Pronexus, Japan's Leading Financial Printer, Enters Into an Agreement with Business Wire to Provide Japanese Issuers with Seamless Communications Access to International Investment Community, Worldwide Media

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Responding to a dramatic rise in foreign investment in Japanese companies, Pronexus, Inc., Japan's leading financial printer, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Business Wire that provides Japanese listed companies with direct access to global investors, worldwide media and international consumer markets.

Recent surveys suggest that overseas investors now own as much as 30 percent of shares of Tokyo Stock Exchange-traded companies. As a result, most Japanese issuers, including companies traded on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Mothers, and JASDAQ exchanges, have placed a priority emphasis on reaching overseas markets with their investor relations communications.

With more stringent disclosure requirements scheduled to go into effect in Japan next year, Pronexus has moved aggressively to enhance its range of investor relations services. Access to Business Wire's comprehensive news distribution network is a major part of the company's strategy for dealing with the anticipated regulatory changes.

For example Q-IR Wire, a service provided by Pronexus's subsidiary, eol, Inc., dynamically updates financial data in English on public company web sites that subscribe to the automated service. The collaboration with Business Wire enables Pronexus and eol clients to transmit time-sensitive financial highlights drawn from the refreshed data to the global capital markets.

"Our agreement with Pronexus provides Japanese issuers with a proven pathway to international investors who are closely monitoring their activities," said Gregg Castano, co-chief operating officer of Business Wire, who made the announcement. "With foreign investors exerting greater influence over corporate strategy and management decisions, the need for Japanese companies to reach overseas audiences has never been greater."

"Our partnership with Business Wire is designed to provide our client corporations with simple and cost-effective access to Business Wire's worldwide networks," said Morio Ueno, representative director and president of Pronexus, Inc. "Business Wire will provide Japanese companies with the opportunity to reach institutional and individual investors, simultaneously and in real-time, with important financial updates."

About Business Wire

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is utilized by thousands of member companies and organizations to transmit their full-text news releases, regulatory filings, photos and other multimedia content to journalists, news media, trade publications, institutional and individual investors, financial information services, regulatory authorities, Internet portals, information web sites, business-to-business decision-makers and consumers worldwide. With a news distribution network spanning 150 countries and 45 languages, Business Wire's multi-channel delivery network has access to some 60 international and national news agency networks throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The Business Wire news network is powered by its patented NX high-speed data platform and supports XML, XHTML and XBRL code to deliver the most sophisticated news file to enhance news release interactivity, customization and search engine optimization. Business Wire has 30 bureaus in cities including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Brussels, Tokyo and Sydney with reciprocal offices throughout the world. Business Wire was founded in 1961 by Chairman Lorry I. Lokey, veteran journalist and public relations executive. Cathy Baron Tamraz is president and CEO.

About Pronexus Inc.

Pronexus, the #1 source for information about any major company in Japan, started out as a specialized printer of securities certificates in 1930. Today, Pronexus is recognized as Japan’s leading producer of official filing documents, earnings statements, annual reports, IR information, and other disclosure documents. Pronexus has earned its reputation as a provider of comprehensive, accurate, and timely digital information.

Pronexus is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (#7893) and is the first choice of Japan’s high-growth firms. For example, in the fiscal years 2002 through 2006, 32 REITs went public, and Pronexus provided official documentation for all of them. The company also provided the listing-related documentation for 64% of all new IPOs.

One of its key subsidiaries, eol, Inc., mines Pronexus' vast archive of corporate financial filings (similar to US Form 10Ks) to create Japan’s leading online corporate database.