LONDON, May 14, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Asset Value Investors Limited (“AVI”) has submitted shareholder proposals on one of AVI Japan Opportunity Trust’s (“AJOT”) portfolio companies, Wacom Corporation (TSE: 6727, “Wacom”) calling for board changes ahead of Wacom’s upcoming Annual General Meeting in June. AVI, Wacom’s largest shareholder on behalf of all the portfolios it manages, is seeking the dismissal of two directors and the appointment of one external director.

Alongside these proposals, AVI has disclosed additional material on its Wacom campaign, including a detailed presentation on an updated dedicated website (www.DrawWacomsFuture.com).

Since initiating its investment in Wacom in August 2021, AVI has sought various forms of engagement aimed at enhancing the company’s long-term corporate value as Wacom’s largest shareholder. However, the Branded Business, one of Wacom’s principal business segments, fell into loss from FY2023/3 onwards, and business growth has stalled amid the implementation of large-scale restructuring measures. Furthermore, AVI has serious concerns regarding Wacom’s governance framework in light of the recently announced inappropriate acquisition of a company represented by one of Wacom’s own outside directors, despite the absence of tangible business synergies with Wacom, as well as the improper use of corporate resources, including the provision of preferential treatment to the children of the company representative director, Mr Ide.

In light of these circumstances, AVI, as the company’s largest shareholder and a long-term investor on behalf of all the portfolios it manages, publicly launched a campaign last year to support sustainable improvements in corporate value. This year, AVI has decided to publish additional materials and submit shareholder proposals at the upcoming annual general meeting, as follows:

- Appointment of one outside director 
- Dismissal of two directors (the Representative Director and one outside director)

Kaz Sakai, Head of Japan Research at AVI, commented as follows: 

“Wacom has demonstrated serious deficiencies in governance oversight. These include the acquisition by Wacom of a loss-making company represented by Mr Nakajima, one of its own external directors, for more than ten million dollars, the subsequent transfer of Mr Nakajima into an internal director role, and conduct by Mr Ide, Wacom’s Representative Director and CEO, that can only reasonably be viewed as a conflation of personal and corporate interests, together with a board that has tolerated such behaviour.”

“Wacom must restore the proper functioning of its governance framework without delay. In addition to proposing the dismissal of Mr Ide and Mr Nakajima, whom AVI has concluded are central to these governance failures, AVI has also nominated a candidate for outside director capable of strengthening governance and management. We are confident that, through the board structure recommended by AVI and the implementation of operational improvement measures, Wacom can further reinforce its position as the global market leader in the graphic tablet business.”

About Asset Value Investors (AVI):

AVI is an investment management company established in London, United Kingdom, in 1985. AVI has invested in Japanese equities for more than 40 years. AVI manages AVI Global Trust (AGT) and AVI Japan Opportunity Trust (AJOT) and other funds, collectively investing Y180bn into the Japanese market. AGT and AJOT are public companies whose shares are listed and traded on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

AVI is a signatory to Japan’s Stewardship Code and is committed to constructive engagement with management teams and boards of its portfolio companies, with the aim of contributing to sustainable growth and enhanced enterprise value.

AVI’s holding in Wacom on behalf of all its funds is 13.8% making AVI the largest shareholder (as of 30 April 2026). Wacom is a 5.5% holding in AJOT.

Media Contacts:
KL Communications, AVI@kl-communications.com
+44 (0)20 3882 6644
Ashton Consulting, avijapanpr@ashton.jp

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TOKYO // MANILA, May 12, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., Japan's only international payment brand, has officially formalized partnership with the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on April 30, 2026.

The agreement was signed by CCAP Chairman Mr. Rolando P. Ebreo and President Ms. Geraldine C. Liggayu at the RCBC Office, Robinsons Equitable Tower, and by JCB International’s Mr. Takumi Takahashi, Executive Vice President, JCB International Co. Ltd., at JCB’s headquarters in Japan. CCAP’s signing was witnessed by Mr. Wataru Tamura, Country Manager, and Mr. Yasutaka Nomura, Business Development Head of JCBI International Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. – Manila Branch.

This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of JCB and CCAP to Filipino consumers with the knowledge and tools to advance financial literacy and promote responsible credit card use across the Philippines. Key initiatives under the partnership include developing and localizing financial education materials tailored to the needs of Filipino consumers, and supporting industry-wide advocacy campaigns that highlight the importance of sound financial management. The partnership also introduces “Credit Card 101” sessions for partner communities, offering practical, easy-to-understand guidance to help build healthy financial habits. In addition, the agreement covers the co-creation and cross-platform sharing of educational content to reach broader audiences particularly young people making financial literacy more engaging, inclusive, and accessible nationwide.

Through this partnership, JCB and CCAP aim to equip more Filipinos with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions.

About the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP)

The Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is the country’s premier industry organization representing credit card issuers and acquirers. Established in October 1980 and officially incorporated in January 1981, CCAP promotes closer cooperation among member institutions to strengthen the Philippine credit card industry. CCAP serves as a collective voice for the industry, providing a platform to address common issues, align positions on regulatory matters, and advance shared objectives. Its key initiatives include the exchange of information and best practices in areas such as fraud management, collections, performance benchmarking, and customer education. The association is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates through six Standing Committees covering Credit, Collection, Operations, Merchant Relationship, Marketing & PR, and Security & Risk. Today, CCAP is composed of 17 member banks and 3 associate members, working closely with regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders to promote a secure, efficient, and inclusive payments ecosystem across the Philippines.

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 72 million merchants around the world. JCB Cards are now issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 181 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/

Contact
Anna Takeda
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5778-8353
Email: jcb-pr@info.jcb.co.jp

LONDON, Apr 13, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - Alpha Growth plc, a leading global specialist in longevity assets, insurance-linked strategies, and alternative yield solutions, today announced that its asset management subsidiary, Alpha Longevity Management Ltd (ALM), has launched a U.S.-focused specialty finance and uncorrelated alternatives strategy for Japanese institutional investors, deepening the firm's strategic expansion across Asia's institutional capital markets.

The strategy is led by a former senior member of Nikko Asset Management (Amova) investment team, Andre Severino, ALM's Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, alongside Charlie Devin-Smith, ALM's Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, combining deep expertise in global fixed income, derivatives, liquidity management, and Japanese institutional solutions mandates. As previously stated, both executives previously held senior investment roles within Nikko Asset Management's London-based global fixed income platform, where they were instrumental in managing multi-billion-dollar global bond strategies and supporting the growth of the firm's Japanese institutional franchise.

The strategy will be offered through the Alpha Omni Alternative Global Fund, a sub-fund of the Alpha Omni Funds ICAV, and has been specifically developed to address rising demand among Japanese pensions, insurers, trust banks, and family office allocators for stable income-oriented alternatives with low correlation to traditional fixed income and public market beta exposures.

The portfolio focuses on U.S. asset-based specialty finance opportunities, with particular emphasis on litigation-linked pre-settlement finance, structured settlement receivables, royalties, and other esoteric contractual cash-flow streams. The strategy targets gross annual returns above 10%, with return drivers designed to remain structurally independent from duration risk, credit spread volatility, and listed market directionality.

This positioning is especially relevant for Japanese institutional portfolios as allocators adapt to a higher-rate global environment, more volatile policy paths, and reduced certainty around conventional sovereign and public credit allocations.

Andre brings more than 25 years of international investment experience across fixed income, currencies, and derivatives. During his tenure at Nikko Asset Management, he served as Head of Global Fixed Income, overseeing the flagship global bond strategy while contributing materially to the expansion of Japanese institutional solutions, including the development of progressive outcome-oriented mandates for large-scale clients.

Charlie adds further depth in portfolio implementation and liquidity management, having previously managed a $4 billion global bond fund and contributed to a broader $16 billion platform with a focus on quantitative and liquidity strategies.

By leveraging contractual specialty finance cash flows and event-driven receivables, the strategy seeks to provide diversified return sources distinct from public credit, equity beta, and traditional macro-sensitive fixed income exposures, offering Japanese institutional investors a differentiated sleeve for resilient portfolio income and alternative risk premia.

Japan remains a core strategic fundraising market for ALM as the firm continues to build long-term relationships across Asia's consultant, pension, insurer, and trust-bank ecosystem through differentiated private market and insurance-adjacent investment solutions.

The Alpha Omni Funds ICAV, domiciled in Ireland and authorized by the Central Bank of Ireland, serves as Alpha's regulated cross-border institutional platform, providing access to diversified portfolios spanning life settlements, annuities, private credit, and alternative yield opportunities.

About Alpha Growth plc

Alpha Growth plc is a global financial services specialist focused on longevity assets, insurance-linked investments, and institutional wealth solutions. Through Alpha Longevity Management Ltd, the firm delivers differentiated alternatives, uncorrelated investment strategies, and specialty finance solutions to institutional investors globally, with Japan representing an increasingly important strategic growth market. www.algwplc.com 

About Alpha Longevity Management Ltd

Alpha Longevity Management Ltd, a subsidiary of Alpha Growth plc, is a Bermuda-based asset manager focused on longevity and esoteric asset strategies. Through its regulated fund structures in Bermuda and Ireland, the firm provides institutional and high-net-worth investors with access to uncorrelated, long-term investment opportunities across insurance-linked, private credit, and alternative yield markets. www.alphalongmgt.com 

Disclaimer

This news release relates to the Alpha Omni Funds ICAV and its sub-fund Alpha Alternative Global Fund. The ICAV is an alternative investment fund domiciled in Ireland and authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as a qualifying investor alternative investment fund. The ICAV is managed in accordance with the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. Investment management services are provided by Alpha Longevity Management Ltd, licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority and authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland to act as a non-EU Investment Manager to Irish authorised investment funds.

This communication is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, recommendation or invitation to subscribe for, or a solicitation to purchase, any interests in the Fund. Any such offer or solicitation may be made only in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and on the basis of the Fund's offering documents.

This communication is directed solely at professional investors and qualifying investors and is not intended for distribution to retail investors. This communication is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to applicable law or regulation.

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