News Releases

Mizuho Bank and Hitachi Launch a New Lending Service Utilizing
Big Data for Small and Medium Enterprise Customers

Provision of financing support service based on business transaction information

Tokyo, March 30, 2017 --- Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (Mizuho Bank) and Hitachi, Ltd. (Hitachi) today annouced the launch of a new lending service for small and midium enterprise (SME) customers, utilizeing big data held by both companies. As the first step, Mizuho Bank, will provide financing support service to companies that use Hitachi's Business Media Service "TWX-21"*1 *2, which centrally manages commercial transactions on the cloud, utilizing its data relating to commercial transactions. This financing support service (hereinafter "the service") will start on April 19, 2017.

Specifically, the service finances working capital to SME customers after evaluating their bussiness potential, utilizing transaction data*3 of incoming and outgoing orders in "TWX-21". By doing so, the two companies will contribute to greater efficiency and diversification of financing opportunities for SME customers. Relevant transaction data will be provided from Hitachi to Mizuho Bank only after receiving consent from customers regarding data disclosure.

Both companies will take this opportunity as a trigger to further develop sophisticated financing support for SMEs, utilizing big data and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Additionally, Mizuho Bank will further accelerate its progress in the provision of services based on FinTech and big data, in aim to accommodate to the diverse needs of its customers.

Hitachi is focusing on the financial IT innovation business that provides new financial services by utilizing its Lumada*4 IoT platform. With this collaboration with Mizuho Bank, Hitachi will continue to develop and provide innovative IT services using the Lumada IoT platform.

Note:

*1

Applies to suppliers who have business with Hitachi Group enterprises and from whom prior consent has been obtained.

*2

TWX-21: First offered in 1997, TWX-21 is one of Japan's largest cloud-based business system services, centrally managing the details and progress of activities such as quotations, ordering, shipping, and inspection that take place between enterprises. It is used by approximately 60,000 companies across 400 industries, in 30 countries and regions.

*3

The data disclosed to this service from TWX-21, as a general rule, are the amounts, deadlines, and receipt and inspection information of orders related to loan applications made by enterprises that have signed up to the service. The data will only be disclosed with the customer's prior consent.

*4

Lumada: An IoT platform that enables the development and easy customization of IoT-related solutions by combining IT with OT (operational technology) know-how cultivated by Hitachi in a wide range of business areas.

Image of the service

Hitachi's Finance Solutions Website

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society's challenges. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2016 (ended March 31, 2017) totaled 9,162.2 billion yen ($81.8 billion). The Hitachi Group is a global leader in the Social Innovation Business, and it has approximately 304,000 employees worldwide. Through collaborative creation, Hitachi is providing solutions to customers in a broad range of sectors, including Power / Energy, Industry / Distribution / Water, Urban Development, and Finance / Government & Public / Healthcare. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.