Softbank Corp. said Monday it will team up with four other firms to establish a joint venture next month aimed at helping its clients promote investor relations, particularly through the Internet.
The Tokyo-based joint venture, OnLine IR Co., will start operations in March.
It will provide consulting services on IR by setting up Web sites and other online IR tools, and by developing and operating IR-related portal sites that investors can use.
To be capitalized at 200 million yen, the new company will be owned 80 percent by two Softbank units -- Softbank Finance Corp. with 75 percent and Softbank E-Commerce Corp. with 5 percent, it said.
Takara Printing Co., Asia Securities Printing Co., Tokyo Financial Planners Co. and Shinto Tsushin Co. will each have a stake of 5 percent. in the joint venture, it said. Major audit corporations Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Chuo Aoyama Audit Corp. and Yusei Audit & Co. plan to cooperate with the IR venture.