― Welcoming 146 New Employees ― "2026 TKC Entrance Ceremony" President's Address (Summary)

TKC Corporation (Headquarters: Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture / President and Representative Director: Masaki Iizuka) held its "2026 Entrance Ceremony" on April 1st at Hotel Higashi Nihon Utsunomiya (492-1 Kami-Osocho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture), welcoming 146 new employees for the current fiscal year.

Until April 17th, new employees will undergo general training to learn "the basics as a TKC employee (our business activities and market environment, etc.)" and "basic knowledge as a working adult." After their assignment, they will also receive specialized training tailored to their respective job types over a period of one year to acquire the necessary skills for their work.

Below, we introduce the "Outline of the Entrance Ceremony" and "Summary of the President's Address." Additionally, this year, Dr. Robert Meyer, CEO of DATEV, a German company that has long partnered with us, participated as a guest and delivered a congratulatory address, which is also presented here.

Outline of the Entrance Ceremony

**1. Number of New Employees** 146 (of which 20 are high school graduates)

**2. Assignments** Development Division, Sales Division, Operations Division (Data Center, etc.)

**3. Assignment Date** Monday, April 20th

President Iizuka of TKC

Dr. Meyer, CEO of DATEV

Summary of the President's Address

**Masaki Iizuka, President and Representative Director, Executive Officer**

Today, our company welcomed 146 new employees. All executives and employees sincerely welcome your joining.

**● Step Forward and Lead the Change**

The environment surrounding us has changed significantly in the past few months. Not only the war in Ukraine, but also the war between Iran, America, and Israel, casts a large shadow over the future Japanese economy. Furthermore, with the emergence of AI agents, the way we work is also changing significantly. It is no exaggeration to say that we are living in an era that will surely be recorded in history textbooks.

So, how can we overcome this rapidly changing era and connect it to future growth? The management scholar Peter Drucker said in his book "Managing in a Time of Great Change," "Change cannot be controlled. All that can be done is to be at the forefront of change." In other words, it is important to perceive "change" as an "opportunity" and take the initiative to step forward. And to be at the forefront of that change.

**● Supporting accounting firms, small and medium-sized enterprises, listed companies, and local governments nationwide with TKC systems.**

What challenges are our customers facing now? Inflation, the Bank of Japan's interest rate hike, and rising energy costs are beginning to bring about significant economic changes. In particular, the rise in gasoline prices not only disrupts Japan's supply chain but also leads to a shortage of products that use crude oil, such as naphtha. As a result, some small and medium-sized enterprises are being forced to suspend operations. Small and medium-sized enterprises affected by this will see their performance deteriorate, and expenses will increase due to inflation. Furthermore, with disruptions in global logistics, many industries will face extremely difficult situations. More companies will likely close down or go bankrupt.

Accounting firms would support these companies with accounting and cash flow management. For local governments, in addition to their regular duties, implementing policies to support the regional economy has become a pressing issue. We support customers in such situations with systems and on-site assistance.

In summary, what we have discussed so far means that we are a company that considers what is needed now and in the near future from the perspective of accounting firms, small and medium-sized enterprises, and municipalities nationwide, takes concrete actions, and supports our customers. TKC is a company that believes that supporting customers through "contributing to customers" directly leads to your growth. Of course, it will be difficult for you to immediately engage in such work. Therefore, our company promises to provide you with as many learning opportunities as possible through training, etc. We are delighted to be able to work on socially significant projects with all of you who have joined the company today.

We sincerely welcome all of you to TKC. Let's work together.

This year, we were able to welcome a special guest to our entrance ceremony. We would like to introduce Dr. Robert Meyer, CEO of DATEV, an IT leading company in the Federal Republic of Germany. DATEV was founded in 1966, the same year as TKC, and both companies celebrate their 60th anniversary this year. TKC and DATEV have been collaborating since 1972 and have exchanged information for these 54 years. Now, we will hear a congratulatory address from Dr. Meyer.

Summary of Dr. Meyer's Congratulatory Address, DATEV

**Dr. Robert Meyer, CEO, DATEV Germany**

To the new employees of TKC, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on joining TKC. A new journey in your lives begins today. I believe that every new beginning is always a special moment.

I think a career is like a journey. You generally know your destination, but the most exciting moments are often not something you can plan in advance. I hope you will experience many exciting moments at TKC from now on.

DATEV and TKC have been bound by a long and deep friendship for over 50 years.

A true partnership is not born overnight. I believe it is nurtured through years of shared experiences, listening to each other, and the trust that you can rely on each other.

I sincerely wish all of you a wonderful start, great achievements, good fortune in all your endeavors, and above all, joy in your new workplace.