Expansion to overseas advisers and overseas corporate clients

「The Consulting and Financial Services (overseas clients) business, which primarily serves consulting firms, financial institutions and other clients overseas, recorded approximately 2% year-on-year growth in transaction value. While its core offering, interviews, continues to perform well in the United States, the business is working to further strengthen the value proposition of surveys, which performed well last year, and is seeking to improve profitability through greater use of AI and other measures.」

「The Consulting and Financial Services (overseas customers) business, a business segment whose primary customers are consulting firms, financial institutions and other organisations outside Japan, recorded approximately 9% negative growth in transaction volume compared with the same period of the previous year. Economic conditions remain uncertain due to US trade policy and other factors and heightened geopolitical risks, but initiatives including the use of AI are being implemented to restore profitability.」

「The Consulting and Financial Institutions business for overseas clients, which primarily serves consulting firms, financial institutions and other clients outside Japan, achieved transaction value growth of approximately △9% year on year.」

「Global ENS overseas operations, a business segment whose primary customers are consulting firms, financial institutions and other organisations outside Japan, recorded an 11% decline in transaction volume compared with the same period of the previous year. Although external conditions in the United States, including financial and trade policies, remain uncertain, we aim to restore profitability through initiatives including the use of AI.」

「The Group operates in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong. We will continue initiatives aimed at growing the business in these countries and will also consider expanding into other countries and regions.」

「Domestic ENS, a business segment whose primary customers are consulting firms, financial institutions and other organisations in Japan, achieved approximately 15% growth in transaction volume compared with the same period of the previous year. Against a backdrop of strong demand from major customers such as consulting firms, matching of domestic and overseas experts has increased. In particular, the system for proposing to customers all experts available to us, including overseas experts, entered the actual operating phase, enabling us to capture demand for overseas knowledge more effectively.」

「Transaction value in the Domestic ENS business, whose primary customer base comprises consulting firms and financial institutions in Japan, grew by approximately 25% year on year. Matching between domestic and overseas experts has increased against the backdrop of strong demand from major customers, including consulting firms. In particular, the system that proposes all of the Company’s experts, including overseas experts, to clients has entered the operational phase, enabling the Company to capture demand for overseas knowledge more smoothly.」

「In the Global ENS business, whose primary customer base comprises global consulting firms and financial institutions, the business environment in the United States has remained unstable due to factors including stock market turmoil stemming from interest-rate policies. Against this backdrop, the Company is advancing the business with discipline by improving operations, managing costs with discipline, promoting marketing initiatives and database integration with Coleman, developing the Life Science sector, opening an office in Phoenix, Arizona, and appointing a new Head of Americas.」

「In Global ENS, a business segment whose primary customers are global consulting firms, financial institutions and other organisations, unstable business conditions have persisted in the United States due to stock-market disruptions caused by interest-rate policy and other factors. Against this backdrop, we are making certain investments, including improving operations, exercising disciplined cost control, promoting marketing initiatives and database integration with Coleman, developing the Life Science field, and opening a new office in Phoenix, Arizona.」

「In the Global ENS business, whose primary customer base comprises global consulting firms and financial institutions, the business environment in the United States has remained unstable due to factors including stock market turmoil stemming from interest-rate policies. Against this backdrop, the Company is making certain investments while improving operations and managing costs with discipline, promoting database integration with Coleman, and developing the Life Science sector.」

「For clients in Japan, this is creating opportunities to access leading overseas examples and other information, while for overseas clients it is creating opportunities to access knowledge of Japan’s business environment, industry practices and technological innovation.」

「The results of Coleman Research Group, Inc., which was acquired in the previous fiscal year, have been consolidated from the current fiscal year. We are using its customer network, knowledge database, organisation and systems to develop clients in Japan and overseas and identify transaction needs. For clients in Japan, this is creating opportunities to access leading overseas examples and other information, while for overseas clients it is creating opportunities to access knowledge of Japan’s business environment, industry practices and technological innovation.」

「The environment surrounding the Group remains favorable, with demand for its services continuing to be high as Japanese companies actively gather information and pursue business activities such as new business development and research and development in the post-COVID era. Integration of the services of Coleman Research Group, Inc., acquired in November 2021, is also progressing, generating needs for introductions to foreign advisors and for stronger relationships with overseas corporate customers.」

「In particular, the acquisition of Coleman Research Group, Inc. is significantly expanding the scope of the Group’s business beyond its previous operations through expansion into the United States, Europe and Hong Kong. If risks arise from foreign-exchange fluctuations, economic trends in each country, changes in laws and regulations or other factors, they may affect the Group’s operating results and financial position.」

「As of the end of February 2021, the Group had approximately 30,000 overseas registered experts in its database. In the fiscal year ended February 2021, 72 overseas corporate clients, primarily institutional investors, used the Group’s services.」

「Following the establishment of VISASQ SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. during the first quarter, the company has included it in the scope of consolidation from the first quarter onward.」

「Following the establishment of VISASQ SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. during the first quarter, the company has included it in the scope of consolidation from the first quarter onward.」

「We will further expand marketing to overseas corporate clients, particularly in Southeast Asia, and pursue business expansion by providing domestic insights. In addition to matching domestic insights and matching domestic and overseas insights, we will match the needs of overseas corporate clients with overseas advisors, thereby realizing our vision of “Connecting Insights Around the World.”」