Vertex Inc. (Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yuji Kajio) is pleased to announce the opening of its Chushikoku Branch in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, on July 1, 2026 (Wed). With the establishment of this new base, we aim to strengthen our presence in Okayama Prefecture and the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, and continue to take on new challenges for further nationwide expansion. Overview of the Chushikoku Branch Opening We are opening this branch to rapidly expand sales channels for individual and corporate clients in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, procure properties, and establish new partnerships with financial institutions. [Objective] To strengthen the driving force for expanding our sales network and enhancing our product and service lineup. We aim for significant sales growth by building a locally-rooted sales system through our expansion into the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, which have high market potential. We will contribute to the local community while providing our products and services to more customers. We will respond to the diverse needs of our customers by rapidly promoting market research to diversify and strengthen our product appeal, and by expanding our condominium lineup. [Opening Date] July 1, 2026 (Wed) [Location] Address: 700-0901 6-36 Honmachi, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Building Name: Daiichi Central Building 4F (Rooms 446, 447) Phone Number: 086-800-1408 Background of the Opening While our customer base is expanding beyond the Kanto region, our products and services have not yet been widely provided in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. There are approximately 1 million individual investors with purchasing power in the five prefectures of the Chugoku region, including Okayama Prefecture, and approximately 500,000 in the four prefectures of the Shikoku region. The Chugoku and Shikoku regions have market potential comparable to the Kyushu region (three prefectures including Fukuoka Prefecture, approximately