Katsuron Co., Ltd.'s M&A Synergy Efforts Featured in the 2026 White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises

Katsuron Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Higashiosaka City, Osaka; Representative Director: Akikazu Ishikawa; 120 employees), a manufacturer of resin products specializing in extrusion molding, is pleased to announce that its initiatives for value enhancement through M&A have been featured in the '2026 White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises' (Part 2, Chapter 2, p. 175, Case 2-2-11) published by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

The 2026 White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises provides guidelines for the sustainable growth of SMEs in the face of structural challenges such as the intensifying labor shortage, acceleration of industry restructuring, strengthening 'earning power' to generate funds for wage increases, and the importance of management literacy for enhancing corporate value.

Katsuron was selected from among SMEs nationwide as a company that 'realized value enhancement by demonstrating synergy effects through M&A.'

Overview of the Featured Initiatives Katsuron is a 77-year-old resin product manufacturer with strengths in extrusion molding technology. Amid ongoing industry restructuring, to prepare for risks of future supply capacity shortages and opportunity losses, the company established a group structure by acquiring Nagoya Ceron Co., Ltd. in 2022 and Koki Plastic Industry Co., Ltd. in 2023.

During the M&A process, the company worked on creating group-wide synergies while respecting the technical capabilities and culture of the acquired companies, through measures such as: - Promising continued employment - Improving the workplace environment (renovating offices and break areas) - Developing accounting and personnel systems - Mutual supplementation through human resource exchange - Cost reduction by consolidating material procurement and mold making

Major Achievements through M&A - Approximately 10% increase in total group sales - Expansion of production capacity (mutual supplementation across 3 companies and 5 factories) - Reliable acquisition of high-value-added projects - Achieving industry-leading wage levels - Zero turnover of regular employees in all three companies - Positive feedback from the acquired companies saying, 'It was good to come under Katsuron's umbrella.'

These achievements were evaluated in the White Paper as a 'model case for realizing sustainable growth for SMEs.'

Representative's Comment Akikazu Ishikawa, Representative Director: 'This feature is the result of the technical capabilities and sincere attitude of each group company. We will continue to serve as a recipient for industry challenges while increasing added value and challenging ourselves to create new value as a manufacturing company.'

About Katsuron Co., Ltd. Location: 1-6-6 Takaida-naka, Higashiosaka City, Osaka Business: Manufacture of plastic products (extrusion molding) Number of Employees: 120 Founded: 1949 Features: Support for high-mix, low-volume production, manufacturing resin products for all industrial fields.