Better Place Conducts Fundraising of 50 Million Yen from Kyoshin Social Capital

Better Place Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shinji Morimoto; https://bpcom.jp/; hereinafter referred to as "Better Place"), which supports the introduction and design of corporate pension and retirement benefit systems, primarily focusing on the "Welfare Hagukumi Corporate Pension Fund" (hereinafter referred to as "Hagukumi Corporate Pension"), announces that it has raised 50 million yen in funding from Kyoshin Social Capital Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Takehiro Kunimoto; hereinafter referred to as "Kyoshin Social Capital") as the underwriter. This funding round is positioned not merely as a means of securing capital, but as a strategic partnership aimed at contributing to the local community through the collaboration between the two companies. ■ Background and Purpose of This Fundraising Better Place is working to solve challenges such as future financial anxieties faced by employees and human resource shortages faced by management, by promoting the adoption of "Hagukumi Corporate Pension." In particular, by supporting the introduction of this system for small and medium-sized enterprises, where the development of corporate pension and retirement benefit systems lags behind that of large corporations, we have also been working to correct economic disparities. The number of subscribers to "Hagukumi Corporate Pension" has surpassed 110,000 as of the end of December 2025, and the number of adopting corporations has exceeded 5,000, continuing rapid growth. To further accelerate this growth, this investment was decided after receiving an evaluation of Better Place's business model and social significance from Kyoshin Social Capital, which supports the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises with a focus on local communities. Going forward, we will continue to strengthen our collaboration with financial institutions and dedicate ourselves even more to realizing a society where everyone can work without financial worries and live true to themselves. ■ Strengthening Collaboration with Kyoshin Social Capital Kyoshin Social Capital, as an investment subsidiary of the Community Bank Keishin (Kyoto Shinkin Bank) ※ group, supports companies working to solve regional social issues. This investment was realized due to their resonance with Better Place's vision of "reducing the 'hope disparity' for the future and realizing a society where everyone can work with peace of mind." By deepening our collaboration with the group, which is a partner to small and medium-sized enterprises supporting the regional economy, we aim to promote the introduction of "financial welfare" for regional companies, including those in the Kyoto area, and to advance financial inclusion in local communities. * "Community Bank Keishin" is the brand name of Kyoto Shinkin Bank. ■ Use of Raised Funds We will make focused investments in strengthening our system infrastructure and network infrastructure to provide services more safely and stably. At the same time, we will strive to further improve service quality by enhancing customer engagement through unique events and campaign initiatives to maximize the value provided to existing customers. Accompanying business expansion, we will actively recruit colleagues who resonate with the company's philosophy and will build the future together. ■ Comment from Takehiro Kunimoto, Representative Director of Kyoshin Social Capital Co., Ltd. "At Community Bank Keishin (Kyoto Shinkin Bank), our parent organization, expanding employee benefits and supporting asset formation for employees of our client small and medium-sized enterprises have been key challenges. We feel that the 'Welfare Hagukumi Corporate Pension Fund' is a wonderful employee-first service designed from the perspective of small and medium-sized enterprises. We intend to support Better Place Co., Ltd. going forward as an investor, and strive to deliver this service to as many companies and individuals as possible." ■ Comment from Hajime Nozaki, Director and CFO of Better Place Co., Ltd. "We are very proud to have established a capital and business partnership with Community Bank Keishin, which values community, and Kyoshin Social Capital. For many small and medium-sized enterprises, establishing retirement benefit systems is currently a high hurdle. However, by partnering with the Shinkin Bank, a trusted local institution, we can lower this hurdle and directly deliver 'peace of mind' to workers. Using this partnership as a model case, we will brighten Japan's future from our regions." ■ About "Hagukumi Corporate Pension" Currently, our country is experiencing a decline in the working population due to depopulation and super-aging, leading to a chronic labor shortage. Furthermore, financial reasons are the most common reason for young workers to leave their companies*¹, and the top concern for the working generation regarding their old age is "money"*². The economic disparities arising from the size of one's employer or region of residence greatly affect future asset formation and retirement funds. We promote the introduction of "Hagukumi Corporate Pension," a corporate pension system that benefits both companies and employees, to primarily support small and medium-sized enterprises and their workers. "Hagukumi Corporate Pension" is a Defined Benefit (DB) corporate pension that is available to all employees (including non-regular employees) and executives who are insured under the Employees' Pension Insurance. It allows employers to establish a corporate pension and retirement benefit system while keeping costs down. Furthermore, a 2025 research study statistically demonstrated a high probability that the introduction of this system leads to improved employee engagement and prevention of turnover*³. In line with these research findings, it has been well-received as a "financial welfare" measure for employees in small and medium-sized enterprises and the welfare industry, where labor shortages are particularly severe, enabling employees to work with peace of mind. Benefits for employees include not needing complex investment knowledge and having their principal guaranteed*⁴. Compared to corporate-type DC (corporate defined contribution pension) and iDeCo (individual-type defined contribution pension), which can generally only be received after age 60, it is based on accumulating funds for asset formation in old age. However, instead of receiving it as a pension, employees can choose to receive it upon retirement, during leave of absence, or during childcare/nursing care leave, thus garnering strong support from employees anticipating childcare or nursing care responsibilities in the future. Currently, approximately 95% of adopting corporations are small to medium-sized enterprises with 300 or fewer employees*⁵, and about one-third of these corporations are in the welfare, medical, or education sectors*⁶. *⁴ If a shortfall occurs due to investment performance, the employer will make up the difference. Service introduction site URL: https://bpcom.jp/hagukumikikin/ (Source) *¹ Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Outline of the 2023 Survey on Employment Status of Young Workers https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/dl/4-21c-jyakunenkoyou-r05_gaikyou.pdf *² Financial Services Agency, Financial Council, Market Working Group Report "Asset Formation and Management in an Aging Society," June 2019 https://www.fsa.go.jp/singi/singi_kinyu/tosin/20190603.html *³ From the "Survey on Factors for Joining 'Hagukumi Corporate Pension' and Its Management Effects" (October 2025) (Joint research by Better Place Co., Ltd. and Professor Emeritus Koji Nishikubo of Yamanashi University and the Employee Benefits Strategy Research Institute. Number of respondents: 2,744) Press Release: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000145.000074850.html *⁵ Calculated from the number of insured persons at the time of contract for corporations introduced between April 2018 and September 2025 (excluding those who withdrew), as recorded in our system. *⁶ Calculated from the industry types of corporations introduced between April 2018 and September 2025 (excluding those who withdrew), as recorded in our system. * Number of offices and participants: As of the end of December 2025 * Average individual contribution: As of the end of September 2025 * Basis for calculating average participation rate This is a simple average of the participation rate in the month of introduction for each adopting company. Period: Adopting companies in the last year (October 2024 – September 2025) (2,001 corporations, 2,044 offices) Participation Rate: Actual number of participants / Number of insured persons under Employees' Pension Insurance (excluding those who cannot join the fund due to system regulations) Average participation rate by company size: For companies with 30 or fewer insured persons under Employees' Pension Insurance at the time of contract: 77.2%, 31-300 people: 66.6%, 301+ people: 50.5% ■ Better Place Co., Ltd. We aim to create a society where child-rearing generations and children can have hope through business, and where ordinary people, not the wealthy, can work without financial worries and live true to themselves. Many small and medium-sized enterprise employees and essential workers perform vital jobs that support society, yet their income levels are often lower than those working for large corporations. Furthermore, they often do not have corporate pension or retirement benefit systems in place at their workplaces, preventing them from fully enjoying such benefits. Worrying about future finances can lead to a decline in Quality of Life (QOL) and a psychological state where they cannot confidently have and raise children. "Hope disparity" for the future – Better Place engages in business activities to solve this issue. Provision of corporate pension DX system "HaguONE" Introduction design and support for corporate pension and retirement benefit systems "Fukushi Hagukumi Corporate Pension Fund" Introduction design and support for corporate defined contribution pensions Company Name: Better Place Co., Ltd. Address: Sumitomo Ichigaya Building 15F, 1-1 Ichigaya Honmura-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Representative: Shinji Morimoto, President and CEO Established: October 17, 2011 URL: https://bpcom.jp/ 【Recruitment Information】 Better Place is looking for colleagues to build a brighter future with us. If you are even slightly interested, please feel free to contact us. Recruitment Information: https://bpcom.jp/recruit/