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Tokyo and Madrid, September 8, 2004 - JCB, the leading international payment brand, is pleased to announce that JCB International Co., Ltd. and EURO 6000 S.A., one of Spain's three payment network providers, concluded a license agreement for JCB acquiring operations yesterday at EURO 6000 headquarters in Madrid. General Director Santiago Ballesteros Estevez signed on behalf of EURO 6000, and JCBI was represented by President & COO Kunio Yoshizawa. This is the first time that JCB has granted an acquiring license to a payment network in Spain.
This agreement with EURO 6000 completes JCB business relationships with the major Spanish acquirers. EURO 6000 merchant acquiring operations and sales processing will begin by the end of March 2005. Thirty-five banks, primarily regional savings banks, participate in EURO 6000's payment network and processing center services, for a total of approximately 260,000 merchants.
"We are delighted with our new relationship with EURO 6000, as this agreement means an increase of another 30% of the total merchant network in Spain. In fact, Spain ranks sixth among European nations in the number of Japanese tourists, at about 240,000 a year, with Spain's many world heritage sites such as Cordoba and the Alhambra Palace leading in popularity among travelers from Japan", said Mr. Shunji Yoshioka, Senior Vice President at JCB International Co., Ltd. "Through this agreement we have another strong local partner who will be able to meet the needs of a growing merchant base, and we will be able to enhance payment services throughout Spain to better meet the needs of traveling JCB cardmembers."
JCB card acceptance will be phased in, starting with about 140,000 merchants in the first year and 250,000 by the end of the third year. As a result the JCB card acceptance rate in the Spanish market will nearly double, benefiting not only the La Caixa JCB Card cardmembers who live in Spain, but also the large number of visitors from other European countries.
JCB is meeting the changing needs and desires in tourist trends by increasing JCB card acceptance in regional areas as well as major cities in Spain, while EURO 6000 can help its merchants take advantage of these trends by adding the JCB brand to its existing line-up of international credit card brands. Both organizations will benefit by this new alliance.
About EURO 6000 S.A.
EURO 6000, present in the Spanish market from 1975, administers the networks and products of payment means promoted together by the 35 Savings Banks associates, and represents them with other national and international systems of payment. The System EURO 6000, moved in the last twelve months a volume of 37.527 millions of € with 13,4 million cards issued and 38.592 millions of € as acquirer at merchants and ATM's. For more information about EURO 6000, please see www.euro6000.com (Spanish language only).
About JCB International Co., Ltd.
JCB is an international credit card brand and the largest card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network includes 11.7 million merchants and spans 189 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 51.6 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 320 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. JCB's corporate philosophy of "Service from the heart", a commitment to responsive and high-quality service, continues to guide it as it creates the future together with its customers, merchants and partners. For further information, plea visit the JCB Co. Ltd. home page at : www.jcb-global.com/english or www.jcbinternational.com.
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