Exhibit #1
IIJ Announces Partial Amendment of Its Articles of Incorporation
TOKYO, May 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Internet Initiative Japan Inc. ("IIJ") (Nasdaq:IIJI) (TSE1:3774) today announced that at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on May 26, 2009, IIJ resolved to propose the partial amendment of its articles of incorporation at the 17th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on June 26, 2009 in Tokyo, as described below:
1. Reasons for the amendments (1) As a result of the enforcement of the "Law for Partial Amendments to the Law Concerning Book-entry Transfer of Corporate Bonds, etc. for the Purpose of Streamlining the Settlement for Transactions of Shares, etc." (Law No. 88 of 2004; the "Settlement Streamlining Law"), the current Articles of Incorporation will be amended as described below: (i) Pursuant to the provision of Article 6 of the Supplementary Provisions of the Settlement Streamlining Law, IIJ is deemed to have adopted a resolution to amend the Articles of Incorporation to abolish the provision on the issuance of share certificates on the date of enforcement of the Electronic Share Certificate System (January 5, 2009), and therefore, Article 7 (Issuance of Share Certificates) of the Articles of Incorporation of IIJ shall be deleted and, along with the deletion of Article 7, phrases relating to share certificates shall be deleted or amended. (ii) In accordance with the abolishment of the "Law Concerning Depositary and Book-Entry for Stocks and Other Securities," phrases relating to beneficial shareholders and register of beneficial shareholders of the Articles of Incorporation of IIJ shall be deleted or amended. (iii) The register of lost share certificates is required to be prepared and maintained for one (1) year from the day following the date of enforcement of the Settlement Streamlining Law, and therefore, the required provisions shall be established in the Supplementary Provisions. (iv) Further, necessary addition and deletion of provisions and phrases, and necessary amendment such as modifications, shall be made. 2. Content of amendments The content of the amendments are shown in the attached document. 3. Schedule for amendment Scheduled date of the 17th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders: Friday, June 26, 2009 Scheduled effective date: Friday, June 26, 2009 Present Articles Proposed Articles --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Issuance of Share Certificates) (Deleted) Article 7 The Company shall issue share certificates representing its shares. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Acquisition of Own Shares) (Acquisition of Own Shares) Article 8 Article 7 (Provisions omitted) (Unchanged) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Share Handling Regulations) (Share Handling Regulations) Article 9 Article 8 The procedures concerning shares The procedure of exercising a and handling charges thereof stockholder's right and other shall be governed by the handling of shares, and handling Share Handling Regulations to be charges there of shall be governed prescribed by the by the Share Handling Regulations Board of Directors. to be prescribed by the Board of Directors, as well as applicable laws and regulations or the Articles of Incorporation. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Shareholder Register Agent) (Shareholder Register Agent) Article 10 Article 9 The Company shall appoint a The Company shall appoint a shareholder register agent. shareholder register agent. 2 The shareholder register agent 2 The shareholder register agent and its place of business shall and its place of business shall be designated by a resolution be designated by a resolution of the Board of Directors. of the Board of Directors. 3 The register of shareholders 3 The preparation and maintenance (hereinafter including the of the register of shareholders register of beneficial and the original register of shareholders), the original stock acquisition rights, and register of stock acquisition other matters relating to the rights and the register of register of shareholders and lost share certificates shall the original register of stock be kept by the shareholder acquisition rights shall be register agent at its place handled by the shareholder of business, and the listing register agent, and the Company or recording of entries shall not handle any such into the register of matters. shareholders, the original register of stock acquisition rights and the register of lost share certificates and other matters concerning shares and stock acquisition rights shall be handled by the shareholder register agent, and the Company shall not handle any such matters. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Article 11. Article 10. (Provisions omitted) (Unchanged) Article 35. Article 34. (Provisions omitted) (Unchanged) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (New Provision) Supplementary Provisions Article 1. The preparation and maintenance of the register of lost share certificates of the Company, and other matters relating to the register of lost share certificates shall be delegated to the shareholder register agent and shall not be handled by the Company. Article 2. The immediately preceding Article and this Article shall remain effective until January 5, 2010, and shall be deleted upon January 6, 2010. ---------------------------------------------------------------------
About IIJ
Founded in 1992, IIJ is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions corporate customers. IIJ's services include high-quality systems integration and security services, Internet access, hosting/housing, and content design. Moreover, IIJ has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan, and between Japan and the United States. IIJ was listed on NASDAQ in 1999 and on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006.
The Internet Initiative Japan Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4613
The statements within this release contain forward-looking statements about our future plans that involve risk and uncertainty. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents furnished by Internet Initiative Japan Inc. with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Internet Initiative Japan Inc. Investor Relations +81-3-5259-6500 ir@iij.ad.jp http://www.iij.ad.jp/en/IR