Strengthening Consulting Capabilities at the UK Research Institute "Aioi R&D Lab-Oxford" through the acquisition of the AI Development Consulting Business from UK partner company Mind Foundry

(December 9, 2025)

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Keisuke Niino), a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group, is pleased to announce that an agreement was reached on November 30, 2025, for the Aioi R&D Lab-Oxford (hereinafter "R&D Lab"), our cutting-edge technology and science R&D center established in the UK, to acquire the AI Development Consulting Business from its joint establishment partner, Mind Foundry Limited (hereinafter "MF Co.").

Our company and the R&D Lab will strengthen our R&D functions and AI development consulting business to contribute to the resolution of various social and regional issues.

Background

To further accelerate and advance data utilization and AI development initiatives in our insurance operations, our company formed a capital and business alliance with MF Co. in October 2020 (Note 1). Subsequently, to expand the scope of collaboration and promote R&D aimed at solving various social and regional issues that extend beyond the traditional non-life insurance business, our company and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Aioi Nissay Dowa Europe Limited, jointly established the R&D Lab with MF Co. in November 2022 (Note 2).

In recent years, the business environment has become increasingly complex due to rapid technological innovation and changes in the social environment, significantly altering the role required of R&D. The ability to discover and verify issues with diverse partners and clients, and to propose technologies and solutions in a practically implementable form ("social implementation"), has become crucial. To adapt to these changes, our company has decided to acquire MF Co.'s AI Development Consulting Business after discussions with MF Co., aiming to strengthen the role of the R&D Lab and transform it into a one-stop, seamless center spanning planning, development, implementation, and sales.

Note 1: [Link to original release on Capital and Business Alliance with Oxford University spin-out Mind Foundry (October 30, 2020)] Note 2: [Link to original release on Establishing a Joint Research Institute with an AI Venture from the University of Oxford (December 9, 2022)]

Overview of the Business Acquisition

The R&D Lab will acquire the rights to the system infrastructure necessary for future development, operation, and maintenance, the staff involved in joint research, and a continuous use license for the software IP (Intellectual Property) held by MF Co..

In addition to acquiring the AI Development Consulting Business, Professor Stephen Roberts and Professor Michael Osborne, both co-founders of MF Co. and advisors to the R&D Lab, will newly assume roles as Directors of the R&D Lab. By leveraging the rich expertise and network of both professors in our management strategy and strengthening ties with the University of Oxford, we will further deepen our R&D functions and AI development consulting business.

Future Development

The R&D Lab will advance consulting proposal activities to discover and resolve issues together with diverse partners and clients, creating a cycle from planning to solution implementation and sales. We will also strengthen proposal activities for the social and business implementation of technologies and development models obtained through past R&D. Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the resolution of various social and regional issues.

Furthermore, our company is scheduled to merge with Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI) around April 2027 to become Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Aioi Sompo. The merged new company will also promote R&D utilizing the R&D Lab to realize solutions that contribute to solving various social and regional challenges.