BookLive and CCC reach basic agreement on strategic partnership to create Japan's largest comprehensive book platform

2014.06.30 Press Releases
BookLive Inc. / Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. / Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. / Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

- Utilizing "T Points" and e-book solutions as a common infrastructure connecting the real world and the internet -

BookLive Inc. (Head office: Taito-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tadashi Awano; hereinafter referred to as "BookLive") and Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Muneaki Masuda; hereinafter referred to as "CCC") have agreed to a strategic partnership to create a new comprehensive book platform that combines print and e-books, against the backdrop of future expansion of the e-book market. Additionally, BookLive's shareholders, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kaneko Shingo; hereinafter "Toppan Printing") and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Iijima Masami; hereinafter "Mitsui & Co."), will continue to support BookLive's growth, with the aim of making the new comprehensive book platform created through this partnership the industry standard.

BookLive was founded in 2011, at the dawn of the domestic e-book market, as the company responsible for the Toppan Group's e-book services. In March 2012, the company entered into a capital alliance with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and others, and is now one of Japan's largest comprehensive e-book stores, handling approximately 290,000 books. We are the pioneer of our competitors in providing an easy-to-use e-book platform that can be used "anytime, anywhere, by anyone," including the realization of "multi-platform" e-books, which have become the industry standard and can be used on multiple devices.

CCC began operating a franchise (FC) for the bookstore business in 1994, and has since been involved in the franchise development of "BOOK&CAFE," a bookstore and cafe combined, comic rental and second-hand bookstore "ecobooks," as well as opening large TSUTAYA stores with book sales as their main focus. In addition, in 2011 we opened Tsutaya Bookstore, a lifestyle bookstore that offers a new style of reading, and since last year we have also been involved in planning and managing public libraries. CCC has now grown into the largest bookstore chain in Japan, with book and magazine sales reaching a record high of 115.7 billion yen in fiscal 2013. The number of TSUTAYA stores, including bookstores, in Japan and overseas has grown to 1,448, and the number of T-members has expanded to 48.78 million, proposing new lifestyles to customers of all ages.

Through this partnership, BookLive and CCC will utilize "T Points" and e-book solutions as a common infrastructure connecting the real world and the internet. By linking the services of "BookLive!", one of Japan's largest e-book services, and "TSUTAYA", the country's largest bookstore chain, they will create Japan's largest comprehensive book platform and provide customers with a "new reading experience" that is not limited by formats such as paper or electronic. Specifically, we will plan and develop new, unprecedented services, such as purchasing a book at "TSUTAYA" and then immediately receiving the e-book version for free through "BookLive!", or ordering a book at "TSUTAYA" and then being able to immediately read the e-book version on "BookLive!" while waiting for the book to arrive. This will not only improve convenience for existing e-book users, but will also provide new services that combine the real world and the internet to customers who have never used e-books.

Going forward, by opening up the platform based on the e-book service "BookLive!" and the shared points service "T-Points" to other bookstores and e-book stores, we aim to create an open infrastructure that provides the highest customer value, bringing together publishers and many other companies involved in books and contributing to the revitalization and development of the entire book industry. Furthermore, with a view to a medium- to long-term collaborative relationship, the two companies will plan and implement various services, and will also consider capital alliances and personnel exchanges.

Through this business partnership, the two companies will provide a variety of services, including the following, sequentially by the end of the year.

T Points	Earn T-Points when you purchase e-books on "BookLive!"
AirBook	When purchasing a book at "TSUTAYA," if you present your T-Card, you will receive a free or discounted e-book version on "BookLive!" immediately after purchase.
FastRead	When you order a book from "TSUTAYA," you will receive a free e-book version until the book arrives.
BookLive! SPOT	Limited Wi-Fi spots will be set up at the BOOK & CAFE style "TSUTAYA" so that you can enjoy books and e-books from "BookLive!" while drinking coffee.
TSUTAYA360	When you rent or purchase DVDs, CDs, games, character goods, etc. at "TSUTAYA," you can purchase e-books related to the works or content for free or at a discount.
Purchase e-books at TSUTAYA stores	"TSUTAYA" allows users to search for e-books on in-store search machines and purchase them at the register
common bookshelf	A common bookshelf has been created to store books purchased from "BookLive!" and "TSUTAYA."You can manage paper books and e-books in a unified manner.

Materials related to this matter
BookLive and CCC reach basic agreement on strategic partnership to create Japan's largest comprehensive book platform

Inquiries regarding this matter
Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.
Public Relations Officer TEL: 03-6800-4464