In July 2005, The Japan Research Institute, Limited ("JRI"; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Shunichi Okuyama), in collaboration with JFE Systems, Inc. ("JFE Systems"; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Makoto Iwahashi), released "Trinity Report", an electronic form system specially designed for financial institutions.

1. Background and Service Content

Business forms are an integral part of the management of a company. Especially among financial institutions, which need to process a high volume of forms, there is demand for solutions that will computerize forms used in statistics management and other tasks, for greater efficiency, ensure confidentiality of statutory accounts following the implementation of the Personal Information Protection Act, and replace obsolescent microfilm-based transaction history filing systems.

To meet this demand, JRI has decided to harness the know-how it has accumulated over years of developing solutions for financial institutions in marketing "Trinity Report", a system that allows companies make effective use of forms, which are an important information asset, and to store them long-term with peace of mind.

The Trinity Report package combines the electronic form system "FiBridge II Linux Edition" developed by JFE Systems, which has a particularly strong record of marketing to financial institutions, with the customized elements implemented by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation when it adopted FiBridge II.

JRI offers Trinity Report as an all-in-one package that, without customization, allows the electronic form system, statutory accounts system and transaction history filing system to be used simultaneously.

To suit financial institutions, which have a strong interest in Linux-based systems, the system runs on the HP ProLiant series of high-performance x86 servers marketed by Hewlett-Packard Japan, Ltd. ("HP Japan"; Head office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shingo Oda), which offer outstanding flexibility and cost performance and constitute an industry standard. The hardware can be supplied together with the system. Trinity Report will also be made available through other Linux vendors.

2. Sales Price

A sales price will be quoted on the basis of an individual estimate but, as a rule, the price of the software will be upwards of \10 million but within a few tens of millions of yen. Sales of 30 units are expected over the first two years.

3. Benefits of Trinity Report

(1) Provides security measures required under Personal Information Protection Act, etc.
(2) Allows cost reductions by eliminating COM
(3) Eliminates paper forms
(4) Rationalizes form-based tasks
(5) Reduces cost of replacing transaction history filing systems

Reference

The Japan Research Institute, Limited

URL: http://www.jri.co.jp
JRI, an IT company forming part of the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, is a "knowledge engineering" company that provides high value-added services through the organic application of its information systems, consulting and think-tank functions. In addition to system planning & implementation and outsourcing services, JRI's activities include research and analysis of domestic and foreign economic issues, the formulation of policy recommendations, consulting on management strategy and administrative reform, and incubation activities, aimed at fostering new business.

JFE Systems, Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange, Second Section/Code No. 4832)

URL: http://www.jfe-systems.com/
JFE Systems, Inc. (name changed from Kawatetsu Information Systems Ltd. on December 1, 2004) was formed as an independent company in 1983, from the former information systems division of Kawasaki Steel Co., Ltd. (the present "JFE Steel Corporation"). In March 2001, it became the first user systems integrator born out of the manufacturing sector to be listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

FiBridgeII

URL: http://www.jfe-systems.com/products/fibridge/fibridge.html
FiBridge II is an eletronic form system designed to run on network environments and also has a strong track record as a large-scale Linux-compatible system. It allows instant access and the centralized management of forms on a center server, as well as meeting the requirements of the Law Concerning Preservation of National Tax Records in Electronic Form. FiBridge II is used in a wide range of sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, distribution, services, and public services.

Endorsement by our Business Partners Yoshitake Matsumoto, Executive Director and General Manager of Enterprise Storage Server Division, Hewlett-Packard Japan, Ltd.

Hewlett-Packard Japan, Ltd. welcomes the release of Trinity Report by The Japan Research Institute, Limited. With a view to expanding the range of enterprise solutions running on Linux, we are working to expand collaboration with partner companies on business relating on the HP ProLiant family of high-performance x86 servers, which constitute an industry standard.

Since last year, we have been conducting trials of a Linux edition of FibridgeII in collaboration with JFE Systems, Inc. and have found that it also offers high performance and reliability when used in combination with HP ProLaint servers and our enterprise storage product "HP StorageWorks". Used in combination with Hewlett-Packard products, we are confident that Trinity Report will offer high added value to customers using Linux in the financial services sector.

*Other product names and company names are trademarks and registered trademarks of the respective companies concerned.

*This press release is issued jointly by The Japan Research Institute, Limited and JFE Systems, Inc. Please accept our apologies if you receive the same press release twice.

For more information on the content of this report, please contact:
General Inquiries:
Yoshihito Sato the Japan Research Institute, Limited.

Tel: 03-3288-5360
E-mail：sato.yoshihito@jri.co.jp
Igashira Legal and PR Group, General Administration Division, JFE Systems, Inc.
Tel: 03- 3283-7106
E-mail：pr@jfe-systems.com

Press Inquiries:
Takehiro Sato , Yoshinari Ikeda the Japan Research Institute, Limited.
Tel: 03-3288-6582
E-mail：satou.takehiro@jri.co.jp , ikeda.yoshinari@jri.co.jp
Inamura e-Document Sales Group, Product Sales Division, Sales Headquarters,
JFE Systems, Inc.
Tel: 03- 3283-7149
E-mail：fibridge@jfe-systems.com

Copyright© The Japan Research Institute, Limited