Japan Investment Fund Forms Strategic Capital Alliance with KAKEGOE and Support

Nihon Investment Fund (hereinafter, “Japan Investment Fund” / Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Masahiko Otsuki / URL: https://www.j-fun.co.jp/), managed and operated by J-Capital Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Masahiko Otsuki), a consolidated subsidiary of Nihon M&A Center Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, “the Company” / Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Taku Miyake), and Development Bank of Japan Inc. (hereinafter, “DBJ” / Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Seiji Chikashita), announced that its Japan Investment Fund No. 2 Limited Partnership (hereinafter, “the Fund”) has formed a strategic capital alliance with KAKEGOE Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, “KAKEGOE Co.” / Headquarters: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture / Representative Director: Daichi Mizoguchi) and Support Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, “Support Co.” / Headquarters: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture / Representative Director: Chiho Mizoguchi).

KAKEGOE Co. operates multiple izakaya (Japanese-style pub) formats in Kyoto City, primarily the “Kyoto Kushikatsu Izakaya Aiyo!”. Upholding the philosophy of “a company overflowing with gratitude, where each individual has the power to achieve,” the company has achieved steady business growth by implementing a dominant strategy for store development in the Kyoto area and establishing an efficient operating system through its central kitchen and in-house logistics. Furthermore, the employment support business operated by Support Co. has been carefully nurtured by Ms. Chiho Mizoguchi since its inception, with the aim of creating employment opportunities where each person with a disability can unleash their potential and work authentically. Through the collaboration of both companies, opportunities for diverse human resources to play active roles are being created through the food and beverage business, achieving both business growth and social contribution.

To support the mid- to long-term growth of KAKEGOE Co. and Support Co. and lead to further development, this capital alliance with Japan Investment Fund was formed to advance the sophistication of their internal management systems and to promote initiatives aimed at expanding the dominant area of “Kyoto Kushikatsu Aiyo!”. Mr. Daichi Mizoguchi will continue as the representative of KAKEGOE Co. as a joint investor, and Ms. Chiho Mizoguchi will continue as the representative of Support Co.

Japan Investment Fund, in cooperation with our group (Nihon M&A Center Holdings) and DBJ, as well as regional banks that are investors in the Fund, will strive for the growth and development of KAKEGOE Co. and Support Co. through various management infrastructure strengthening and business scale expansion.

[Nihon M&A Center Holdings Co., Ltd. (TSE Prime: 2127)] Company Name: Nihon M&A Center Holdings Co., Ltd. Headquarters: Tekko Building 24F, 1-8-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Business Description: Management of group companies, etc. Established: April 1991 Locations: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Okinawa, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand (Including local subsidiaries and Nihon M&A Center's offices, which is a consolidated subsidiary)

[Contact for inquiries regarding this matter] Nihon M&A Center Holdings Co., Ltd. Public Relations: [email protected]