Collaboration with Regional Financial Institutions

「During the period, the company entered into a customer referral agreement with 島田掛川信用金庫, a company split agreement (simplified absorption-type company split) with 佐賀共栄銀行, and an outsourcing agreement relating to financial product intermediary services with JR九州保険コンサルティング, a group company of JR九州.」

「In its platform business, the company entered into a company split agreement (simplified absorption-type company split) with 佐賀共栄銀行, with which it had entered into a basic outsourcing agreement relating to financial product intermediary services. As a result, アイザワ証券 will assume the rights and obligations relating to customers' securities accounts associated with certain registered financial institution activities conducted by 佐賀共栄銀行, including its over-the-counter sales of public bonds and investment trusts.」

「In April, アイザワ証券 entered into a company split agreement (simplified absorption-type company split) with 西京銀行, its comprehensive business partner. As a result, アイザワ証券 will assume from the bank the rights and obligations relating to customers' securities accounts associated with the bank's registered financial institution activities (planned effective date: 22 November 2023). In May, we also opened the Iwakuni branch, our sixth joint bank-securities branch.」

「In October 2022, we opened the Ube branch, our fifth joint bank-securities branch with 西京銀行, our comprehensive business partner.」

「Among the group's subsidiaries, アイザワ証券 announced in July that it would open its fifth joint bank-securities branch, the Ube branch, with 西京銀行, also its comprehensive business partner (scheduled to open in October 2022). We will provide customers in the Yamaguchi area with the integrated deposit, equity investment and other services unique to a joint bank-securities branch. In collaboration with financial institutions, we agreed with 西京銀行, our comprehensive business partner, to consider establishing a new cooperative framework beyond opening joint bank-securities branches. This would involve アイザワ証券 assuming the rights and obligations relating to customers' securities accounts associated with certain registered financial institution activities conducted by the bank, including its over-the-counter sales of public bonds and investment trusts, and we entered into a basic agreement.」

「In February, アイザワ証券 opened its fourth joint bank-securities branch with 西京銀行, its comprehensive business partner, the Yamaguchi branch (formerly the Yamaguchi Consulting Plaza).」

「As part of these efforts, in May we opened the Tokuyama Consulting Plaza, our third joint bank-securities branch with 西京銀行. In June, we consolidated and reorganized operations to revitalize sales in the Kansai region and newly opened the Senri-Chuo branch.」

「In industry-academia collaboration, we entered into a memorandum of understanding on business cooperation with Yamanashi Prefectural University in January, with the aim of providing better services than before to both parties' business partners and contributing to their growth and regional revitalization through out-of-area collaboration (cross-border collaboration) leveraging their expertise and networks. This brings the number of educational institution partnerships to 6.」

「As part of our collaboration with regional financial institutions, we entered into a comprehensive business partnership agreement with 都留信用組合 (Yamanashi Prefecture) in December 2020.」

「Under these circumstances, the Cross-Industry Seamless and Reversible Personnel Exchange Program, an initiative leveraging partnerships with regional financial institutions, was the only program selected among securities companies and received an award from the Minister of State for Special Missions in charge of Regional Revitalization.」

「In connection with comprehensive business partnerships with regional financial institutions, we made a donation through the corporate hometown tax program to the Ome Tourism Strategy Creation Project Action Program, a tourism promotion initiative in Ome, Tokyo, in which 青梅信用金庫, our partner since April 2019, participates.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, as part of our collaboration with regional financial institutions to promote regional revitalization, we newly entered into comprehensive business partnership agreements with 三島信用金庫 and 福邦銀行, respectively.」

「As part of our collaboration with regional financial institutions to promote regional revitalization, we newly entered into a comprehensive business partnership agreement with 青梅信用金庫. Agreement date: 16 April 2019 Agreement period: 16 April 2019 to 15 April 2020 (Automatically renewed annually)」

「We opened a joint bank-securities branch with 西京銀行, our comprehensive business partner, in March 2019 at the Yume Mall Shimonoseki branch. Joint operations within a large commercial complex enable us to reach a broad range of age groups, and we are working to expand our customer base.」

「As part of our ongoing collaboration with regional financial institutions, we announced the opening of a joint bank-securities branch with 西京銀行, our comprehensive business partner, scheduled for March 2019. Through joint activities with the bank, which is headquartered in Yamaguchi Prefecture, we expect not only to raise awareness of our company but also to attract customers and expand our customer base in financial product intermediary services conducted with the bank.」

「In August, the company entered into an agreement with THE SHIMIZU BANK,LTD. covering M&A operations, and in September it entered into a comprehensive business partnership with Kasaoka Shinkin Union. Solution services based on partnerships with regional financial institutions, which have been an established service, are also gaining nationwide traction.」

「We will continue providing solution services to address customers’ concerns, including inheritance, as well as initiatives to revitalize local communities in cooperation with regional financial institutions and local universities. We will also work to develop new services and establish partnerships with new organizations and institutions.」

「On 14 December 2017, we entered into a comprehensive business partnership with 第一勧業信用組合 (head office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo). By engaging in out-of-area collaboration (cross-border collaboration) that leverages the expertise and networks of both companies, we will provide both companies' customers with better services than before and contribute to customer growth and regional revitalization.」

「We have pursued a range of initiatives, including regional revitalization efforts in cooperation with regional financial institutions and local universities.」

「We will continue to expand the provision of financial products and extend these initiatives to other financial institutions.」

「We will continue to consider and promote partnerships with regional financial institutions that share our values.」