Seiyu Group

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Seiyu Group (西友グループ) is a Japanese operator of supermarkets, shopping centers, and department stores. It is also the second-largest retailer in the world in terms of stores owned. In addition to its Japanese operations, Seiyu also has department stores operating under its name in Singapore and Hong Kong. The group used to directly operate its Singapore and Hong Kong stores, but in October 2005 its three Singapore stores were sold to CapitaLand Limited, which transferred them to Beijing Hualian Group later the same year. The group's Hong Kong store in New Town Plaza, Sha Tin was sold to Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited in June 2005, but like the stores in Singapore it continues to operate under the Seiyu name.

According to BusinessWeek Online (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_09/b3922073.htm), Wal-Mart, the giant American retailer, bought a 37 percent stake in Seiyu in 2002, and according to a company press release (http://www.walmartfacts.com/newsdesk/article.aspx?id=1386), in late 2005 Wal-Mart acquired a majority stake in the company.

Group companies

Street musicians perform at a railway connected to this Seiyu store in Tokyo

"Seiyu Group" refers to an association of companies, of which The Seiyu, Ltd. is the parent company. The companies in Seiyu Group are:

• The Seiyu, Ltd. (parent company)
• Hokkaido Seiyu Co., Ltd.
• Tohoku Seiyu Co., Ltd.
• S.S.V. Inc.
• Kyusyu Seiyu Co., Ltd.
• Sunny Co., Ltd.
• Wakana Co., Ltd.
• Smile Corp.
• The SCC, Ltd.
• Nicoh Inc.
• Smis Co., Ltd.
• Seiyu Service Co., Ltd

Shareholders

• Wyoming Holding GmbH (38%) (a wholly owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart)
• Sumitomo Corporation (9%)
• The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd. (Trust account) 6%
• Credit Saison Co., Ltd. 3.5%
• Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust account) 2.93%
• The Nomura Trust and Banking Co., Ltd. (Trust account) 2.46%
• JP Morgan Chase CREF Jasdec Lending Account 2.32%
• The Chase Manhattan Bank GTS Clients Account Escrow 1.96%
• Kyusyu Seiyu Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of The Seiyu, Ltd.)
• Yoshinoya D&C Co., Ltd. 0.79%

Main Creditors

• Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.
• Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
• The Chuo Mitsui Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.

References