ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keita Ishii, President & COO; hereinafter "ITOCHU") announced today that it has formed a capital and business alliance with Premium Group Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Yohichi Shibata, President and Representative Director, Group CEO and COO; hereinafter "Premium Group"), a company that provides comprehensive services with the provisions of auto loans for used cars as its core business.

While the number of vehicles registered has been flat in Japan, demand for automobiles remains steady even with the mature market conditions, particularly from the perspective of daily necessities. Against the backdrop of rising used car prices and the rising auto loan usage ratio, the auto loan market is expected to grow stably, going forward. In addition, overseas, the automobile market and demand for auto loans are expected to grow, mainly in Asia, in line with the expansion of the middle class.

Since its foundation in 2007, Premium Group has been a provider of auto loans through its network of franchisee, mainly used car dealers, and it has been offering auto mobility services, its composite services including Automobile warranty and other automobile-related services. Leveraging the network of auto dealers and maintenance shops that it has continually developed since its founding, Premium Group formed the Car Premium Club, a membership organization, and established a unique economic zone centered on used cars. The company, which continues to grow through efforts such as these, currently has an auto loan receivables balance that is greater than 800 billion yen.^*1

In the area of retail finance, ITOCHU has a broad business portfolio both in Japan and abroad and has been providing services to meet a range of consumer financial needs. In the U.K., ITOCHU provides used car auto loans to subprime customers through First Response Finance Ltd. In Thailand, it operates an unsecured personal loan business through EASY BUY Public Co. Ltd.
In February 2025, ITOCHU and Premium Group jointly acquired some shares of Eastern Commercial Leasing Public Co., Ltd., a Thailand-based automobile retail finance company, and it has been supporting the expansion of the company's auto loan business while also facilitating a reform of its management.^*2 Through this capital and business alliance, ITOCHU and Premium Group will preferentially consider and implement initiatives that contribute to the corporate value of both ITOCHU and Premium Group, improving the auto loan businesses and other businesses in both Japan and other countries and regions overseas, including Thailand.

ITOCHU has put forth the management policy "The Brand-new Deal – Profit opportunities are shifting downstream –" and is developing our business areas by tracking needs as they diversify with social changes and by pioneering and evolving downstream businesses that are closer to the consumers. By promoting financial businesses that respond to the financial needs of individuals, ITOCHU will continue to expand its retail financial businesses going forward, both in Japan and overseas.