Notification Regarding Acquisition of S-Adviser Qualification for Sapporo Stock Exchange's Sapporo PRO Frontier Market

Nihon M&A Center Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Naoki Takeuchi), a consolidated subsidiary of Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Takashi Miyake), hereby announces that it has received approval from the Sapporo Stock Exchange (SSE; Head Office: Sapporo, Hokkaido; Chairman: Minoru Nagano) to acquire the S-Adviser qualification for the 'Sapporo PRO Frontier Market', a new stock market for professional investors to be established by the SSE.

Consequently, Nihon M&A Center will launch a new 'Sapporo PRO Frontier Market Listing Support Service'.

About Sapporo PRO Frontier Market and S-Adviser

The 'Sapporo PRO Frontier Market' is a stock market for specified investors (professional investors) targeting startup companies aiming for listing on general markets such as the regular market or Ambitious, scheduled to open on June 30, 2026, by the SSE.

Similar to the 'TOKYO PRO Market' operated by Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc., by limiting purchasable investors to professional investors, it has no numerical criteria for new listings such as number of shareholders, market capitalization, or profit, resulting in a more flexible listing system compared to general markets.

The S-Adviser is commissioned by the SSE to conduct pre-listing eligibility investigations and confirmations, provide advice and guidance on timely disclosure post-listing, and investigate compliance with listing maintenance requirements.

(Reference) SSE 'Sapporo PRO Frontier Market' Overview: https://www.sse.or.jp/frontier/market

Background and Purpose of Acquiring S-Adviser Qualification and Launching Sapporo PRO Frontier Market Listing Support Service

Since its founding in 1991, Nihon M&A Center, as a leading M&A intermediary company, has been committed to solving business succession issues for many small and medium-sized enterprises with the mission of 'contributing to the survival and development of companies.' In this process, realizing that the existence of 'star companies' in each prefecture is essential for achieving genuine regional revitalization, the company acquired the J-Adviser qualification for TOKYO PRO Market in July 2019 and the F-Adviser qualification for Fukuoka PRO Market in December 2024 to support the discovery and further development of growing companies, providing listing support services nationwide.

(Reference) TOKYO PRO Market Listing Support Service: https://www.nihon-ma.co.jp/tokyopromarket/

To date, the company has handled new listing applications for a total of 58 companies on TOKYO PRO Market and Fukuoka PRO Market.

In the Hokkaido region, the company provides M&A support and listing support throughout the prefecture, primarily from its Hokkaido office located in Sapporo.

By acquiring the S-Adviser qualification, the company can now meet the diverse growth needs of its clients. Through the Sapporo PRO Frontier Market Listing Support Service, the company will strive more than ever to foster 'star companies' in Hokkaido. It will also strengthen collaboration with audit firms, certified public accountants, and existing listed companies that support IPOs, thereby contributing to the realization of true regional revitalization in Hokkaido and throughout Japan.

(Reference) Nihon M&A Center's Listing Support Achievements

The Nihon M&A Center Group celebrated its 35th anniversary in April 2026.

Positioning this 35th anniversary as an opportunity for a 'second founding,' the group will continue to strengthen its business foundation and enhance its value proposition, aiming for further growth.

【Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime: 2127)】

Company Name: Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc.

Head Office Location: 24F, Tekko Building, 1-8-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Business Description: Management and administration of group companies, etc.

Established: April 1991

Locations: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Okinawa, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand

(Including locations of local subsidiaries and Nihon M&A Center Inc., a consolidated subsidiary)

【Nihon M&A Center Inc.】

As a leading company in the M&A intermediary industry, Nihon M&A Center Inc. operates under the corporate philosophy of 'contributing to the survival and development of companies through M&A business' and has a track record of supporting over 11,000 M&A transactions since its founding. It has deepened collaboration with accounting firms, regional financial institutions, mega banks, and securities companies, accelerating the creation of consultation opportunities for business succession and M&A, and strengthening matching. The company has 7 domestic offices, 16 satellite offices, and 5 overseas locations (local subsidiaries of Nihon M&A Center Holdings).

◆ Guinness World Records™ Certification for Number of M&A Transactions ◆

Official record name: 'Most M&A financial advisory transactions handled by a company'

(Target year: 2024, Number of transactions handled: 1,088)

【Contact for Inquiries】

Nihon M&A Center Inc., Public Relations, pr@nihon-ma.co.jp