Former CARTA HD Representative Director Shinten Usami Acquires All Shares of Supporterz

Shinten Usami, former Representative Director, President, Executive Officer, and CEO of CARTA HOLDINGS, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "CARTA HD"), has agreed to acquire all shares of Supporterz, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Supporterz") held by CARTA HD through the newly established Supporterz Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Shinten Usami, hereinafter referred to as "Supporterz HD"). This transaction is scheduled to be executed on April 10, 2026.

Since its establishment, Supporterz has been a leading HR tech company in Japan, operating a high-value-added matching service primarily in the career support domain specializing in new graduate engineers, under the vision of "increasing cool adults." It boasts an overwhelming community brand for engineering students and possesses a business foundation with further growth potential in the young IT talent market, which will support the future digital society.

Through this share acquisition, Supporterz will become independent from CARTA HD and execute flexible and bold business strategies. Shinten Usami will fully support this independence, leveraging his extensive business development experience, and strongly promote Supporterz's medium-to-long-term corporate growth.

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1972. After graduating from Waseda University's School of Commerce, he joined Tohmatsu Consulting (now Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC) before co-founding Axiv.com (VOYAGE GROUP) with a friend in 1999. The company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers in 2014 and the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section in 2015. In 2019, he became Chairman of CARTA HD after a business integration with CCI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dentsu. In 2025, CARTA HD received a tender offer from NTT Docomo, and he retired as Representative Director in December of the same year.

Comment from Shinten Usami, Representative Director, Supporterz HD

I have been involved in various business developments at VOYAGE GROUP/CARTA HD. Among them, Supporterz has maintained its unique and wonderful culture since its founding with the vision of "increasing cool adults." The HR domain still has ample room for business development, such as utilizing AI and expanding business areas. I aim to work with the Supporterz management team to improve corporate value over the medium to long term.

Comment from Hiroki Kaede, Representative Director, Supporterz, Inc.

Since its establishment in 2012, Supporterz has developed unique services that "increase cool adults," including matching services for new graduate engineers and career development programs like the GiiKu Project.

It has grown into a service used by one in three students aspiring to become engineers, and since last year, we have also launched services for working professionals, continually challenging ourselves to realize our vision.

I am very much looking forward to embracing our second founding under a new structure, together with Mr. Usami, who has watched over and supported Supporterz since its inception.

Company Name

Supporterz Holdings, Inc.

Representative Director

Shinten Usami

Date of Establishment

March 5, 2026

Capital

200 million JPY (including capital reserve)

Shareholders

Godo Kaisha 533 (Representative Member: Shinten Usami) 100%

Business Activities

Group Management

Company Name

Supporterz, Inc.

Website

https://corp.supporterz.jp/

Representative Director

Hiroki Kaede

Date of Establishment

April 2, 2012

Head Office Location

Toranomon Hills Station Tower 36F, 2-6-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-5536

Capital

10 million JPY (including capital reserve)

Shareholders

CARTA HOLDINGS, Inc. 100% *To be changed to Supporterz Holdings, Inc. 100% on April 10, 2026

Business Activities

Talent introduction business / Information processing service business and information provision service business / Advertising business and advertising agency business / Planning and operation of various events