By issuing around 750,000 new shares for sale to franchisees and business partners, McDonald’s (Japan) is hoping to raise ¥1bn for the construction of new outlets and increase shareholders to meet the criteria for a public offering next summer.

The plan will not influence the equity stakes currently controlled by major players such as Fujita and Co (who owns 34%) and US based McDonald’s Restaurant Operations, which owns 32%, but the number of shareholders is expected to increase ten times over to around 670.