SmartHR Acquires SUNITED, Inc., a Company Specializing in IT System BPO, as a Group Subsidiary

SmartHR, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masato Serizawa) acquired all shares of SUNITED, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hiroyuki Fukutomi), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kowa Company, Ltd. that specializes in IT system BPO, on March 27, 2026, making it a group subsidiary.

SUNITED has a wealth of experience in general back-office operations, with a primary focus on BPO (business process outsourcing) for information systems departments. Their strength lies in their delivery capability, which allows them to provide high-quality practical support to organizations of all sizes, from small and medium-sized enterprises to large-scale organizations.

While many companies are currently investing in digital transformation (DX), the shortage of IT talent to support these initiatives has become a serious bottleneck. In the IT systems sector, which is the core of IT operations, it is particularly difficult to secure specialized personnel, leading to a 'DX gap' between companies that are fully reaping the benefits of technology and those that are not.

To realize a society where everyone can fairly access technology, practical support that fully sustains on-site operations is essential, alongside the provision of software. Through this acquisition, we will combine SmartHR's strengths in SaaS and AI technology with SUNITED's 'specialized knowledge and operational capabilities in the IT systems sector.' We aim to establish 'AI BPaaS,' a next-generation business outsourcing model that utilizes AI and goes beyond simple business delegation.

Future Outlook As a scale-up company continuing to achieve non-linear growth, we plan to continue expanding our business through M&A and enhance the value provided by the SmartHR Group. Through a multifaceted approach that goes beyond the framework of our existing business, we aim to eliminate social issues related to labor and achieve further growth toward realizing a society where everyone can work in their own way.

Comments on this Matter

SUNITED, Inc. Representative Director Hiroyuki Fukutomi I am very pleased to be able to join the SmartHR Group and pursue further growth together.

Our mission is to 'brighten up corporate departments.' We have maximized the enthusiasm of those working in back offices through 'business improvement' that stays close to the front lines. By combining our ability to execute improvements with the extensive products and knowledge of SmartHR, which aims to solve social issues related to 'work,' we will update Japan's workplaces to be more positive and faster.

We will continue to cherish and polish the passion for the front lines and the expertise we have cultivated so far. While maintaining the 'SUNITED-ness' that defines us, we will leverage group synergies to take on the challenge of creating further social value.

SmartHR, Inc. Masato Serizawa I am very pleased to welcome SUNITED, Inc. into the SmartHR Group.

As the shortage of IT talent becomes a challenge in promoting DX, it is essential not only to introduce technology but also to build a system that embeds it into practical work and ensures its continued use. By integrating SUNITED, which has high expertise and execution capabilities centered on the IT systems sector, with SmartHR's SaaS and AI technology, we will pursue comprehensive DX support that goes beyond mere software provision and expand the breadth of the value we provide.

The SmartHR Group will continue to accelerate the realization of a 'well-working' society where everyone can work in their own way.

Company Overview About SUNITED, Inc. SUNITED provides a wide range of support to companies, including business system development, operation, efficiency improvement, and replacement, as well as customer acquisition, recruitment, IPO support, ISMS certification acquisition, and corporate/product branding. Our strength lies in providing 'side-by-side' support that stays close to the person in charge, and we value the sentiment of 'ensuring that customers can share in exciting and wonderful days the moment they encounter our services.'

We are a partner you can trust, with a track record of over 100 client companies (many of which are listed) and a customer repeat/project continuity rate of over 85%.

- Company Name: SUNITED, Inc. - Representative Director: Hiroyuki Fukutomi - Business Description: IT consulting, system development/operation, human resource development/agent services (13-Yu-311616), digital marketing support, administrative department support, creative services - Established: June 2019 - Headquarters Address: Hanzomon PREX South 6F, 2-5-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo - Corporate URL: https://sunited.co.jp/

About SmartHR, Inc. Established on January 23, 2013. In November 2015, we launched the cloud-based human resources and labor software 'SmartHR.' In addition to functions that achieve operational efficiency by digitizing labor management, including attendance management and payroll calculation, we provide talent management functions that support organizational strategy by utilizing accumulated information. Furthermore, we provide services that meet a wide range of customer needs through extensive integration with external systems and our app store, 'SmartHR Plus.'

Under our corporate mission of 'eliminating social issues related to labor and creating a society where everyone can work in their own way,' SmartHR contributes to improving corporate productivity with services that are easy for everyone to use.

- Company Name: SmartHR, Inc. - Representative Director and CEO: Masato Serizawa - Business Description: Planning, development, operation, and sales of the cloud-based human resources and labor software 'SmartHR' - Established: January 23, 2013 - Capital: 100 million yen - Headquarters: Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower, 3-2-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo - Corporate URL: https://smarthr.co.jp/