Agreement to Consider Establishing a new TV Home Shopping Company in Thailand

Aug. 03, 2012
Sumitomo Corporation

Agreement to Consider Establishing a new TV Home Shopping Company in Thailand

Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kuniharu Nakamura), Central Retail Corporation Limited and I.C.C. International Public Company Ltd. have agreed to enter into a further discussion about establishing a new TV home shopping company in Thailand.

Sumitomo Corporation have been managing Jupiter Shop Channel co. ltd, a leading pioneer of TV home shopping in Japan, since its establishment in 1996. For further growth of Jupiter Shop Channel co. ltd, they have been seeking for opportunities to expand its business to Asian countries. Central Retail Corporation is a retail arm member of Central Group, one of the largest and most successful conglomerates in Southeast Asia today, and I.C.C. International Public Company is a consumer products distributing company of SAHA group, one of the major conglomerates in Thailand. Both the two companies have broad experience and knowledge about consumer market in Thailand. Supported by the steady rising of income levels, Thai consumer market is one of the most growing markets in Southeast Asia. and the consumer preference in Thailand is becoming sophisticated and diversified by the expansion of middle and upper class in recent years. By leveraging each of the Sumitomo Corporation, Central Retail Corporation and SAHA group's strength, the established company aims to generate THB 5 billion sales in its fifth year while becoming a leading TV home shopping company in the country.
Sumitomo Corporation will lead the management of the new company with Jupiter Shop Channel co. ltd through applying the business know-how that has been cultivated through the experience of managing 24 hour live broadcasting TV home shopping business in Japan.

Sumitomo Corporation sets "Enhancing integrated corporate strength on a global basis" as an action plan for the medium-term management plan f(x)(FY2011-2012). Media, Network & Lifestyle Retail Unit will continue to seek for a dominant business partner within Asia in likewise this case and will accelerate expanding its successful retail business model to overseas.

<Profile of the new company>
-- Official company name and capital: to be decided through discussion
-- Purpose of establishment : Developing a multimedia retail business in Thailand
-- Platform : TV and internet (including PC and mobile)
-- Merchandising : High-end oriented products such as jewelry, cosmetics, electronics

fashion and foods, etc.
-- Location : Bangkok, Thailand
-- Ownership :Sumitomo Corporation Group (including Jupiter Shop Channel co. ltd): 40%,
Central Retail Corporation :30%,
I.C.C. International Public Company : 30%
-- Broadcasting launch date : Trial early 2013(target)
Full-scale June 2013(target)
-- Main role of the shareholders :

[Sumitomo Corporation group]
Providing JSC's 24 hour broadcasting TV home shopping operation know-how.
[Central Retail Corporation, a member of Central Group]

- Assisting merchandising by giving advice on selection of suitable high-end products that

matches local-oriented consumer needs based on their expertise in retail.

- Providing trust and brand image that has been built up as the largest retail group in Thailand.
[I.C.C. International Public Company, a member of SAHA group]
- Assisting merchandising by proposing suitable products and local-oriented consumer

needs based on their expertise in distributor.
- Providing operation facilities.

<Profile of Central Retail Corporation>
-- Official name of the company : Central Retail Corporation Limited
-- Subsidiaries : Over 40 companies
-- Location : Bangkok, Thailand
-- Business outline :

Central Retail Corporation is the largest retailer in Thailand developing over 580 stores

such as department stores, supermarkets and specialty stores, etc. They have accelerated

expanding its retail business to overseas. For example, they acquired La Rinascente, a

famous department store in Italy in 2011.
-- Center firms in Thailand:

Department Stores (Central Department Store, Robinson Department Store, Zen)
Specialty Stores ( PowerBuy, Supersports, B2S, Homework, Office Depot, Thai Watsadu)
Supermarkets ( Central Foodhall, Tops Market, Tops Super, Tops Daily) and Central

Embassy.
-- Sales :107,000 Million Baht (sales of 2011)

<Profile of SAHA Group>
-- Official name of the group : SAHA Group
-- Number of companies in the group : Over 200 companies
-- Location : Bangkok, Thailand
-- Business outline :

SAHA Group is one of the largest manufacturing wholesaler of consumer products in

Thailand.

They manufacture and distribute a wide variety of consumer products such as apparel,

cosmetics, foods and household items, etc. They deal with about 1,000 brands of products

inside and outside Thailand.
-- Center firms :

Distributing Companies (I.C.C. International Public Company Ltd., Saha Pathanapibul

Public Company Ltd.), Manufacturing Companies (Thai president foods Public Company Ltd.,

Thai Wacoal Public Company Ltd.)
-- Sales :12,825 Million Baht (2011 sales of I.C.C. International Public Company Ltd.)

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