, together with our hometown and stakeholders, pursue Antlers' eternal theme of "Football Dream."
For more details from Mercari, Inc., please see below:
https://about.mercari.com/ir/news/
End
[Mercari Overview]
Company Name: Mercari, Inc.
Location: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6118
Business Activities: Planning, development, and operation of the smartphone flea market app "Mercari"
Representative: Shintaro Yamada
[Nippon Steel Overview]
Company Name: Nippon Steel Corporation
Location: 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8071
Business Activities: Steelmaking business, engineering business, chemicals and materials business, system solutions business
Representative: Eiji Hashimoto
[Kashima Antlers FC Co., Ltd. Overview]
Company Name: Kashima Antlers FC Co., Ltd.
Location: 2887 Aotohigashiyama, Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 314-0021
Business Activities: Professional football club management, designated management of Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium
Representative: Hiroshi Shono