FIS Solutions, Inc. Awarded Tottori Prefecture's 'Management Capability Improvement Diagnostic Promotion Project'

FIS Solutions, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Katsuhiro Yamaguchi; hereinafter "FIS Solutions"), a group company of Forval Corporation (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Masanori Nakajima; hereinafter "Forval"), which operates under the philosophy of "Creating a new world with 'new norms'" and serves as a "Corporate Doctor (next-generation management consultant) group" supporting ESG management through visualization and hands-on guidance, has been awarded the "Management Capability Improvement Diagnostic Promotion Project" by Tottori Prefecture.

Background and Purpose In recent years, while Japan has seen continuous increases in the minimum wage and government-led "structural wage hike" policies, a significant gap has emerged in the implementation rates and levels of wage increases between large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Particularly due to the shrinking labor force and the persistently high job-to-applicant ratio, wage increases are becoming a "necessity" rather than an "option" for SMEs. Furthermore, in regional areas, the impact of population decline and the outflow of the younger generation to urban centers is profound, making the dual pursuit of wage increases and productivity improvement essential for sustainable corporate growth.

In Tottori Prefecture, which has one of the smallest populations and numbers of businesses in Japan, the majority of companies are small and medium-sized, and it is believed that many are in a position where they "want to raise wages but cannot." Under these circumstances, to achieve sustainable wage increases, it is vital to "raise the floor of management capability." This involves resolving the "lack of awareness of current status"—often caused by inadequate financial analysis, lack of business planning, or failure to grasp break-even points—so that companies can correctly understand their own management conditions and devise improvement measures. To address these urgent challenges in Tottori Prefecture, FIS Solutions will provide "Management Capability Improvement Diagnostics" based on profitability, financial health, and investment effectiveness. This will visualize the impact of wage increases on management from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives, supporting the fundamental improvement of management capabilities for companies within the prefecture.

Through this project, we will contribute to the realization of sustainable wage increases and productivity improvements in Tottori Prefecture by ensuring that subsidies function not merely as a "grant system," but as a "program to enhance management capabilities."

Project Policy and Overview To promote this project most effectively and efficiently, FIS Solutions will implement the work based on the following four basic policies:

1. Visualization of Management through Integrated "Quantitative x Qualitative" Diagnostics We will integrate financial data with management interviews to achieve a multi-dimensional evaluation.

2. Proactive Approach to Companies of All Levels We will actively encourage participation in the target subsidies and this project.

3. Digital Efficiency and Provision of Diverse Consultation Opportunities We will provide consultation opportunities that ensure companies unfamiliar with digital tools are not left behind.

4. Providing Analysis for Policy Formulation and Strengthening Management Capability Prefecture-wide We will connect individual company support to the strengthening of management capabilities across the entire prefecture.

[Project Overview] (Image omitted)

About FIS Solutions, Inc. As a member of the Forval Group, FIS Solutions engages in corporate management consulting, focusing on telecommunications consulting. Our clients are SMEs, which account for 99.7% of domestic companies. Our mission is to contribute to the profit growth of our clients through the advancement of management utilizing information and communications, matching with business partners, support for overseas expansion, and web strategy. We aim to be a "Corporate Doctor (next-generation management consultant) group" that pursues the ideal form of a company together with our clients.

Company Overview Company Name: FIS Solutions, Inc. Representative: Katsuhiro Yamaguchi, President Established: February 22, 2011 Location: Aoyama Oval Building 14F, 5-52-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo URL: https://www.fis-s.co.jp/

About Forval Corporation Forval (Capital: 4.15 billion yen; [Securities Code: 8275]), a "Corporate Doctor (next-generation management consultant) group" that supports ESG management through visualization and hands-on guidance, specializes in consulting services for small and medium-sized enterprises in five fields: "Information and Communications," "Overseas," "Environment," "Human Resources/Education," and "Entrepreneurship/Business Succession."

In accordance with the government's four driving forces—"Green," "Digital," "Vibrant Regional Revitalization," and "Countermeasures for the Declining Birthrate"—we are promoting the "F-Japan" initiative. This initiative aims to realize permanent regional revitalization through a virtuous cycle where DX and GX human resources are cultivated across Japan in collaboration with local governments, private companies, educational institutions, and financial institutions, and these individuals then revitalize the local economy. We are also engaged in visualization and hands-on support for ESG management, including human capital, which has been receiving increasing attention in recent years.

Company Overview Company Name: Forval Corporation Representative: Masanori Nakajima, President Established: September 18, 1980 Location: Aoyama Oval Building 14F, 5-52-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo *For details, please visit our website.