December 28, 2016 SBI Holdings, Inc. IBM Japan, Ltd.

The SBI Group and IBM Japan to Launch Joint Venture Offering Support to Regional Financial Institutions in FinTech Service Implementation

SBI Holdings, Inc. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Yoshitaka Kitao; hereinafter "SBIH") and IBM Japan, Ltd. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Country General Manager and President: Paul Yonamine; hereinafter "IBM Japan") have agreed to start discussions on joint business development and creation of a joint venture company offering support to regional financial institutions in the implementation of various FinTech services.

As a FinTech frontrunner in Japan, the SBI Group has developed various Internet-based financial service businesses for securities firms, banks, insurers, etc. since its foundation in 1999. The SBI Group companies are currently driving the implementation of new technologies in the FinTech field so that they can improve customer convenience further in each business area, pursue the uniqueness of services, and differentiate themselves from competitors.

IBM Japan started to offer FinTech programs in 2015. Since then, IBM Japan has also offered secure environments for connecting financial institutions with FinTech companies by means of IBM's cloud development, operational environment, API connection base, etc. so that financial institutions can speedily use various FinTech companies' services. In addition, IBM Japan has supported the growth of FinTech companies by offering startup support programs.

IBM Japan and SBIH have agreed to start discussions on joint business development, including the construction of "FinTech Platform," and on creation of a joint venture company to offer support to regional financial institutions in the implementation of new FinTech services. This will be done by using the knowledge and know-how that the SBI Group has developed as an organization driving the growth of online financing in Japan and the achievements and technological knowledge that IBM Japan has obtained in the FinTech field.

FinTech Platform will be connected with various FinTech services and systems of domestic and overseas FinTech venture companies including those in which the SBI Group has made investments, and offered to regional financial institutions. As a result, these financial institutions will be able to choose FinTech functions that they wish to use from among extensive FinTech services, and to implement these services smoothly, enabling them to diversify their services and reduce costs.

By offering support to regional financial institutions in FinTech service implementation through this joint venture, IBM Japan and the SBI Group will promote open innovation further in the FinTech field in Japan and contribute to financial business advancement using FinTech.

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For further information, please contact:

SBI Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications Dept., Tel: +81 3 6229-0126

SBI Holdings Inc. published this content on 28 December 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
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