Upon establishing Saison Capital, Credit Saison commenced operations in the investment business through Saison Capital.

Following its establishment, Saison Capital conducted a series of interviews with early-stage startups, mainly in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and then completed its investment project, a P2P platform developer in Indonesia and a fund, focusing on the financial inclusion in emerging markets.

Today the economies of Southeast Asia and South Asia are growing briskly, while Africa shows strong potential for growth going forward. Startup companies offering original and innovative technologies and services in the fields of fintech, settlement and finance are proliferating in these markets, attracting considerable investor attention.

Saison Capital is the latest in a series of initiatives by Credit Saison in the field of financial-related startups. In June 2015 Credit Saison established Saison Ventures Co., Ltd., the first corporate venture capital firm in the Japanese credit-card industry. Saison Ventures invests in and strengthens Credit Saison’s cooperation with seed and early-startup venture companies in Japan holding advanced and innovative technologies. Also, with global operations positioned as a core future revenue driver, Credit Saison is seeking to advance and expand the Group’s financing operations, with emphasis on Asia exJapan, thereby contributing to regional economic development. Moreover, Credit Saison is accelerating its formation of an overseas strategic base for the medium-to-long term and development of related businesses, centering on strategic partnerships with local companies.

Through Saison Capital, Credit Saison looks forward to strengthening and advancing its ability to make quick and effective investment decisions on promising startups around the world, not only in Asia exJapan but also in Africa, South America and other regions. In so doing Credit Saison will continue its efforts to become a unique “Neo Finance Company in Asia,” building partnerships with businesses in the countries in which it operates and engaging with revolutionary business models from the early stages.

■ Investment and financing policies (1) Areas: Focus on Southeast Asia and South Asia, with additional attention to other regions with growth prospects (2) Fields of business: Fields related to fintech, settlement and finance, as well as peripheral businesses related thereto (3) Business stages: Focus on startups, from the seed stage to the series-A early stage