TOKYO, Nov 29 Reuters Rakuten Group is a Japanese conglomerate centred on an ecommerce website Rakuten Ichiba and a suite of online financial services companies including banking, credit card, securities and insurance arms.

Here are some details about its deeply troubled mobile business, the group39;s operating losses, debt burden and its efforts to shore up its finances.

RAKUTEN MOBILE

Japan39;s No. 4 mobile network was launched in April 2020. As of Sept. 30 it has 5.2 milion subscribers and about 2.5 share of the world39;s thirdlargest telecom market. It had 351 billion yen 2.4 billion in annual sales last year and accounts for 18 of Rakuten39;s overall revenue.

DEBT AND LOSSES

The mobile unit39;s buildout costs spiralled, financed largely by corporate bonds. Rakuten Group currently has total debt of more than 1.5 trillion yen, of which 800 billion yen is due to be redeemed by the end of 2025.

Rakuten has posted 13 straight quarters of operating losses due to its troubled mobile unit, resulting in cumulative losses for the group of 819 billion yen 5.5 billion.

The mobile unit39;s worst quarter was the first quarter of 2021 when the unit had an 132 billion yen operating loss. In the latest quarter, it logged a loss of 81 billion yen.

RAKUTEN39;S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

March 2021 gains 242 billion yen from selling new shares and treasury stock. This included the sale of an 8.32 stake to Japan Post Holdings. Other investors included Chinese tech conglomerate…