スパークス・グループ（8739） – Mirai Creation Fund III Invests in Nealle, a Developer of Mobility SaaS

The following is an English version of the official Japanese announcement, which has been given to the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the media in Tokyo, Japan. For Immediate Release April 6, 2022 SPARX Group Co., Ltd. President and Group CEO Shuhei Abe (Code: 8739, TSE Prime Market) Mirai Creation Fund III Invests in Nealle, a Developer of Mobility SaaS —Taking another step toward carbon neutrality by propagating EV charging infrastructure in parking lots— TOKYO—April 6, 2022—SPARX Group Co., Ltd. (SPARX; TSE1: 8739) today announced that its Mirai Creation Fund III—established in October 2021—has invested in Nealle Inc. (Nealle; pronounced “nee-lee”). The firm promotes solutions to social problems through its mobility SaaS, Park Direct. Nealle intends to use this raised capital to recruit personnel and bolster name recognition, further accelerating its Park Direct growth. Portfolio Company Outline Since its founding in 2013, Nealle has conducted IT consulting, mainly in new project planning and development, for leading corporations and financial institutions, under its mission of “boosting social resolution.” It leverages the advanced technological prowess and project promotion capabilities cultivated through that business in managing Park Direct. Traditionally, parking lot managers conducted their operations using paper, including contract signings, cancellations, and fee payment management. These paper-based tasks significantly burden both real estate managers and tenants. However, since releasing Park Direct in November 2019, Nealle has significantly reduced this burden by enabling online management for all parking lot operations. Alongside parking facilities, the firm plans to utilize its accumulated data to expand into MaaS and peripheral mobility services by developing charging infrastructure for a world with a growing number of electric vehicles. It intends to help realize the global goal of carbon neutrality through its businesses. ■ Mirai Creation Funds I, II, and III Summaries The Mirai Creation Fund I began operations in November 2015 with financing of JPY 13.5 billion from three companies: Toyota Motor Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and SPARX, the Fund’s general partner. Ultimately, the Fund received contributions from 20 companies, including the above three. Casting intelligent technologies, robotics, and hydrogen-economy technologies as vital to the future, Fund I has invested in approximately 50 companies and projects—from the US, the UK, Israel, Singapore, and Japan—that possess innovations in these fields. In H2 2018, SPARX began managing the Mirai Creation Fund II, which targets the three existing Mirai Creation fields along with the two additional areas of electrification and new materials. In October 2021, SPARX launched the Mirai Creation Fund III, adding carbon neutrality to the five fields of the Mirai Creation Fund II. As of February 28, 2022, the combined AUM for Funds I, II, and III were JPY 131.6 billion. Mirai Creation Fund investment track record: https://mirai.sparx.co.jp/en/investment/ ■ For inquiries related to this release, contact: Public Relations, SPARX Group Co., Ltd. Tel: +81-3-6711-9100 / Fax: +81-3-6711-9101 pr_media@sparxgroup.com