Press Release

R3 and SBI Holdings partner for new venture to accelerate Corda adoption in Japan

28^thJanuary 2019 (Tokyo and New York) – R3, a global enterprise software firm, and SBI Holdings (SBI), R3’s largest shareholder, are launching a new joint venture to boost the adoption of Corda in Japan and the wider East Asian region.

This partnership will take primary responsibility for adoption and support for Corda and Corda Enterprise in the region. Through the partnership, R3 and SBI will jointly continue their advocacy for enterprise blockchain and increase the focus on commercial adoption of Corda. The partnership will enable SBI to leverage its unparalleled network of regional contacts among financial institutions and corporates to accelerate the adoption of Corda.

By connecting into the Corda ecosystem, firms in Japan will have access Corda’s diverse ecosystem applications and thousands of developers. They will also be able to join over 300 of the world’s largest companies, financial services firms, technology firms, central banks, regulators, and trade associations as partners of R3.

Corda and Corda Enterprise are the foundation of a vibrant ecosystem of interoperable, customizable and global applications for enterprise use. They are built and maintained by R3, an enterprise software firm developing blockchain for businesses.

Yoshitaka Kitao, CEO of SBI Group,said: “SBI has been participating in consortium led by R3 from the earliest stage when they established the Lab and Research Center to try out blockchain technology. Large investment and commitment by SBI was decided when R3 formulated its vision for Corda, when we have come to notice its possibilities of having significant influence on the future financial infrastructures. Since then, the development of Corda has progressed smoothly and is now in the commercialization stage. In order to spread this innovative technology, it is essential to provide proper support. SBI strongly commits in the support for establishment of framework / partnership for the well-development of R3’s Corda in Japan and East Asian Region.”

David E. Rutter, CEO of R3,said: “SBI is one of Corda’s biggest champions. With this partnership, we are able to come better together to support the growth of the Corda platform in the region. Through the combination of SBI’s incredible influence, built up over decades of excellent service to their clients, and the rich ecosystem which we have fostered around Corda, we have a compelling and unique offer for firms in the region. We are building a network of the best institutions, technologists and services to ensure that Corda is the default choice for enterprise blockchain. This partnership is a crucial step on that journey.”

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Press contact

R3:

Nick Murray-Leslie

Chatsworth Communications

+44 (0)207 440 9780

contact@chatsworthcommunications.com

Charley Cooper

R3

+1 929 329 1550

charley@r3.com

About R3

R3 is an enterprise blockchain software firm working with a broad ecosystem of more than 300 members and partners across multiple industries from both the private and public sectors to develop on Corda, its open-source blockchain platform, and Corda Enterprise, a commercial version of Corda for enterprise usage.

R3’s global team of over 180 professionals in 13 countries is supported by over 2,000 technology, financial, and legal experts drawn from its global member base.

Learn more at r3.com.

About SBI Holdings

SBI Holdings, Inc. manages the SBI group which engages in the provision of comprehensive financial services. It operates through the following segments: Financial Services, Asset Management, Biotechnology-related, and Others.

The Financial Services segment covers finance-related businesses and the provision of information regarding financial products including securities brokerage, banking services, and life, property and casualty insurance. The Asset Management segment consists of fund management and investment in Internet technology, biotechnology, environmental energy, and finance-related venture companies in Japan and overseas.

The Biotechnology-related segment develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and health foods. The Others segment includes housing and real estate businesses such as the development and trading of investment property and operation of online intermediate services. The company was founded on July 8, 1999 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan