News Release

Smart Agriculture Project Launched in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Apr 05, 2016

TOKYO, Japan - April 5, 2016 - ORIX Corporation ("ORIX"), a leading integrated financial services group, today announced that on April 1, it established Smart Agriculture IWATA Co., Ltd. ("Smart Agriculture IWATA") together with Fujitsu Limited ("Fujitsu") and Masuda Seed Co., Ltd. ("Masuda Seed") in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, launching a smart agriculture project aimed at agriculture-based regional revitalization.
In addition to the expertise of its three shareholding companies, Smart Agriculture IWATA will merge insight from business partners and organizations across industry lines, including Iwata City, nurseries, agricultural producers, food distributors and processors, academic institutions, and manufacturers of farm equipment and supplies. The project is designed to co-create new business models encompassing the entire food and agriculture value chain (from seedlings to production, processing, shipping, sales, and more) and enhance agriculture in the region.

Overview of "Smart Agriculture IWATA"
1. Company Name
Smart Agriculture IWATA Co., Ltd.
Nickname: "SAC iWATA"

2. Date of Establishment
April 1, 2016

3. Head Office Location & Project Sites
(1) Head Office Location
Nakaizumi, Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture
(2) Project Sites
Takamigaoka, Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture
(Project Area: approx. 7.5 ha)
Higashibara, Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture
(Project Area: approx. 1.0 ha)

4. Capital & Ownership Structure
(1) Capital
100 million JPY
(2) Ownership Structure
Fujitsu      51%
ORIX       39%
Masuda Seed 10%

5. Directors & Employees
(1) List of Directors
President Takeshi Sudo (Fujitsu)
Senior Vice-President Katsutoshi Ito (Fujitsu)
Director Masayuki Kurashina (ORIX)
Audit & Supervisory Board Members Hitoshi Otaka (Fujitsu)
Katsuhiko Kojima (ORIX)

(2) Number of Employees (as of April 1)
15 (3 on loan / 12 local hires)

6. Overview of Facilities
Facility Facility Area (approx.)
Kale Greenhouse 0.5 ha
Tomato Greenhouse 1.2 ha
Bell Pepper Greenhouse 1.8 ha
Leafy Vegetable Greenhouse 0.7 ha
Seed and Seedling Research Greenhouse 0.5 ha

Photo 1: Exterior of kale greenhouse (soil culture)

Photo 2: Interior of kale greenhouse (soil culture)

7. Future Schedule (Takamigaoka Site)
Start of Construction:  April 2016
Facility Completion:  Before the end of 2016 (planned)
Start of Cultivation:  Sequentially upon completion of facilities

8. Main Business Models
(1) Market-oriented production and processing to provide products tailored to market needs
(2) Infrastructure outsourcing services to support nurseries and agricultural producers in achieving operations matched to the natural environment and changes in the market (stable quality, costs, and production)
(3) Seed and seedling licensing services to develop high added value for the nursery industry, one of Japan's strengths, and generate new licensing business within Japanese agriculture

9. Major Business Partners (listed alphabetically; as of April 1)
・Agricultural Producers: AGRI BERRY CO.LTD., grow, Miyamoto Farm
・Nurseries: ASAHI NOEN SEED Co.,Ltd., Berg Earth Co.,Ltd., The Yokohama Nursery Co.
・Agricultural Consulting Firms: K'onnect Agri-Food Lines

Related Links
"Fujitsu, ORIX, Masuda Seed and Iwata City Reach Basic Agreement to Consider Launch of Smart Agriculture Project" (March 26, 2015 press release):
http://www.orix.co.jp/grp/en/news/2015/150326_OEIXE1.html

Trademark Information
Product names and other proper nouns appearing here are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

1 An agricultural technique that incorporates information and communication technologies (ICT). Technologies such as sensors and big data are applied to the crop cultivation process to enhance productivity and quality. The basic cultivation environment is a greenhouse in which conditions are carefully controlled to create an ideal growing environment unaffected by the seasons, weather, or location.

Contact Information:
ORIX Corporation
Corporate Planning Department
Tel: +81-3-3435-3121

About ORIX:
ORIX Corporation (TSE: 8591; NYSE: IX) is a financial services group which provides innovative products and services to its customers by constantly pursuing new businesses. Established in 1964, from its start in the leasing business, ORIX has advanced into neighboring fields and at present has expanded into the lending, investment, life insurance, banking, asset management, automobile-related, real estate and environment and energy-related businesses. Since its first overseas expansion into Hong Kong in 1971, ORIX has spread its business globally by establishing locations in a total of 36 countries and regions across the world. Moving forward, ORIX aims to contribute to society while continuing to capture new business opportunities. For more details, please visit our website: http://www.orix.co.jp/grp/en/

Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements:
These documents may contain forward-looking statements about expected future events and financial results that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and under "4. Risk Factors" of the "Summary of Consolidated Financial Results" of the "Consolidated Financial Results April 1, 2014 - March 31, 2015."

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