ALBERT : 【ALBERT】Announcement of Capital and Business Alliance with SBI Holdings, Inc.

June 9, 2021

ALBERT Inc.

(On left to right in photo) Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, President & CEO, SBI Holdings, Inc.,

Takeshi Matsumoto, President, ALBERT Inc.

(Photographs were taken with infection control measures in place for COVID-19.)

ALBERT Inc. (hereafter "ALBERT") signed a capital and business alliance agreement on June 9, 2021 with SBI Holdings, Inc. (hereafter "SBI") with the aim of promoting the use of data and AI in the advanced technology areas of SBI Group's financial services, asset management, and biotechnology-related businesses. And SBI has agreed to acquire 1,383,100 shares of ALBERT's common stock held by Whiz Asia Evolution Fund (31.29% of all issued stocks), ALBERT's largest shareholder, through off-market negotiation transaction corresponded to stock offering. SBI Group is accelerating digital transformation (DX) within the group by utilizing the big data it possesses. With this alliance, in addition to collaborating on various projects promoted by SBI, we will also collaborate with other companies in SBI Group, aiming to become a starting point for cross-industry innovation by upgrading existing businesses and creating new businesses.

■ Started cross-industry DX support in collaboration with SBI Group

SBI and SBI Group have positioned their main businesses as the " Financial Service Business," which provides financial products and related services and information, the " Asset Management Business," which invests in Japanese and overseas venture companies in the fields of IT, biotechnology, environment/energy and finance, and the " Biotechnology, Healthcare & Medical Informatics Business," which develops cosmetics, health foods and drug discovery globally.

On the other hand, ALBERT provides solutions such as "AI utilization consulting," "Big data analysis" "AI algorithm construction and system development," as well as its own products and support for data scientist training as an AI development partner with industries and companies viewed toward AI implementation. In addition, since

July 2018, ALBERT have been promoting the "CATALYST Strategy", and work toward the realization an AI- oriented and networked society by promoting utilization AI and data sharing among industries through AI algorithm development and big data analysis in our focus industries (automotive, manufacturing, communications, distribution & infrastructure, and finance.).

After a series of discussions and deliberations, both companies have agreed to form a capital and business alliance. By utilizing the management resources of both companies, we will provide joint services and develop joint products that utilize data and AI.

■Contents of business alliance

1. Upgrading existing businesses and planning and developing new services using big data and AI in the SBI Group's advanced technology domain.
2. Joint planning, review and development of AI products and AI systems in the SBI Group's advanced technology domain.
3. Planning and development of new business solutions using big data across industries through collaboration between ALBERT and SBI Group.
4. Further promoting ALBERT's "CATALYST strategy" by leveraging the SBI Group's track record and know- how in a wide range of business domain.
5. Support for business development to SBI Group's investee companies.
6. Support the education of data scientists and citizen data scientists for the SBI Group's employees.
7. Joint research through industry-academia collaboration in AI-related fields, etc.

■ Endorsement︓

From Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, President & CEO, SBI Holdings, Inc.

With a large number of talented data scientists, we believe that ALBERT's business will definitely be necessary for society in the future. Through collaborations with top players in various industries, ALBERT's capabilities have been further strengthened, and as a company with the potential for further growth, we hope that ALBERT will continue to take the high road one step at a time with sincerity and in the spirit of "Never be ashamed of your achievements.". Through this partnership with ALBERT, we believe that both companies will be able to further accelerate their business growth and expansion.

■SBI Holdings, Inc.

Headquarters Office	︓1-6-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Japan
Date of Establishment	︓July 8, 1999
Representatives	︓Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, President & CEO
Stock code	︓8473（1st Section（Tokyo Stock Exchange））
Business Description	︓Control and management of SBI Group through share ownership
U R L	︓https://www.sbigroup.co.jp/english/

■ALBERT Inc.

Headquarters Office	︓2-21-1,Kita-Shinjuku,Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Date of Establishment	︓July 1, 2005
Representatives	︓Takeshi Matsumoto, President
Stock code	︓3906（Mothers（Tokyo Stock Exchange））
Business Description	︓Data solution business
U R L	︓https://www.albert2005.co.jp/

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