AIFULHOME Company Left: Kota Higuchi, President of LIXIL Housing Research Institute AIFULHOME Company; Right: Kazuki Okamoto, Representative Director and President of Shisou Juken Co., Ltd. LIXIL Housing Research Institute AIFULHOME Company has signed a franchise agreement with Shisou Juken Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazuki Okamoto), a company engaged in construction and real estate business primarily in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. Shisou Juken Co., Ltd., which has newly joined the AIFULHOME FC, is a construction company that has been deeply rooted in the region for many years, centered around Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, since its establishment in 1973. The company's main business is custom-built wooden post-and-beam construction homes, and it also handles commercial facility construction, large-scale renovations, and real estate business, demonstrating diverse construction experience and high adaptability. However, in response to the rapid changes in the market environment and diversifying customer needs in recent years, it has become essential to establish new customer acquisition methods, introduce sales techniques that focus on performance, and improve operational efficiency and system utilization through digital means. We determined that we could provide solutions to these challenges by introducing AIFULHOME's brand power and established FC system, cultivated through our nationwide expansion. By merging Shisou Juken Co., Ltd.'s reliable construction technology with our know-how, we anticipate further development of regional contributions in the Himeji area, leading to this franchise agreement. Moving forward, the company plans to begin operations as "AIFULHOME Himeji Store," with Himeji City as its main sales territory, around August 2026. Through this partnership with Shisou Juken, we will strengthen our service provision system in the Himeji area (centered on Himeji City, and including