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Overseas Operations

Subsidiaries' Initiatives

Operations in Thailand

Following Hong Kong, AEON CREDIT SERVICE established AEON THANA SINSAP (THAILAND) PLC. as its second overseas base in 1992. The Thai base’s steady business expansion led to its listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in December 2001. AEON THANA SINSAP (THAILAND) has successfully expanded its cardholder base through active subscription offerings in cooperation with AEON, Carrefour, Tesco Lotus and other affiliated companies. At the same time, this Thailand base has worked to classify cardholders through such means as issuing gold cards for those with excellent credit standing. As a result of these activities, we had 6.69million cardholders as of February 20, 2013, making us one of the top credit card companies in the country. In servicer operations, the Company has formed new business alliances local companies, including mobile phone carriers and financial institutions. In the insurance brokerage business, we have expanded our network providing over-the-counter insurance sales throughout Thailand.

Operations in Hong Kong

Established in Hong Kong in 1990 as the Company’s first overseas base, AEON CREDIT SERVICE (ASIA) CO., LTD. was first listed on Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing in September 1995. Through aggressive subscription offering and sales stimulus campaigns via local affiliated companies over more than 20 years, the Hong Kong base has acquired a total of 1.16 million cardholders as of February 20, 2013. As an initiative to expand the scope of its operations, AEON CREDIT SERVICE (ASIA) now provides Internet retailing services in cooperation with local affiliated companies. In December 2008, the Company established AEON INSURANCE BROKERS (HK) LIMITED, which has commenced full-scale telemarketing and over-the-counter insurance sales.

Using our nationwide sales network, we are actively working to increase cardholder numbers and develop new co-branded cards with affiliated merchants. As of March 31, 2013, our cardholders numbered 31.85 million, led by AEON Card. Also, focusing on the issuance of co-branded cards in cooperation with industry-leading companies, we are working to aggressively broaden our cardholder base, centering our efforts on male customers and a younger age-group.

Operations in Malaysia

Established in 1997 as our third base in rapidly growing Asia, AEON CREDIT SERVICE (M) BERHAD was listed on the Bursa Malaysia Berhad in December 2007. Owing to our aggressive pioneering of affiliated merchants and our effective subscription offering in sync with store openings of affiliated companies, we have steadily broadened our cardholder base, which comprised 1.13million cardholders as of February 20, 2013. Also from 2007, AEON CREDIT SERVICE (M), as the first non-bank in the country, added an ATM-compatible function to its credit cards for improved cardholder convenience. In addition, AEON CREDIT SERVICE (M) has started the issuance of the Touch’n Go Card, an electronic toll collection (ETC) card used to pay for highway tolls and train and city-bus fares. With the aim of facilitating more effective subscription offering, we have introduced an integrated subscription form for the AEON CARD and the Touch’n Go Card.

Operations in Taiwan

Operations in Taiwan - AEON Credit Card (Taiwan),AEON CREDIT SERVICE (Taiwan)AEON CREDIT CARD (TAIWAN) CO., LTD., which became the first Japanese non-bank to acquire a credit card issuing license in Taiwan in May 2002, has made concerted efforts to develop new co-branded cards and boost over-the-counter sign-ups at affiliated merchant stores. As a result, the number of cardholders grew to 140thousand as of December 31, 2012. AEON CREDIT SERVICE (TAIWAN) CO., LTD., which undertakes a hire purchase business, is steadily increasing its transaction volume through the pioneering of affiliated home-appliance and other stores and the staging of joint campaigns with these affiliated parties.

Operations in Indonesia

In Indonesia, which boasts the largest population among ASEAN member states and high economic growth, AEON CREDIT SERVICE established PT. AEON CREDIT SERVICE INDONESIA in May 2006. Drawing on the Company’s credit business expertise gained in Japan and other Asian countries, we started a hire purchase business targeting consumer electronics and furniture stores. Implementing such initiatives as increasing the membership cardholder base, this Indonesian arm is accelerating the establishment of a marketing structure required prior to the launch of credit card services. This company is simultaneously focusing on the pioneering of affiliated merchant stores, having successfully developed a network of affiliated merchant stores to date.

Operations in China

In June 2000, AEON INFORMATION SERVICE (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD. established a screening, debt-collection and call-center agent in Guangzhou as a new Chinese base. AEON CREDIT SERVICE (ASIA) CO., LTD. has transferred its call-center and screening operations to this agent, aiming to improve operational efficiency. In August 2006, Beijing-based AEON CREDIT GUARANTEE (CHINA) CO., LTD. acquired a license for credit guarantee operations from the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce, becoming the first company of its kind set up as a Japanese company on mainland China. This company provides installment guarantee services at AEON stores and electronics retail stores in the country. As a new business launched in cooperation with a local AEON subsidiary, we commenced the issuance of the AEON IN-HOUSE CARD with credit functions. As of December 31, 2012, the number of subscribers to the AEON IN-HOUSE CARD totaled 350thousand. Looking ahead, the Company is seeking to expand the area targeted by its AEON IN-HOUSE CARD services, thereby accelerating the growth of its cardholder base and credit card business development.

Operations in Vietnam

Having obtained a retailing license from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Investment in June 2008, AEON CREDIT SERVICE established ACS TRADING VIETNAM CO., LTD. Leveraging the Company’s extensive credit business expertise accumulated in Japan and other Asian countries, ACS TRADING VIETNAM conducts the installment sale of consumer durables, such as personal computers, home appliances and furniture. Through this Vietnamese arm, we are working to reinforce our affiliated local retailer base and identify local customer classifications, aiming to build the strong marketing foundation required to start a credit card business in the country.

Operations in the Philippines

Following its market entries in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia, AEON CREDIT SERVICE established a new subsidiary in the Philippines in February 2008 to serve as its latest Asian base. This new Filipino base is providing support to the other Asian subsidiaries and establishing the business foundation required for the further expansion of the Company’s credit business in the region. In addition, AEON CREDIT SERVICE established a new subsidiary in March 2013. The Company started installment servises.

Operations in the India

In February 2013, a local subsidiary in Mumbai was incorporated after the granting of non-bank business license by the Reserve Bank of India. In India, the Company provides installment services for consumer durable products such as electrical appliances and furniture, etc., and at the same time expands its merchant networks, actively developing joint promotions with merchant stores, so as to striving for expanding its businesses.