Notice on Applying to Delist American Depositary Shares from New York Stock Exchange and Terminate Registration with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
TOKYO, JAPAN, April 28, 2016 --- NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that its Board of Directors resolved to apply for voluntary delisting of its American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") from the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"). In connection with the delisting, the company intends to file for the termination of registration of its ADSs under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") in around March 2018.
1. Reasons for Delisting
The company listed its ADSs on the NYSE in March 2002 mainly to boost the liquidity of the company's shares by giving more opportunities to foreign investors and to expand its avenues for procuring funds. Since then, the company has made efforts to enhance disclosures for shareholders and investors with the goal of deepening their understanding of the company, in addition to complying with the disclosure requirements of U.S. securities laws and regulations, providing consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"), and establishing internal controls in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Meanwhile, the external environment has significantly changed as indicated by the increases in trading volume of Japanese stocks through stock exchanges in Japan by overseas investors due to the internationalization of the Japanese financial and capital markets, as well as the narrowing of the gap between U.S. and Japanese disclosure standards with respect to financial reporting due to a series of amendments to Japanese laws and regulations and accounting standards. In this environment, the company believes the significance to continue listing on the NYSE has faded, taking into account the fact that the trading volume of its ADSs on the NYSE accounts for only a small fraction of the total trading volume of its shares. Therefore, the company has decided to apply for voluntary delisting of its ADSs from the NYSE and for termination of registration of its ADSs with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Exchange Act.
2. Stock Exchanges on which the Company Will Maintain its Listings
The company will maintain its listings on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
3. Schedule
Around March 2018 The company to provide the NYSE with a written pre-notice of the delisting application The company to file Form 25 with the SEC for delisting from the NYSE and deregistration with the SEC Around April 2018 Delisting to become effective The company to file Form 15F with the SEC to terminate its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act Aroud July 2018 Deregistration with the SEC to become effective Termination of the company's reporting obligations under the Exchange Act to become effective
Note: The schedule provided above, including the anticipated effective dates, may be delayed if the SEC objects or requests an extended review or for other reasons.
4. Future Plans
After the delisting of its ADSs from the NYSE, the company intends to maintain its American Depositary Receipt Program in the U.S. and therefore anticipates that its ADSs will continue to be traded in the U.S. on the over-the-counter market. While the company's reporting obligations under the Exchange Act (including the obligation to file annual reports on Form 20-F) will be terminated, the company will continue to disclose financial statements and other information, in English, on its website to ensure that its overseas shareholders and investors will continue to have appropriate information about the company. In Addition, the company is considering preparing and disclosing its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") beginning with the three months ending June 30, 2018.
5. Contact Information for Inquiries regarding the Company's ADSs
BNY Mellon Depositary Receipts (U.S.) Phone: 1-888-BNY-ADRS (1-888-269-2377, U.S. toll free) 1- 201-680-6825 (International) (Available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, U.S. Eastern Time) Website: https://www.adrbnymellon.com http://www.mybnymdr.com E-mail: shrrelations@cpushareownerservices.com
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