SBI Holdings and FPT Form Exclusive Investment Alliance

SBI Holdings, Inc. (TOKYO:8473) and the Corporation for Financing and Promoting Technology (FPT), Vietnam’s largest information technology group, today announced their plans to form an exclusive investment alliance targeting Vietnam’s fast-growing economy. The equity alliance makes good on the promises of both Japan and Vietnam’s Prime Ministers to strengthen economic and cultural ties between their two countries. The first fund planned under the new joint stock fund management company, FPT Capital, will take part in the equitisation process of large State-owned enterprises (SOEs), especially those dealing with finance and banking, as well as incubate emerging sectors such as Life Sciences, Information Technology and Internet Services. Vietnam’s Ministry of Post and Telematics recently announced the country had climbed up into the global Top Twenty list of nations with the highest Internet penetration, a development that could help clear the way for more electronic businesses. At the same time, the National Steering Committee for Enterprise Renovation and Development (NSCRD) reports that up to 713 SOEs have been earmarked for equitisation in the coming years; a process the government is taking steps to accelerate. SBI Holdings’ CEO, Yoshitaka Kitao, embraced his firm’s entrée into South East Asia together alongside FPT. "We have taken the time to get to know FPT intimately and believe they represent the New Vietnam, a forward-thinking company and progressive leadership for us to partner with and tap into this rich nation’s thoroughbred investment opportunities. Our fund with FPT is only a first step in a well-planned strategy to invest in and groom quality businesses and, wherever possible, create pathways into Japanese markets. Ours is a comprehensive Vietnam strategy and we are pleased to join ranks with FPT Group.” FPT’s CEO, Truong Gia Binh, hailed the announcement with SBI. "We have chosen to partner with one Asia’s most skilled and successful venture capital groups. SBI Holdings’ DNA and record of growth closely follows our own. But more than just capital, FPT will benefit from SBI’s know-how in fund management, financial services, IT investing and provide us with a direct link to Japan’s capital markets. We see in them a like-minded long-term partner dedicated to working with us to revolutionize and improve the lives of every day Vietnamese citizens. Given the success of FPT in software outsourcing to Japan, we do believe that the new initiative of partnering with SBI Holdings in fund management will further realise our globalisation aims.” About FPT Corp. FPT is Vietnam’s largest information and communication technology company. FPT is the Vietnamese market leader in mobile distribution, systems integration, software outsourcing and development, telecom, Internet and e-media content, and computer assembly. International technology partners include IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco System, and Intel. FPT is also a leader in technological training having enrolled 28,000 since 1999 in its tech academies throughout the country. Established in 1988, FPT employs the largest number of informatics engineers and specialists in the country. The company has about 8,000 employees. Visit http://www.fpt.com.vn for more detailed information. About SBI Holdings, Inc. SBI Holdings (TOKYO:8473) is the recently spun-out, separately-traded former investment arm of Softbank Corporation (formerly-known as SOFTBANK INVESTMENT). Today, SBIH’s operations cover three broad business areas: (1) Asset Management including Venture Capital; (2) Brokerage and Investment Banking; and (3) Internet-Enabled Financial Services. In addition to managing a family of venture capital funds, many of the firm’s 70 companies have taken leadership positions in various consumer-oriented online financial services such as equities and commodities brokering, home equity loans, and insurance comparison. Internationally, the firm has recently formed international joint partnerships with Goldman Sachs and groups controlled by Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and The State Bank of India. SBI also plans to launch Japan’s first full-service Internet bank sometime this year, in concert with Sumitomo Trust & Banking, as well as a new life insurance business with AXA Japan and a non-life insurance company with Aioi Insurance Co. SBI’s corporate website: www.sbigroup.co.jp