Z Holdings

Z Holdings Corporation
	the logo features the words "Z Holdings" in black lettering Z Holdings logo
	File:Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho.jpg Headquarters located at Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho in Kioichō, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Native name	Zホールディングス株式会社
Company type	Public
Traded as	Template:TYO was; TOPIX 100 constituent
Industry	Internet and Telecommunications
Founded	October 1, 2019; 7 years ago
Defunct	October 1, 2023
Fate	Consolidated with four subsidiaries, including Yahoo! Japan and Line Corporation
Successor	LY Corporation
Headquarters	Tokyo, Japan
Area served	Global
Products	Yahoo! Japan, PayPay, Line
Services	Yahoo! Japan, Line App, Line Manga, Line Play, Line Taxi
Owner	A Holdings (63.9%) (jointly owned by Softbank Group and Naver Corporation)
Subsidiaries	Yahoo Japan Corporation; Line Corporation; Zozo; Askul; ValueCommerce; PayPay (joint venture); Z Financial;
Website	www.z-holdings.co.jp

was a Japanese internet holding entity under the ownership of A Holdings, a joint enterprise formed by SoftBank Group and Naver Corporation. Established in 2019 when Yahoo! Japan Corporation restructured into a holding company, it subsequently merged with Line Corporation, a Naver subsidiary from South Korea, in 2020. This merger positioned Line as a subsidiary of Z Holdings within A Holdings. In 2023, Z Holdings combined with four of its subsidiaries—including Yahoo! Japan and Line—to create LY Corporation.

History

The company initially launched as Yahoo Japan Corporation in January 1996 and shifted to a holding company format on October 1, 2019, following a corporate split and renaming.

During the 2019 restructuring, the group’s business was segmented: the information and communication segment (Yahoo! JAPAN) became Yahoo Japan Corporation, while the financial services segment was spun off as Z Financial Co., Ltd., which was then placed under the holding company overseeing the entire group.

In November 2019, SoftBank Corp and Naver Corporation reached an agreement to merge Z Holdings with Line Corporation via a joint venture. This led to the creation of A Holdings Corporation, which took control of LINE alongside other Z Holdings assets, with ownership equally divided between Naver and SoftBank Corp.

By March 2021, Yahoo! Japan officially merged with Line Corporation under the umbrella of Z Holdings. This integration sought to build a robust platform capable of competing with leading global technology firms such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, and Japan’s Rakuten. Additionally, it broadened Z Holdings’ footprint across significant Asian markets where Line enjoys popularity: Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Established in 2021 and owned by Z Holdings, LINE Bank operates as a commercial bank based in Taipei, Taiwan, specializing in digital banking solutions.

In July 2022, SoftBank Corp and Z Holdings unified PayPay—a mobile payment platform—by creating B Holdings as a new parent entity holding a 57.9% stake in PayPay through converting preferred shares into common shares.

On October 1, 2023, Z Holdings merged with its subsidiaries—Line, Yahoo!, Z Entertainment, and Z Data—to establish LY Corporation, a joint venture formed by SoftBank Group and Naver Corp.

External links

Z Holdings Official Site

ja:Zホールスディング