Chugoku Bank Completes Investment in Asset Management Company 'Furusato Partners' for REIT Formation

NBI Holdings (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Takayuki Kanaya; 'NBI Holdings'), PROSPER (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yozo Tachibana; 'PROSPER'), and Chugoku Bank (Headquarters: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; President: Sadanori Kato; 'Chugoku Bank') announced today the completion of the transfer of a portion of the shares of 'Furusato Partners,' an asset management company for REIT formation, from NBI Holdings and PROSPER to Chugoku Bank. Chugoku Bank is the first regional financial institution to invest in this regional revitalization REIT project initiated by NBI Holdings and PROSPER, aiming for a 2029 launch.

About the Regional Revitalization REIT: Furusato Partners aims to build a platform to form a REIT centered on regional tourism revitalization, collaborating with regional financial institutions across Japan to create long-term value for areas. Specifically, it will accept investments from regional financial institutions, enabling them to realize regional revitalization in their respective areas alongside Furusato Partners. Furusato Partners plans to accept investments from multiple other regional financial institutions by the summer of 2026.

Chugoku Bank's Investment and Potential in the Chugoku/Setouchi Area: NBI Holdings is a real estate investment management company focused on regional revitalization through investments in hotels and inns. The alignment of NBI Holdings' mission and Chugoku Bank's philosophy led to this investment. The investment aims to promote value-up investments in hotels and inns, particularly those located in Chugoku Bank's service area. By combining NBI Holdings' real estate investment expertise with Chugoku Bank's knowledge of real estate finance, this initiative aims to contribute to sustainable regional economic development by circulating regional and external funds into the local tourism industry. The Chugoku and Setouchi area holds potential as one of Japan's leading tourist destinations, characterized by the picturesque Seto Inland Sea, historical and cultural assets, a mild climate, and a rich culinary culture. In recent years, attention toward high-value, stay-type tourism has been increasing. By leveraging the area's charms and potential, NBI Holdings aims to enrich the future of the Chugoku and Setouchi area through financial and investment vitality.

Future Outlook: Furusato Partners plans to start REIT operations in the summer of 2029. It envisions an initial asset size of 50 billion yen, aiming to grow to 200 billion yen within about five years. NBI Holdings, the sponsor of Furusato Partners, has already secured a pipeline of over 40 billion yen in hotels and inns, underlining the demand for regional revitalization and investment opportunities.