~After 42 Years, a Historic Revision to 'Meal Subsidies' Leads to a Partnership Between Welfare and Major Restaurant Companies~ Edenred Japan Accelerates Nationwide Expansion of 'Meal Subsidies' Through Enhanced Collaboration with Industry Leaders Benefit One and Ewell

Edenred Japan, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Sotaro Amano; hereinafter referred to as "the Company"), which operates the welfare meal subsidy service "Ticket Restaurant," will strengthen its collaboration with major welfare industry players, Benefit One Inc. and Ewell Inc., in response to the expansion of the tax-exempt limit for the "meal subsidy system," scheduled to take effect on or after April 1, 2026 (Wednesday). Through the welfare services of both companies, "Ticket Restaurant" will be offered. Furthermore, a new service will be launched allowing users to access special coupons from a total of 7 companies and 12 brands, including Matsuya Foods Holdings, Inc., Yoshinoya Co., Ltd., and Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd., through the official Ticket Restaurant app. Through large-scale collaboration that transcends industry boundaries, we aim to elevate Japan's meal subsidies to global standards and accelerate their establishment as "social infrastructure" supporting the lives of working people.

Background of this Collaboration: Elevating Japan's "Meal Subsidies" to Global Standards, Starting with a Historic Revision After 42 Years. Towards Social Infrastructure. In many foreign countries, including Europe, the adoption rate of meal subsidies reaches 50-70%, and the tax-exempt limit for meal subsidies is at a high level of approximately ¥25,000 to ¥30,000 per month. In contrast, in Japan, despite a more than 1.5-fold increase in food prices*1 over the past 40 years, the tax-exempt limit for meal subsidies has remained unchanged at "¥3,500 per month" for 42 years. This prolonged discrepancy between the system and reality has contributed to a low adoption rate of meal subsidies in domestic companies, hovering around 14%*2. Additionally, the traditional image of "meal subsidy = employee cafeteria" has been one of the factors hindering the widespread adoption of meal subsidies. To break through this situation, the Company has consistently advocated for raising meal subsidies to global standards to the government through initiatives such as "Third Wage Increase Action" and the "Association to Promote the Relaxation of Meal Subsidy Limits." Finally, these efforts have supported government discussions, and a historic revision, the first in 42 years, is scheduled to be implemented on or after April 1, 2026 (Wednesday). By "doubling" the tax-exempt limit from ¥3,500 to ¥7,500 per month, companies will be able to significantly expand both the improvement of employees' actual disposable income and meal support, while reducing their tax burden. Taking advantage of this historic turning point, we aim to spread "payment-based" meal subsidies, which do not depend on physical facilities, to companies nationwide and establish them as essential social infrastructure. As a first step, we will strengthen our collaboration with two major welfare benefit providers and key affiliated merchants, with the key message: "Elevating Japan's Meal Subsidies to Global Standards. Towards Social Infrastructure." *1: Calculated from the "Consumer Price Index" by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. *2: Edenred estimate. ■Initiative Details ① Collaboration with Major Welfare Benefit Companies - Making Meal Subsidies the "Norm" for All Companies. To commemorate this collaboration, a limited-time preferential plan with waived initial fees will be offered to users of Benefit One and Ewell. This will expand opportunities for companies of all sizes, from large corporations to SMEs, to introduce meal subsidy systems, accelerating the adoption of meal subsidies as a corporate welfare benefit. 【Sales Overview】 Sales Start: Application acceptance begins April 1, 2026 (Wednesday) Target: Users of Benefit One and Ewell's "Cafeteria Plan" 【Preferential Plan Overview】 Preferential Plan Target Period: 20