Based in the UAE, whose affluent tourist resources and stable growth in consumer spending promise a growing credit card market, MAF JCB will issue JCB credit cards and promote license partners throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

  MAF Group is a close partner of ORIX, who is looking to enter into new business opportunities in the Middle East. MAF Group has invested in ORIX subsidiaries in Pakistan, Oman, Egypt, as well as the joint venture corporation MAF ORIX Finance PJSC, established in the UAE in 2002.

  JCB, who aims to enhance their brand throughout the Middle East and North Africa, signed a joint venture agreement with MAF Group in January 2007 through an introduction coordinated by ORIX, a strategic partner of JCB. The three companies have been proactively working together to create a card company in the Middle East that provides attractive card services not offered by any other international brand.

  Benefiting from JCB's credit card business expertise and ORIX's experience in international finance, MAF JCB aims to meet the credit card needs of the market while playing a central role in strengthening MAF Group's customer services and marketing strategies.

  Starting today, MAF JCB is accepting applications for the first JCB international brand card in the UAE, the Najm JCB credit card (Najm means "star" in Arabic) at Carrefour and other MAF Group operated retail facilities.

  MAF JCB will look to contribute to economic growth in the region through expanding into 19 countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa, thereby further promoting the JCB international brand and presence.

 About MAF JCB
Name: Majid Al Futtaim JCB Finance LLC
Capital: 60 million UAE Dirham
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Investor ratio:
MAF Ventures LLC: 60%
ORIX Corporation: 30%
JCB International Co., Ltd.: 10%
Employees: 50 (as of October 2008)
Business areas: Credit card issuance, JCB brand development

About Majid Al Futtaim Group
Majid Al Futtaim Group is the region's most prominent property and shopping malls developer. The Group opened its first shopping mall in 1995 and has since created businesses of international significance which have changed the face of shopping, entertainment and leisure in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Over the past decade the Group has taken his groundbreaking concepts into other major cities in the United Arab Emirates and throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The Group consists of a number of core businesses that complement one another, yet are separately managed. This provides maximum flexibility and potential, enabling the operating divisions to seize their own opportunities yet work together on major projects. The Group is widely known for its iconic and internationally recognized Mall of Emirates, the largest shopping resort outside North America. Mall of the Emirates is also home to Ski Dubai, the first indoor ski resort in the region. The emphasis on great design, critical tenant mix and customer focus gives the Group an exceptional portfolio of impressive projects.

About ORIX
ORIX Corporation (TSE: 8591; NYSE: IX) is an integrated financial services group based in Tokyo, Japan, providing innovative value-added products and services to both corporate and retail customers. With operations in 26 countries and regions worldwide, ORIX's activities include corporate financial services, such as leases and loans, as well as automobile operations, rental operations, real estate-related finance, real estate, life insurance, and investment banking.