Funai Soken Announces Acquisition of S-Adviser Qualification for Sapporo PRO Frontier Market

Funai Soken, a management consulting firm with expert consultants for mid-sized SMEs, announced that on June 5, 2026, it received approval from the Sapporo Stock Exchange for the S-Adviser qualification regarding the exchange-operated 'Sapporo PRO Frontier Market,' a stock market for professional investors.

Background and Purpose of Acquiring S-Adviser Qualification Since its founding, Funai Soken has conducted management consulting services primarily aimed at improving business performance for mid-sized SMEs. Under the group purpose of 'More Sustainable Growth Companies,' the firm aims to nurture companies that can grow vigorously and sustainably even in uncertain times. Supporting listings on professional investor markets is one of the means to realize this purpose.

Funai Soken previously obtained the J-Adviser qualification for the Tokyo Stock Exchange's TOKYO PRO Market in April 2022 and the F-Adviser qualification for the Fukuoka Stock Exchange's Fukuoka PRO Market in August 2024, providing consulting services for client companies to list on professional markets. In response to diverse client needs and to contribute to nurturing more sustainable growth companies, the firm will begin listing support for the Sapporo PRO Frontier Market as an S-Adviser.

Overview of 'Sapporo PRO Frontier Market' Support 'Sapporo PRO Frontier Market' is a stock market for professional investors scheduled to open in June 2026. Similar to the TOKYO PRO Market, by limiting purchases to 'professional investors,' it allows for more flexible governance design compared to general markets, making it increasingly popular in the capital markets. The number of listed companies on the TOKYO PRO Market is on an upward trend, reaching 178 as of the end of April 2026.

With this new qualification, the company will be able to provide comprehensive, one-stop support to meet the various needs of client companies aiming for an IPO.