Iris Ohyama to Increase Stake in Vegalta Sendai, Becoming Largest Shareholder; Group Integration Considered for the Future

Iris Ohyama Inc. (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Representative Director and President: Akihiro Oyama) will increase its stake in The Vegalta Sendai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Representative Director and President: Hideki Itabashi, hereinafter "Vegalta Sendai"). At the board meeting of Vegalta Sendai held today, a resolution was passed, and our voting rights ratio is expected to exceed 1/3, making us the largest shareholder. Furthermore, Vegalta Sendai is scheduled to become an affiliated company of Iris Ohyama upon the execution of a stock transfer agreement to be concluded by April 22, 2026.

Our company has been involved in the promotion of regional sports in a wide range of fields, primarily in Miyagi Prefecture, through initiatives such as the establishment and operation of a rowing club, sponsorship of professional baseball and basketball teams, and youth soccer leagues. In addition, from 2025, we will launch a new program to directly support retired athletes and active athletes looking towards their second careers, going beyond mere sponsorship activities, and we are working to create an environment where children who will carry the region's future can aspire to become professional athletes with peace of mind.

Vegalta Sendai, as a professional soccer club with the entire Miyagi Prefecture as its home town, has been loved by many citizens and has developed as a symbol of sports culture in Tohoku. In addition to promoting the region through soccer, the club has formed the "Vegalta Sendai Hometown Support Group" to strengthen its initiatives that are close to the community. This group participates in local events and conducts school visits and soccer caravans aimed at promoting sports to foster an environment where children can grow with dreams. Furthermore, the club actively engages in disaster prevention and mitigation activities with the aim of supporting the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, undertaking a wide range of social contribution activities throughout the year.

We have served as a uniform partner for Vegalta Sendai continuously since 2000, building a long-standing partnership. This time, we have decided to increase our stake, strongly resonating with the community-based activities promoted by the club as a representative sports team of Miyagi Prefecture. Moving forward, we will strengthen our relationship to establish a system that can jointly promote core areas such as club operations and the improvement of training environments, and further contribute to sustainable future town development, including the revitalization of local communities through sports and the creation of an environment where children who will carry the future can grow with dreams. In addition, we aim to achieve a majority of voting rights in the future, and by making Vegalta Sendai a member of the Iris Group, we intend to realize a more robust cooperative structure.

We will continue to contribute to the further revitalization of local communities through sports support.

Specific Partnership Vision

① Financial Stability We will strengthen the financial foundation based on a medium to long-term management perspective to ensure the sustainability of club management.

② Improvement of Training Environment Centered on the Top Team In addition to facility and equipment support such as the maintenance of artificial turf grounds and renovation of clubhouses, we will from now on, based on the establishment of these foundations, support the creation of an environment where players can perform at their maximum potential.

③ Advancement of Stadium and Spectator Experience To develop the stadium as a community hub, we will promote initiatives aimed at improving the spectator experience and increasing the number of visitors.

④ Fan Expansion and Revenue Model Strengthening through Digital Utilization and Regional Collaboration With the aim of expanding the club's fan base and positively impacting the regional economy, we will promote marketing strategies that combine digital technology with regional collaboration.

The Vegalta Sendai Co., Ltd. * Representative: Hideki Itabashi, Representative Director and President * Established: October 7, 1994 * Location: Gyoshin Building 4F, 3-6-16 Honcho, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture * Business Activities: Promotion of soccer and other sports competitions, etc.