Rakuten LinkShare Reports Strong Q2 Demand for AffiliateMarketing Services and Solutions in the US, Canada, UK andJapan

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rakuten LinkShare today reported strong demand for itsperformance marketing software and services and continued growth throughout its global networkfor the second quarter of 2012. Along with signing new advertisers, the company also reportedstrong same-store sales in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

In the US, same-store sales far outpaced overall e-commerce growth. According to comScore, overalle-commerce increased by 15 percent1 in the US in the second quarter of 2012 while same storesales in the Rakuten LinkShare network increased by 29 percent year-over-year for the same period.

Rakuten LinkShare's UK network also saw significant gains with overall same-store sales increasing65 percent year-over-year. This compares to an overall industry increase of 1.6 percent in UK retailsales for the quarter2.

The Rakuten LinkShare network also reported a significant increase in newly signed or launchedbrands and new publishers across all geographic markets including the US, Canada, UK and Japan.More than 100 brands were signed in the second quarter along with thousands of new publishers.

The newly signed brands represent significant commission opportunities for publishers across abroad range of product categories including apparel, luxury, electronics and other consumer goods.

"Joining the Rakuten LinkShare network was a strategic decision as we seek to expand our onlinepresence and drive more sales through the affiliate channel," said Matt Wilkerson, co-founder andvice president of corporate development, AHAlife.com. "As we gear up for what we believe will beanother record-breaking holiday season, the Rakuten LinkShare network will be a key part of ourstrategy for achieving our objectives."

With consumers becoming more comfortable buying from online retailers based in other countries,advertisers are increasing their investments in global e-commerce and expanding their reach toinclude a broader set of publishers. Rakuten LinkShare will continue to accommodate advertisers'and publishers' needs by expanding its network and entering new markets.

"Online retailers are now finding new customers and driving sales around the world," said Yaz Iida,chief executive officer, Rakuten LinkShare. "As consumer trends and tastes become more global,part of our mission will be to help advertisers and publishers create new partnerships in newmarkets as they increase their global e-commerce capabilities."

About Rakuten LinkShare Corporation

Rakuten LinkShare Corporation provides e-commerce businesses with a vast, high quality pay peraction marketing network, along with expert consultative services and patented technology. Rakuten

LinkShare's cost-efficient pay per action (PPA) affiliate network, search marketing and leadgeneration campaigns acquire new customers, increase revenue and drive results. RakutenLinkShare clients are Fortune 500 and prominent companies doing business online, including J.C.Penney, 1-800-Flowers.com, American Express and Avon Products. LinkShare was founded in 1996and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, Tampa, London andTokyo. For more information, please visit: www.linkshare.com.

About Rakuten

Rakuten, Inc. (JASDAQ:4755), is one of theworld's leading Internet service companies,providing a variety of consumer- andbusiness-focused services including e-commerce, e-reading, travel, banking,securities, credit card, e-money, portal andmedia, online marketing and professionalsports. Rakuten is expanding globally andcurrently has operations throughout Asia,Western Europe, and the Americas. Foundedin 1997, Rakuten is headquartered in Tokyo,with over 10,000 employees and partner staffworldwide. For more information, visithttp://global.rakuten.com/group.

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