Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket

Bola Sol, from Rakuten, said: “With skincare and make-up routines and trends taking over social media, it’s no surprise that younger children are asking for more luxurious beauty products.
“All parents want to make their kids happy, but it’s also important to balance that with your budget. A great way to do this is by tracking products for when they go on sale, and where possible, bag even more savings by using a cashback provider such as Rakuten to make the purchase through.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...ents-bought-children-014527061.html  

Rating and interest rates are okay

June 12, 2025

Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR) announces the following credit rating.


Bonds:  A-  

Rationale
Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. (the “Company”) is a credit card company in the Rakuten Group (the “Group”).
Rakuten Group, Inc. (“Rakuten”) holds approximately 85% voting rights and dispatches multiple directors to the Company. Given also strong unity in management decision-making and business administration, the degree of Rakuten’s involvement in the Company is high. Moreover, playing such roles as providing settlement and financial functions and retaining customers through a point-rewarding program as a core of the Group’s FinTech businesses, the Company is managerially important to the Group. Based on the above, JCR deems the Company’s long-term issuer rating to be commensurate with the Group’s creditworthiness, which is equivalent to the rating of A-. Bonds to be issued are senior notes, and JCR determined the rating to be at the same level as the long-term issuer rating.
Hidekazu Sakai, Naoki Shimura

Issue Amount (bn) Issue Date Due Date Coupon Rating
Bonds no. 10 JPY 80 June 27, 2025 June 26, 2026 1.680% A-
Bonds no. 11 JPY 22 June 18, 2025 June 18, 2026 1.680% A-
Bonds no. 12 JPY 5 June 18, 2025 June 16, 2028 2.422% A-
Bonds no. 13 JPY 3 June 18, 2025 June 18, 2030 3.214% A-


Long-term Issuer Rating: A-     Outlook: Negative

https://jcr.co.jp/download/...763b7246b3f23cffe231266ce/25d0324_f.pdf

 

Rakuten Mart has opened a store on "Rakuten Ichiba" selling popular gourmet foods from various regions of Japan.

Jun 15

https://www.moomoo.com/news/post/54266617/..._ticket=1750106737848413
 

Announcement of the opening of Kikuimodo Rakuten Ichiba store

2025/5/30

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Kikuimodo Rakuten Market Store and the start of online sales of our own brand food products.

Currently, we only carry the Kinko Tea series from our Kagoshima office.
We will also be stocking original Kikuimodo products made with Jerusalem artichokes from Kumamoto Prefecture.

https://www.koyo-orient.co.jp/en/kikuimodo-rakuten/

https://www.rakuten.co.jp/kikuimodo/
 

Rakuten Rises to the Challenge: Deliver Japanese Rice Quickly and Affordably

June 16, 2025

On May 26th, Rakuten immediately responded to the Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries' call for reserve rice vendors. "Where will it be milled?" "There are no bags to package the rice!" "Is the sales page ready?" "Are logistics okay?" As challenges piled up one after another, RNN was behind-the-scenes to cover the story of "Rakuten Lifestyle Support Rice", a product which came to life in just four days. E-Commerce Consultants relayed materials from Osaka to milling facilities in Chiba, project team members visited milling facilities and reserve rice warehouses to confirm details on-site, and logistics teams delivered the precious rice quickly and carefully. Thanks to the cooperation of materials and milling vendors nationwide as well as everyone involved in logistics, Rakuten's rice project, a catalyst for change in the world, continues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iz4I-gssOs  

Shutterfly proves Cash Back is an effective performance lever

https://business.rakuten.com/case-study/...fective-performance-lever/
 

JPMORGAN JAPANESE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Released 14:58:04 12 June 2025

THE COMPANY ANNOUNCES THE TEN LARGEST INVESTMENTS IN % OF TOTAL ASSETS As at: 30 May 2025
                    
      Sony 6.6%§
IHI Corp 4.7%
Asics Corp 4.6%
Nintendo Ltd 4.5%
Keyence Corp 3.9%
Rakuten Bank Ltd 3.8%
Mitsubishi Ufj Financial Group Inc 3.7%
Itochu Corp 3.6%
Tokio Marine Holdings Inc 3.5%
Hitachi Ltd 3.4%

     Total 42.4%
§
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/...estments/17083798

 

Rakuten is more than an online shopping site. It’s a full-on lifestyle.

Here’s how a Rakuten Grandma earns:
         •§Shopping on Rakuten Ichiba
         •§Paying bills with a Rakuten Card
         •§Using Rakuten Mobile
         •§Reading on Rakuten Kobo
         •§Booking hotels via Rakuten Travel
         •§Investing via Rakuten Securities
         •§Even donating via Furusato Nozei

Each service adds to your SPU (Super Point Up) rate, meaning you earn more with every purchase. Many users hit 10–15% point back during big sales.

https://gaijininvestors.wordpress.com/2025/06/14/...pan-%f0%9f%92%b4/
 

FinTech delivers double digit revenue, profit growth

The FinTech segment achieved both revenue and profit growth for the quarter, bringing in 223.6 billion yen in revenue, an increase of 15.6% YoY, and Non-GAAP operating income of 43.9 billion yen, up 21.7% YoY.

https://rakuten.today/blog/...akuten-q1-fy2025-financial-results.html

That are about 175 billion yen on a yearly base = $1.21 billion.

And that is by a P/E of only 15 a valuation of $ 18 billlion alone.
 

Q2 2025 Estimate Trends
  Current:     $0.04§
1 month ago: $-0.05
3 months ago: $-0.05

Q3 2025 Estimate Trends
  Current:     $0.06§
1 month ago: $-0.03
3 months ago: $-0.03

https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/JP/...5a696568302803fb5bbb64ec
 

Vi and AST SpaceMobile Announce Partnership for Satellite Connectivity

MUMBAI, India & MIDLAND, Texas, June 18, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vi (Vodafone Idea), India’s leading telecom service provider, and AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile") (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced a strategic partnership to expand mobile connectivity across India’s unconnected regions. AST SpaceMobile made history by placing the first ever voice and video calls from space using standard mobile phone, a milestone that demonstrates the real-world viability of its advanced technology.
India is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic telecom markets, with over 1.1 billion mobile subscribers. While there is widespread 4G and emerging 5G coverage, satellite communication will complement terrestrial connectivity to further expand broadband cellular access in some challenging terrains where deployment of terrestrial mobile infrastructure might be difficult.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...announce-partnership-101500108.html
 

Rakuten’s AI site manager is for more than just telcos now

By Diana Goovaerts  Jun 16, 2025

Rakuten unleashed a new AI-enhanced version of its Site Management tool

It also inked an expanded partnership deal with Site Management customer AT&T

Rakuten thinks Site Management 2.0 can be used by more than just telcos

Rakuten Symphony’s Site Management tool just got a whole lot smarter, with the vendor infusing homebrewed AI into its version 2.0 drop. But while the tool was originally designed to ease telco deployment pain points, Anshul Bhatt, Rakuten Symphony’s Head of Intelligent Operations, told Fierce the tool’s new smarts can be put to work for more than just broadband rollouts.

The OG version of Rakuten Site Management was all about digitizing processes, Bhatt said, with a sprinkle of machine learning thrown in to make life easier. Version 2.0, however, takes things to a whole new level with some more serious AI muscle.

“One of the reasons why we launched this 2.0 version was to diversify ourselves from just wireless and wireline,” Bhatt said.

It doesn’t hurt that Rakuten has AT&T on its side as it makes its pitch to prospective new customers.

Bhatt said Rakuten Symphony has been working with AT&T for nearly three years, initially focusing on its open RAN deployments. Using the initial iteration of Site Management, Bhatt said AT&T was able to consolidate and retire around 100 tools it had been using internally to help guide projects forward.
The platform is already being used by 10,000 folks across AT&T and its contractor teams, and last week AT&T signed on to use the Site Management tool for its fiber deployments as well.

It’s not just AT&T who is onboard. Bhatt noted, “Even Nokia uses this tool globally” where they are offering managed services for site deployment.

https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/...nager-more-just-telcos-now
 

Venture Capital News: Acorns Lands $30M

2016-04-21

IRVINE, CA, Acorns, the fastest-growing micro-investing app in the world, today announced it has raised $30 million in financing, including strategic investments from PayPal (PYPL) and Rakuten Fintech Fund.

Acorns offers a simple way to start building a solid financial future, helping investors chart a path to financial wellness by eliminating the barriers that have traditionally made investing so daunting. Oskar Mielczarek de la Miel, Managing Partner at the Rakuten FinTech Fund states, 'We are very excited about Acorns' high growth model and the close alignment between Acorns' philosophy of financial empowerment of the millennial community and Rakuten's core values.'

https://www.vcnewsdaily.com/access/getarticle.php?aid=qgndxmrjkh
 

Data Sovereignty Starts at the Edge | Rakuten Cloud at Next 25

June 10, 2025

Join Oni Chakravartti from Rakuten Cloud and Michelle Rockler from Google as they discuss how Google Distributed Cloud is partnering to address the growing demand for on-prem data solutions, low latency processing, and data sovereignty. Discover how their integrated solutions are evolving to meet customer needs for phased cloud adoption and edge computing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8AcoloR_rM
 

RCRtv at DTW Ignite 2025: AI isn't magic — the art of the practical

June 18, 2025

An interview with Geoff Hollingworth, Chief Marketing Officer, Rakuten Symphony Recorded June 2025 at DTW Ignite in Copenhagen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUG6o_mZAGg
 

next week - after my estimates.

My advice for naked shortsellers: Go panic first!  

Rakuten Mobile SAIKYO Summer Thanksgiving Festival: Don’t Miss This Summer Festival Packed with Luxurious Benefits!

May 23, 2025

Rakuten Mobile will hold the “SAIKYO Summer Thanksgiving Festival” from 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, to 9:59 AM on Friday, June 27, 2025, as a way to express gratitude to its users. During this period, various luxurious benefits and campaigns will be available for Rakuten Mobile users.

https://mobile-contract-guide.com/en/...bile-summer-kanshasai-2025-en
 

https://moneysetuyaku.hatenablog.com/entry/...n_Card_Appeal_June_2025
 

Doorzo Expands Global Reach Through Strategic Partnerships with Mercari, Rakuma, and Rakuten Ichiba

Customers Can Now Shop Mercari, Rakuma, and Rakuten Ichiba Directly Through the "Doorzo" Platform

TOKYO, June 20, 2025  SIG Service INC. has entered into a strategic partnership with Mercari Japan, Rakuma, and Rakuten Ichiba. Through the Doorzo platform, global customers can shop directly on these major Japanese marketplaces. This collaboration streamlines the cross-border shopping experience and drives international growth for all participating platforms.

Founded in 2013, SIG Service INC. operates Doorzo, a cross-border e-commerce platform that allows international users to browse and buy products from Japan's leading online marketplaces. Available via mobile app and web browser, Doorzo supports international shipping and features built-in multilingual translation.

With no monthly fees or commissions for sellers, Doorzo offers a valuable channel for Japanese merchants aiming to reach global customers. Buyers enjoy a streamlined shopping experience with real-time support, competitive shipping rates, transparent service fees, and the ability to consolidate items from multiple websites into a single shipment.

This integration allows users worldwide to shop on Mercari Japan, Rakuma, and Rakuten Ichiba through a single platform. Doorzo supports navigation in various languages, including Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, German, and Italian, enhancing accessibility for global users.

The partnership ensures a smoother and more accessible shopping experience by addressing challenges such as language barriers, payment systems, and logistics. By combining Doorzo's cross-border fulfilment expertise with the expansive reach of Japan's top marketplaces, this collaboration expands the availability of Japanese goods worldwide.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/...apanese%2520marketplaces.


 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKICIHQaYyE
 

How Bluevine’s Financial Operating System Is Powering Growth for SMBs
January 14, 2025
https://www.galileo-ft.com/blog/...ystem-is-powering-growth-for-smbs/

Bluevine, a leading online provider of everyday financing to small businesses, announced Wednesday it has closed $49 million in funding. The Series D funding round was led by existing investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, 83North, Citi Ventures, Rakuten FinTech Fund and Silicon Valley Bank.
https://www.bluevine.com/newsroom/...evine-raises-49-million-series-d

 

Microsoft Copilot is now available for Ukrainians on Viber

3 June 2025

Microsoft's Copilot is now available to Rakuten Viber users in Ukraine. The AI assistant will provide quick answers to questions, generate images, and perform other tasks right in the messenger. This partnership is an important step on our path to becoming a global super app. We’re making advanced AI accessible to everyone and offering Viber users a simple and free way to use Copilot.

https://dev.ua/en/news/...520to%2520the%2520chatbot%2520in%2520Viber.
 

Prime Focus arm acquires UK-based AI content firm Metaphysic

DNEG has won awards for several films over the years including Oppenheimer, Dune, The Lord of the Rings, Interstellar among others.

February 19, 2025

Brahma, a part of Mumbai-based media company Prime Focus on Tuesday said it had acquired London-based AI content firm Metaphysic. Brahma is a unit of London-based visual effects and animation firm DNEG, which was acquired by Prime Focus in 2014. Although DNEG did not disclose the deal size, it did say that Metaphysic would be merged with Brahma, valuing the latest acquisition at $1.43 billion following the transaction.

Metaphysic’s existing investors, including Liberty Global, S32, Rakuten Capital, TO Ventures and 8VC will become shareholders in Brahma.

https://www.financialexpress.com/business/...firm-metaphysic-3753331/
 

Rakuten Bank und Rakuten Securities beginnen mit dem Umgang mit "Rakuten Bank Securities Backed Loans"

20. Juni 2025


Mit inländischen Aktien, die in Rakuten Securities als Sicherheit gehalten werden, ist es möglich, Geld ab 10.000 Yen bei der Rakuten Bank zu leihen


Rakuten Bank, Inc. (Hauptsitz: Minato-ku, Tokio, Präsident: Hiroyuki Nagai, im Folgenden als "Rakuten Bank" bezeichnet) und Rakuten Securities, Inc. (Hauptsitz: Minato-ku, Tokio, Präsident: Yuji Kusunoki, im Folgenden als "Rakuten Securities" bezeichnet) werden am Sonntag, den 22. Juni 2025, ab 7 Uhr morgens (geplant) ein "Rakuten Bank Securities-Backed Loan" für Kunden beider Unternehmen auflegen, das es Kunden beider Unternehmen ermöglicht, sich bei der Rakuten Bank Geld zu leihen, indem sie inländische Aktien von Rakuten Securities als Sicherheit verwenden. Wir möchten Sie darüber informieren, dass wir mit der Bearbeitung der Durch die Einrichtung des Kontoverknüpfungsdienstes "Money Bridge" der Rakuten Bank und der Rakuten Securities und die Unterzeichnung eines wertpapierbesicherten Darlehens ist es möglich, Geld ab 10.000 Yen zu leihen, ohne die von Ihnen gehaltenen inländischen Aktien zu verkaufen.

https://www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/press/2025/250620.html

 

Rakuten Brings Digital Comics to Arabic-Speaking Audiences with MENA E-Sports & Events

Tokyo, June 23, 2025 – Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced that select Rakuten digital comics will be officially available in Arabic through a collaboration with MENA E-Sports & Events, a Bahrain-based digital entertainment company.

The initiative marks a significant step in Rakuten’s commitment to expanding the reach of its digital comic book content to new global audiences. The broader Middle East and Africa comic book market generated revenue of USD 301.5 million in 2024 and is expected to grow over 11% per year from 2025 to 2030*1. With digital comics expected to be the most lucrative segment, Rakuten aims to tap into this burgeoning market through its collaboration with MENA E-Sports & Events, bringing its popular content to Arabic-speaking readers.

As part of the collaboration, MENA E-Sports & Events will exclusively license, translate and publish Rakuten’s digital comics on its dedicated Arabic content platform, MangaOasis. The launch will initially feature the localization of two popular titles, “Samurai Shinken” and “Gold Boy”, with potential plans to expand the catalog in the future, based on the success of the initial launch. Both titles will be available on MangaOasis in the coming months on the official website and through its mobile app.

The collaboration will leverage MENA E-Sports & Events’ deep understanding of the regional market and its expertise in cultural adaptation to ensure that the localized comics resonate with Arabic-speaking readers.

https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2025/0623_01.html