IR Agents and Astris Advisory Japan Conclude a Business Alliance Agreement in the Area of IR Support – Combining the expertise of both companies to support, from an investor's perspective, IR activities directed at capital markets in Japan and overseas –

IR Agents, Inc. (head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Keigo Sekimoto; hereinafter "IR Agents") and Astris Advisory Japan KK (head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: David Shirt; hereinafter "Astris") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a business alliance agreement with the aim of expanding their services in the area of IR support and enhancing the value they deliver to client companies.

1. Background to the Agreement

In recent years, listed companies, particularly those on the Prime Market, have been expected to undertake more sophisticated and multifaceted IR activities, encompassing not only communication with domestic investors but also dialogue with overseas institutional investors and disclosure in English. At the same time, IR structures and the challenges faced differ from company to company, and it is by no means rare for a company to find it difficult to cover everything with its own resources alone, from formulating an IR strategy grounded in the investor's perspective, to preparing English-language materials, to building points of contact with overseas investors. It has therefore become important for each company to make appropriate use of external expertise in line with its own challenges.

With IR consulting grounded in the investor's perspective at its core, IR Agents draws on its expertise in company analysis and capital markets to provide services that support the formation of appropriate corporate valuations in the capital markets, including support for the preparation of IR materials, improvements to disclosure based on analysis using earnings forecast models that IR Agents builds in-house, and support for the formulation of IR strategy.

As IR support connecting Japanese-listed companies with overseas institutional investors, Astris provides services that leverage its global network and expertise in financial markets, including sponsored research, the arrangement of overseas IR roadshows, and support for investor-facing materials and reports.

The two companies concluded that by mutually leveraging their respective expertise and client bases, they can offer listed companies a broader range of options to address their IR challenges and have accordingly entered into this alliance.

2. Purpose of the Alliance

Under this alliance, the two companies will combine the IR consulting expertise that IR Agents has developed from the investor's perspective with Astris' capabilities in English-language writing and translation, its network of overseas institutional investors, and its experience in global IR support, in order to support listed companies in their disclosure and communication with investors in Japan and overseas.

In addition, in response to the needs of both companies' clients and prospective clients, the two companies will refer clients to one another and provide services in their respective areas of expertise, thereby contributing to more sophisticated IR activities and enhanced corporate value for client companies.

3. Principal Initiatives under the Alliance

(1) Mutual referral of IR support services tailored to the challenges faced by client companies

In line with the challenges and needs of both companies' clients and prospective clients, the two companies will refer to one another the IR consulting services provided by IR Agents and the services provided by Astris, including sponsored research, the arrangement of meetings with overseas institutional investors, the arrangement of overseas IR roadshows, and support for disclosure in English.

(2) Planning and provision of new IR support services

Leveraging their respective expertise and client bases, the two companies will jointly plan and provide new IR support services for investor communications in Japan and overseas.

As the first such initiative, the two companies will launch a "Japanese and English IR interview article production service" for listed companies. For details, please refer to the press release issued on the same date.

Related press release:
Launch of a "Japanese and English IR Interview Article Production Service" for Listed Companies
URL: https://www.astrisadvisory.com/ja/news

4. Outlook

Through this alliance, the two companies will build a collaborative framework that draws on their respective areas of expertise and will strengthen their capacity to provide services that address the diverse IR challenges faced by listed companies.

Going forward, the two companies will continue to support the enhancement of disclosure to investors in Japan and overseas and the expansion of opportunities for dialogue, thereby contributing to the sustainable growth and enhanced corporate value of their client companies.

5. Company Overviews

About Astris Advisory Japan KK

Astris Advisory Japan KK is an independent, globally active financial services firm. Its services include investment advisory services relating to Japanese equities, through which it maintains long-term engagement with overseas institutional investors, as well as corporate advisory services, such as IR support that connects Japanese listed companies with overseas institutional investors. The firm also acts as a placement agent, introducing overseas private alternative funds to Japanese institutional investors.

For further details of its business, please refer to the website below.

・Company name: Astris Advisory Japan KK

・Address: FinGATE KABUTO 3F, 6-5 Nihonbashi-Kabutocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

・Representative: David Shirt, Representative Director and CEO

・Established: July 2018

・Business activities: Corporate advisory services, fund placement services, investment advisory services, and M&A advisory services

・URL: https://www.astrisadvisory.com/

・Corporate research site (Japanese): https://corporateresearch.astrisadvisory.com/ja/

About IR Agents, Inc.

IR Agents, Inc. is an IR support firm founded by a representative with experience as an analyst and portfolio manager at foreign long-only funds and hedge funds. With IR support grounded in the investor's perspective, the company provides IR consulting to maximize corporate value in the capital markets. A distinguishing feature of its support is that it builds and provides the earnings forecast models that investors use to make investment decisions and, on that basis, works alongside clients to improve their disclosure and formulate their IR strategy.

For further details of its business, please refer to the website below.

・Company name: IR Agents, Inc.

・Address: N&E BLD. 7F, 1-12-4 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

・Representative: Keigo Sekimoto, Representative Director and CEO

・Established: August 2021

・Business activities: Comprehensive consulting services and related services in the field of investor relations (IR)

・URL: https://ir-agents.com/

・Media operated for investors: https://ir-agents.com/media/ (membership-based)

Contact

Astris Advisory Japan KK

[Contact] Sales Team

[Tel] 03-6868-8223

[E-mail] astris_sales@astrisadvisory.com

IR Agents, Inc.

[Contact] Keigo Sekimoto

[E-mail] ksekimoto@ir-agents.com