NTT DoCoMo to Strengthen User Interfaces Via Tie-up with Acrodea
(Business News & Technology News, 28 Feb 2008)
NTT DoCoMo Inc. will form a business and capital alliance with Acrodea Inc., a maker of software technologies for mobile-phone user interfaces, which will result in Acrodea products being embedded in DoCoMo handsets for heigthened functionality, user friendliness and user enjoyment. The agreement will also strengthen the efficiency of DoCoMo's handset-development process, as well as enhance the partners' overall existing relationship.
DoCoMo will acquire 4,500 newly allocated shares valued at 1.8 billion yens, or 402,220 yen per share, accounting for about 5.7 percent of Acrodea's outstanding shares. DoCoMo expects to complete the share acquisition by March 13. In addition, DoCoMo has requested that JAIC Advanced-Tech No.1 Venture Capital Investment L.P., of which DoCoMo is a limited partner, transfer 2,800 of its Acrodea shares to DoCoMo by around the end of March, as soon as the necessary approval is authorized by the general partner.
The two transactions will leave DoCoMo with an approximate 9.26 percent stake in Acrodea, and the DoCoMo Group a combined approximate 13.06 percent stake, including the 3,000 shares in Acrodea held by DoCoMo.com Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary.