SBI Holdings, Inc. has entered into a capital and business alliance agreement with Ridge-i Inc.
SBI has agreed to acquire Ridge-i’s shares by subscribing for new shares to be issued through a third-party allotment to be conducted by Ridge-i.
In addition, SBI has agreed to acquire a portion of the shares held by Mr. Takashi Yanagihara, the largest shareholder and Representative Director and CEO of Ridge-i.
As a result of completion of the Third-Party Allotment and the share transfer described above, Ridge-i is expected to become an equity-method affiliate of SBI Holdings.
Ridge-i and its consolidated subsidiary Star Music Entertainment Inc. engage in the Custom AI Solutions Business and Digital Marketing Business. The Ridge-i Group is a technology company that provides practical solutions to various social and customer issues through advanced technologies such as AI and deep learning, offering services ranging from on-site consultation to assessment, development, implementation and customer operation.
SBI and the Ridge-i Group have explored a range of initiatives, including applying AI technologies to the financial and non-financial data held by SBI, beginning with SBI SECURITIES Co., Ltd., introducing AI solutions for partner regional banks of SBI, where digital transformation is a pressing priority, and collaborating with SBI NEO MEDIA HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. in areas such as social networking services (SNS) and digital marketing.
Building on these initiatives, SBI and Ridge-i have entered into the Capital and Business Alliance Agreement with the goal of promoting AI utilization SBI-wide and fostering the creation of new solutions and businesses. Through this alliance between the Company and Ridge-i, both the Company Group and the Ridge-i Group will form a unified team that goes beyond a conventional outsourcing relationship, combining their respective resources and AI expertise.
SBI intends to acquire 390,000 shares of Ridge-i’s common stock (3,900 voting rights) through the Third-Party Allotment.
In addition, in accordance with the share purchase agreement entered into today between SBI SECURITIES and Mr. Takashi Yanagihara, the largest shareholder and Representative Director and CEO of Ridge-i, SBI SECURITIES intends to acquire 584,000 shares of Ridge-i’s common stock held by Mr. Takashi Yanagihara through an over-the-counter transaction on September 30, 2025, for the purpose of transferring such shares to SBI.
On the same date, SBI intends to acquire all such shares to be held by SBI SECURITIES from SBI SECURITIES through an over-the-counter transaction.
SBI and Ridge-i strive to revitalize regional areas by leveraging SBI Group’s corporate network, with a particular focus on introducing AI and DX (digital transformation) of regional banks. The SBI Group and Ridge-i also strive to develop new solutions and create new businesses by applying AI to the financial and non-financial data held by SBI, with SBI SECURITIES serving as the central platform.
In addition, the SBI Group and Ridge-i strive to create digital marketing and Web3 businesses together with SBI NEO MEDIA.
