Suzuken : Signs MoU to Deepen Strategic Partnership with EPS Group

(Stock Code: 9987)

Securities Traded: Prime Market of the Tokyo and Nagoya Stock Exchanges, and the Sapporo Securities Exchange Contact: Corporate Communication Department

Tel: 052-950-6307 Fax: 052-961-4071

May 14, 2026

SUZUKEN CO., LTD. (headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi; President and CEO: Shigeru Asano; hereinafter, the "Company") hereby announces that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with EPS Holdings, Inc. (headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hao Yan; hereinafter, "EPSHD") and EP-PharmaLine Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Yutaka Ise; hereinafter, "EP-PharmaLine"), a subsidiary of EPSHD (through indirect ownership) and an equity-method affiliate of the Company. The MoU was executed for the purpose of advancing discussions toward further deepening the parties' strategic partnership going forward. EP-PharmaLine is primarily engaged in the medical contact center*1 business.

1. Background of the MoU

   In 2016, the Company entered into a capital and business alliance with EPSHD and began collaborating to create new value in the medical and healthcare industries by leveraging the management resources and expertise of both groups. Since then, the Company has progressively deepened its collaboration with EPSHD and promoted collaboration at each stage of the process-from development and sales to post-marketing surveillance-with a particular focus on

   support functions for pharmaceutical companies.

   In 2021, the Company made a capital participation in EP-PharmaLine, which is primarily engaged in the medical contact center business, and has since built a collaborative structure combining its specialized functions with the Suzuken Group's (hereinafter "the Group") distribution network and customer base.

   As a result, the collaboration between the two groups has achieved tangible outcomes, including the enhancement of information provision and operational support for pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare settings, as well as improved operational efficiency.

   However, the environment surrounding healthcare and pharmaceutical distribution is undergoing significant change due to such factors as labor shortages, the increasing sophistication of operations, and the growing use of digital technologies. Under these circumstances, establishing a business structure capable of generating maximum added value with a minimum necessary workforce has become one of the Group's key management challenges.

   To address this challenge, the Group recognizes that, in addition to further enhancing its sales activities, it is essential to strengthen back-office functions responsible for information provision and operational support, as well as to establish a multi-channel sales and support structure that combines in-person and digital approaches.

   Against this backdrop, the Group has reviewed the results and challenges of the collaboration to date and determined that it is necessary to further strengthen, by the end of March 2027, a collaborative framework centered on EP-PharmaLine's medical contact center functions.

   Specifically, the Group believes it is important to promptly and comprehensively examine the optimal framework for future functional enhancement, including potential investments and resource allocation that may be required going forward. Such examination will cover, among other initiatives, the strengthening of back-office functions, the joint development and deployment of new services linking "AI-MS,"*2 an AI avatar that is a new function of the COLLABO

   Portal currently under development by the Company, with EP-PharmaLine's medical contact center functions, as well as the enhancement and streamlining of operations through the mutual utilization of digital technologies and the industry networks and specialized human resources possessed by both companies.

   In light of the above, the Company decided to enter into an MoU with EPSHD and EP-PharmaLine to commence discussions aimed at further deepening the strategic partnership.

2. Overview of the MoU

   This MoU confirms that the Company and the EPS Group, including EP-PharmaLine, will engage in discussions regarding the direction of future collaboration, with the objective of establishing a collaborative framework that fully leverages the strengths of both parties.

   The following are the key focus areas for future discussions:

   • Enhancing the multi-channel sales and support structure, including AI-MS

   • Further strengthening back-office operations centered on medical contact center functions

   • Exploring opportunities for collaboration aimed at medium- to long-term business growth through the effective use of both groups'management resources

3. Future Outlook

   The Company, EPSHD and EP-PharmaLine will continue discussions and deliberations based on this MoU. Should any matter requiring disclosure be decided in the future, the Company will promptly make an announcement.

4. Impact on Financial Results

   At this time, this matter is not expected to have any impact on the financial results of the Group. However, the Company believes that this initiative will contribute to the enhancement of corporate value for both the Group and the EPS Group in the future.

5. Execution Date of the MoU

May 14, 2026

*1 Medical contact center:

A call center operated by EP PharmaLine, providing 24-hour, 365-day services specializing in pharmaceuticals, medical care, medical devices, and healthcare.

EP-PharmaLine's BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) services are staffed by licensed professionals with expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, including pharmacists, medical representatives (MRs), and nurses. These services provide comprehensive support for a wide range of business processes in the medical and healthcare fields, covering areas from pre-approval through post-marketing stages of pharmaceuticals.

*2 AI-MS:

AI-MS is a function that recreates, as an AI avatar within the virtual space of the COLLABO Portal operated by the Company, the knowledge of the Company's marketing specialists (MSs) and their interactions with customers. It provides voice-based information in response to a wide range of inquiries from healthcare professionals and other users. By integrating this function with the medical contact center, AI-MS enables two-way communication. The Company is also exploring its use as one of the digital channels that complement in-person sales activities, while considering further functional enhancements. "AI-MS" is currently the subject of a trademark application filed by Collabo Square Co., Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary of the Company.

< Contact Information >

Corporate Communication Department, Suzuken Co., Ltd.

8 Higashikataha-machi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi 461-8701, Japan

Tel: 052-950-6307 Fax: 052-961-4071

https://www.suzuken.co.jp/en/