Exclusive-Japan's Rakuten weighing US IPO of credit card business, sources say

Core Viewpoint - Rakuten is considering an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States for its credit card business, which is one of Japan's largest, amid rising competition and market dynamics [1][2]. Group 1: IPO Considerations - The potential U.S. IPO of Rakuten Card was influenced by rival SoftBank's plans to list PayPay in the U.S. [2] - The discussions regarding the IPO are in early stages, with alternative options including a stake sale to a strategic buyer [1][2]. Group 2: Business Valuation and Stake Acquisition - Mizuho Financial Group acquired a 15% stake in Rakuten Card for 165 billion yen ($1.1 billion), valuing the business at over 1 trillion yen ($7 billion) [3]. - Institutional investors anticipate a baseline valuation of 2 trillion yen for PayPay, with expectations that it could exceed 3 trillion yen during its IPO [3]. Group 3: Importance of Credit Cards to Rakuten - Credit cards are central to Rakuten's business model, which includes online shopping, banking, and travel services, allowing customers to earn loyalty reward points [4]. - Rakuten Card has issued over 30 million credit cards in Japan, with a non-GAAP operating profit growth of 20% to 62 billion yen last year, although it faced a 4.5% decline in the April-June quarter of this year due to increased costs [6]. Group 4: Market Context - The global IPO market is experiencing a resurgence, with the U.S. market having its busiest quarter since Q4 2021, raising $24 billion through first-time share sales in Q3 [7].