Enhancement of Securities Transfer Agency Services Linked to SR Consulting

「Following discussions between the two companies regarding their future policy in light of changes in the business environment, we agreed to terminate this business alliance at the end of August 2026, when five years will have passed since the alliance began, and hereby announce the decision.」

「The Group will continue to provide stock transfer agency services that meet the needs of the times by pursuing collaboration with SMBC Trust Bank in stock transfer agency operations and by developing innovative services that distinguish it from conventional stock transfer agents.」

「The Group will continue to provide stock transfer agency services that meet the needs of the times by strengthening its collaboration with SMBC Trust Bank in stock transfer agency operations and by developing innovative services that distinguish it from conventional stock transfer agents.」

「The Group will continue to provide stock transfer agency services that meet the needs of the times by strengthening its collaboration with SMBC Trust Bank in stock transfer agency operations and by developing innovative services that distinguish it from conventional stock transfer agents.」

「The Group will continue to provide stock transfer agency services that meet the needs of the times by strengthening its collaboration with SMBC Trust Bank in stock transfer agency operations and by developing innovative services that distinguish it from conventional stock transfer agents.」

「On 20 August 2021, the Group entered into a business alliance agreement with SMBC Trust Bank concerning stock transfer agency operations. Subject to approval from the relevant authorities, the bank entered the stock transfer agency business as a new entrant in December 2021, while the Group provides administrative services for the stock transfer agency operations secured by the bank. Through this alliance, the Group will actively promote the expansion of mandates from companies conducting initial public offerings.」

「Through this business alliance, the Group will actively promote the expansion of mandates from companies conducting initial public offerings.」

「Through this business alliance, the Group will actively promote the expansion of mandates from companies conducting initial public offerings.」

「On 20 August 2021, the Group entered into a business alliance agreement with SMBC Trust Bank concerning stock transfer agency operations. Subject to approval from the relevant authorities, SMBC Trust Bank entered the stock transfer agency business as a new entrant in December 2021, while the Group provides administrative services for the stock transfer agency operations secured by SMBC Trust Bank. Through this alliance, the Group will more actively promote high-value-added stock transfer agency services that meet customer needs, primarily for companies conducting initial public offerings.」

「On 20 August this year, the Group entered into a business alliance agreement with SMBC Trust Bank concerning stock transfer agency operations. Subject to approval from the relevant authorities, SMBC Trust Bank plans to enter the stock transfer agency business in late December 2021, while the Group will provide administrative services for the stock transfer agency operations secured by SMBC Trust Bank. Through this alliance, the Group will expand its infrastructure, including systems, and more actively promote high-value-added stock transfer agency services that meet customer needs, primarily for companies conducting initial public offerings.」

「To continue meeting the trust placed in the Group by issuer companies that support it and further strengthen that trust, while also gaining broad support from new customers, the Group will continue providing its own higher-value-added stock transfer agency services by offering services such as financial advisory and principal advisory in investment banking, in addition to its conventional SR consulting services.」

「As the newest stock transfer agent, the Group aims to expand its mandates as a cutting-edge stock transfer agent by exercising the innovations in which it specialises, including virtual shareholders' meetings and electronic exercise of voting rights, while exercising the utmost care.」

「The Group will pursue a strategic sales expansion that distinguishes it from conventional stock transfer agents, including from the perspective of corporate defence against activists and hostile tender offers.」

「The importance of shareholder information held by the stock transfer agent at the forefront of shareholder relations, as well as the ability to respond agilely to shareholders, is increasing from the perspective of corporate defence against activists and hostile takeovers. Drawing on its expertise in stock voting rights during contingencies such as control contests, the Group will pursue a strategic expansion as a stock transfer agent with particular strength in corporate defence, distinguishing itself from conventional stock transfer agents.」

「To continue meeting the trust placed in the Group by issuer companies that support it and further strengthen that trust, while also gaining broad support from new customers, the Group will continue providing its own higher-value-added stock transfer agency services by offering services such as financial advisory and principal advisory in investment banking, in addition to its conventional SR consulting services.」

「The Group's advanced stock transfer agency solutions are attracting increasing attention from the perspective of corporate defence. Mandate transfers from major listed companies that recognised these strengths at an early stage, as well as new mandates from early-stage companies, are increasing, and this trend is expected to accelerate further.」

「From the perspective of corporate defence, momentum has gradually been building to review stock transfer agency operations as the front line for shareholder relations. The strengths of the Group's stock transfer agency services are becoming recognised, including as a major listed company in the restaurant information search sector changed its mandate to the Group in anticipation of the advanced solutions offered by those services.」

「The Group continues to promote initiatives to raise awareness of its stock transfer agency business among all listed companies, not only existing customers, by pursuing synergies with a wide range of services in addition to the strengths of its stock transfer agency business.」

「In the stock transfer agency business, mandates had been secured from 60 companies as of 14 May 2018, and the number of shareholders under administration was 288,528 (in the same period of the previous year, mandates had been secured from 46 companies and the number of shareholders under administration was 252,314). The number of listed companies using the service, including newly listed companies, steadily increased during the period as the Group expanded its experienced workforce and strengthened its sales structure. In addition to the strengths of the Group's stock transfer agency business, the Group is making renewed proposals to existing customers by highlighting synergies with other services, including shareholder identification surveys and shareholder management systems.」

「During the first 3 quarters of the consolidated fiscal year, strategic sales activities targeting unlisted companies gradually began to bear fruit, including the securing of a mandate from a newly listed company.」

「During the second quarter, synergies with IR and SR consulting and investment banking were increasingly realised, and the Group reliably captured customer needs through strategic sales activities.」

「In addition to leveraging synergies with the Group's core IR and SR consulting business and responding closely to customer needs, the Group has received high evaluations from existing customers, while interest in its stock transfer agency business among new customers has also gradually increased. By assembling experienced personnel, the Group has become able to provide more comprehensive services and will continue working to expand its mandates.」

「In the stock transfer agency business, mandates had been secured from 46 companies as of 15 May 2017, and the number of shareholders under administration was 252,314. Synergies with IR and SR consulting, including the Group's outstanding track record in proxy contests and in securing quorum and votes in favour at shareholders' meetings, are also steadily emerging.」

「By strengthening its sales structure, including targeted direct-mail campaigns and new-business development by consultants in the IR and SR consulting divisions, the Group's stock transfer agency business has become increasingly recognised. In addition, the Group's outstanding track record in proxy contests and in securing quorum and votes in favour at shareholders' meetings has been recognised, leading to a gradual increase in enquiries and to cases converting into contracts.」

「In addition to strengthening our sales structure for both listed and unlisted companies, synergies with the Group’s core SR consulting business are gradually emerging. We will work even harder to achieve more than 50 mandates at an early stage.」

「The Group will promote its stock transfer agency operations more efficiently in coordination with SR consulting, with the aim of establishing a track record of providing unprecedented, higher-value-added stock transfer agency services that address companies' diverse capital policies and financing needs.」