Combining Childcare Infrastructure and Sports-based Non-Cognitive Skill Development Methodologies to Support Children&#39;s Development from Infancy TOKYO, June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:LFS)

Combining Childcare Infrastructure and Sports-based Non-Cognitive Skill Development Methodologies to Support Children&#39;s Development from Infancy TOKYO, June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LFS">LFS</a>) (the &#34;Company&#34; or &#34;Leifras&#34;), a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement and Japan&#39;s leading operator of children&#39;s sports schools and school club activity support businesses, today announced that on June 23, 2026, it entered into a stock transfer agreement (the &#34;Agreement&#34;) to acquire 100% of the equity interests in SWIFT JAPAN Co., Ltd. (&#34;Swift Japan&#34;), a childcare facility operator in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The acquisition is expected to extend Leifras&#39; customer reach from infancy onward.  
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company will acquire all of Swift Japan&#39;s common stock for approximately JPY454.6 million. The transaction is expected to close on July 1, 2026. Through this partnership, Leifras aims to build an educational ecosystem that seamlessly supports children&#39;s long-term physical and mental development from infancy.Strategic Background: Addressing the &#34;First-Grade Wall&#34; and Creating SynergiesAddressing Growing Demand for Childcare and After-School Support As dual-income households continue to increase across Japan, the &#34;First-Grade Wall,&#34; a systemic shortage of after-school childcare capacity for children entering elementary school, has emerged as a growing social challenge. In line with Japan&#39;s Children and Families Agency&#39;s policy guideline, &#34;The First 100 Months,&#34; which promotes continuous, seamless support from pregnancy through elementary school entry, Leifras is strategically committed to expanding its childcare and after-school daycare businesses.Seamless Age-0 Infrastructure SupportLeveraging the trusted relationships Swift Japan has built with local families, Leifras intends to create a continuous ecosystem that naturally connects children from preschool graduation to its core multi-sport schools and after-school daycare networks.Enhancing a Recurring Revenue Platform with Proprietary Educational Methodology Swift Japan operates licensed nurseries with a near 100% capacity utilization rate in education-conscious districts of Nagoya City. Leifras plans to integrate its proprietary &#34;non-cognitive skill development through sports&#34; methodology into this subsidy-backed recurring revenue base as an extracurricular service, enhancing nursery quality and customer satisfaction.Commitment to Employees and Parents: Preserving Community TiesLeifras recognizes that the strong reputation of Swift Japan&#39;s facilities is built on the trusted relationships with the parents developed daily by its childcare professionals. Accordingly, employment conditions, operational and management frameworks, and leadership under existing facility directors and nursery teachers will remain in place following the acquisition. Leifras intends to provide comprehensive support in recruitment, teacher training, and administrative systems to further strengthen facility operations and service quality.Management CommentaryMr. Kiyotaka Ito, Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer of Leifras, commented: &#34;Since our founding, we have advocated for fostering children&#39;s non-cognitive skills through sports. The integration of Swift Japan is far more than a tactical expansion; it is a commitment to supporting child development from infancy and co-designing communities where parents can raise families with peace of mind. We are deeply honored to carry forward the brand identity and philosophy that the Swift Japan team has built. Together, we believe we will evolve beyond sports into a next-generation educational platform that supports youth development while generating long-term value for shareholders.&#34;Future OutlookLeifras plans to continue deepening its partnerships with local governments and businesses under its corporate philosophy, &#34;To Change and Design Sports.&#34; The Company believes that the smooth integration of Swift Japan will support its long-term growth objectives.About LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.Headquartered in Tokyo, Leifras is a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement. The Company primarily provides services related to the organization and operations of sports schools and sports events for children. As of December 31, 2025, Leifras was recognized as one of Japan&#39;s largest operators of children&#39;s sports schools in terms of both membership and facilities by Tokyo Shoko Research. The Company&#39;s approach to sports education emphasizes the development of non-cognitive skills, following the teaching principle &#34;acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate.&#34; The holistic approach that integrates physical and mental development sets Leifras apart in the industry. Building upon deep experience and know-how in sports education, Leifras also operates a robust social business sector, dispatching sports coaches to meet various community needs with the aim to promote physical health, social inclusion, and community well-being across different demographics.For more information, please visit the Company&#39;s website: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://ir.leifras.co.jp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://ir.leifras.co.jp/</a>.Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company&#39;s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as &#34;approximates,&#34; &#34;believes,&#34; &#34;hopes,&#34; &#34;expects,&#34; &#34;anticipates,&#34; &#34;estimates,&#34; &#34;projects,&#34; &#34;intends,&#34; &#34;plans,&#34; &#34;will,&#34; &#34;would,&#34; &#34;should,&#34; &#34;could,&#34; &#34;may,&#34; or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the &#34;Risk Factors&#34; section of the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#34;SEC&#34;). Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company&#39;s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="http://www.sec.gov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.sec.gov</a>.For more information, please contact:LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. Investor Relations Department Email: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="mailto:IR@leifras.co.jp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IR@leifras.co.jp</a>Ascent Investor Relations LLC Tina Xiao Phone: +1-646-932-7242 Email: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="mailto:investors@ascent-ir.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">investors@ascent-ir.com</a>



<img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" title="Cision" width="12" height="12" alt="Cision" src="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/img/favicon.png?sn=CN90265&amp;sd=2026-06-23"></img> View original content:<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PRNURL" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leifras-co-ltd-forms-strategic-partnership-with-swift-japan-through-acquisition-expanding-into-childcare-sector-302807932.html" target="_blank">https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leifras-co-ltd-forms-strategic-partnership-with-swift-japan-through-acquisition-expanding-into-childcare-sector-302807932.html</a>SOURCE LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.

LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. Forms Strategic Partnership with Swift Japan Through Acquisition, Expanding into Childcare Sector

Leifras to acquire Swift Japan to expand childcare and recurring revenue

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
 <section data-block="information">
 <h3>Information</h3>
 Combining Childcare Infrastructure and Sports-based Non-Cognitive Skill Development Methodologies to Support Children&amp;#39;s Development from Infancy TOKYO, June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:LFS)
 </section>

 <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
 <h3>AI Summary</h3>
 Leifras announced the acquisition of 100% Swift Japan for about JPY 454.6 million, with closing expected July 1, 2026. The deal expands the company from infancy-focused sports programs into a broader childcare ecosystem, leveraging near-full nursery capacity in Nagoya to add recurring revenue from proprietary non-cognitive skills programs and strengthen long-term member retention.
 </section>

 <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
 <h3>Key Points</h3>
 <ul><li>Leifras to acquire 100% of Swift Japan for ~JPY 454.6m; closing July 1, 2026.</li><li>Expansion broadens Leifras from infancy services into childcare and after-school networks.</li><li>Swift Japan operates nurseries near 100% occupancy in Nagoya.</li><li>Deal supports a recurring revenue platform with proprietary non-cognitive sports methodology.</li><li>Management aims to create seamless cradle-to-school ecosystem; near-term integration milestones.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
 <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
 <ul><li>LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (LFS): NASDAQ-listed; expanding into childcare to extend the youth development platform and long-term shareholder value.</li><li>Swift Japan Co., Ltd.: Childcare facility operator in Aichi Prefecture; near-100% nursery occupancy; integrated into Leifras&#039; ecosystem.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="category">
 <h3>M&amp;A</h3>
 Category: M&amp;A. Fits as corporate development expanding Leifras&#039; ecosystem and recurring revenue; reflects strategy to grow through integrated education services aligned with policy trends in childcare.
 </section>

 <section data-block="market-moving">
 <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
 <ul><li>Closing set for July 1, 2026 could boost near-term visibility.</li><li>Swift Japan&#039;s near-100% occupancy signals scalable incremental services.</li><li>Expansion targets Japan&#039;s First-Grade Wall and government partnerships.</li><li>Financing details unknown; key near-term stock reaction driver.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="key-facts">
 <h3>Key Facts</h3>
 <ul><li>Acquisition price: approximately JPY 454.6 million.</li><li>Closing date: July 1, 2026.</li><li>Swift Japan capacity: near-100% occupancy in Nagoya City.</li><li>Swift Japan operates nurseries in Aichi Prefecture.</li><li>Leifras is NASDAQ: LFS; press release date: June 23, 2026.</li></ul>
 </section>

 <section data-block="trading-thesis">
 <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
 Bullish; integration could lift LFS&#039;s recurring revenue base within 6–12 months.
 </section>
</section>


Combining Childcare Infrastructure and Sports-based Non-Cognitive Skill Development Methodologies to Support Children&#39;s Development from Infancy TOKYO, June 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LFS">LFS</a>) (the &#34;Company&#34; or &#34;Leifras&#34;), a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement and Japan&#39;s leading operator of children&#39;s sports schools and school club activity support businesses, today announced that on June 23, 2026, it entered into a stock transfer agreement (the &#34;Agreement&#34;) to acquire 100% of the equity interests in SWIFT JAPAN Co., Ltd. (&#34;Swift Japan&#34;), a childcare facility operator in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The acquisition is expected to extend Leifras&#39; customer reach from infancy onward.  
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company will acquire all of Swift Japan&#39;s common stock for approximately JPY454.6 million. The transaction is expected to close on July 1, 2026. Through this partnership, Leifras aims to build an educational ecosystem that seamlessly supports children&#39;s long-term physical and mental development from infancy.Strategic Background: Addressing the &#34;First-Grade Wall&#34; and Creating SynergiesAddressing Growing Demand for Childcare and After-School Support As dual-income households continue to increase across Japan, the &#34;First-Grade Wall,&#34; a systemic shortage of after-school childcare capacity for children entering elementary school, has emerged as a growing social challenge. In line with Japan&#39;s Children and Families Agency&#39;s policy guideline, &#34;The First 100 Months,&#34; which promotes continuous, seamless support from pregnancy through elementary school entry, Leifras is strategically committed to expanding its childcare and after-school daycare businesses.Seamless Age-0 Infrastructure SupportLeveraging the trusted relationships Swift Japan has built with local families, Leifras intends to create a continuous ecosystem that naturally connects children from preschool graduation to its core multi-sport schools and after-school daycare networks.Enhancing a Recurring Revenue Platform with Proprietary Educational Methodology Swift Japan operates licensed nurseries with a near 100% capacity utilization rate in education-conscious districts of Nagoya City. Leifras plans to integrate its proprietary &#34;non-cognitive skill development through sports&#34; methodology into this subsidy-backed recurring revenue base as an extracurricular service, enhancing nursery quality and customer satisfaction.Commitment to Employees and Parents: Preserving Community TiesLeifras recognizes that the strong reputation of Swift Japan&#39;s facilities is built on the trusted relationships with the parents developed daily by its childcare professionals. Accordingly, employment conditions, operational and management frameworks, and leadership under existing facility directors and nursery teachers will remain in place following the acquisition. Leifras intends to provide comprehensive support in recruitment, teacher training, and administrative systems to further strengthen facility operations and service quality.Management CommentaryMr. Kiyotaka Ito, Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer of Leifras, commented: &#34;Since our founding, we have advocated for fostering children&#39;s non-cognitive skills through sports. The integration of Swift Japan is far more than a tactical expansion; it is a commitment to supporting child development from infancy and co-designing communities where parents can raise families with peace of mind. We are deeply honored to carry forward the brand identity and philosophy that the Swift Japan team has built. Together, we believe we will evolve beyond sports into a next-generation educational platform that supports youth development while generating long-term value for shareholders.&#34;Future OutlookLeifras plans to continue deepening its partnerships with local governments and businesses under its corporate philosophy, &#34;To Change and Design Sports.&#34; The Company believes that the smooth integration of Swift Japan will support its long-term growth objectives.About LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.Headquartered in Tokyo, Leifras is a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement. The Company primarily provides services related to the organization and operations of sports schools and sports events for children. As of December 31, 2025, Leifras was recognized as one of Japan&#39;s largest operators of children&#39;s sports schools in terms of both membership and facilities by Tokyo Shoko Research. The Company&#39;s approach to sports education emphasizes the development of non-cognitive skills, following the teaching principle &#34;acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate.&#34; The holistic approach that integrates physical and mental development sets Leifras apart in the industry. Building upon deep experience and know-how in sports education, Leifras also operates a robust social business sector, dispatching sports coaches to meet various community needs with the aim to promote physical health, social inclusion, and community well-being across different demographics.For more information, please visit the Company&#39;s website: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://ir.leifras.co.jp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://ir.leifras.co.jp/</a>.Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company&#39;s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as &#34;approximates,&#34; &#34;believes,&#34; &#34;hopes,&#34; &#34;expects,&#34; &#34;anticipates,&#34; &#34;estimates,&#34; &#34;projects,&#34; &#34;intends,&#34; &#34;plans,&#34; &#34;will,&#34; &#34;would,&#34; &#34;should,&#34; &#34;could,&#34; &#34;may,&#34; or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the &#34;Risk Factors&#34; section of the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#34;SEC&#34;). Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company&#39;s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="http://www.sec.gov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.sec.gov</a>.For more information, please contact:LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. Investor Relations Department Email: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="mailto:IR@leifras.co.jp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IR@leifras.co.jp</a>Ascent Investor Relations LLC Tina Xiao Phone: +1-646-932-7242 Email: <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="mailto:investors@ascent-ir.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">investors@ascent-ir.com</a>



<img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" title="Cision" width="12" height="12" alt="Cision" src="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/img/favicon.png?sn=CN90265&amp;sd=2026-06-23"></img> View original content:<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PRNURL" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leifras-co-ltd-forms-strategic-partnership-with-swift-japan-through-acquisition-expanding-into-childcare-sector-302807932.html" target="_blank">https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leifras-co-ltd-forms-strategic-partnership-with-swift-japan-through-acquisition-expanding-into-childcare-sector-302807932.html</a>SOURCE LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.

Leifras announced the acquisition of 100% Swift Japan for about JPY 454.6 million, with closing expected July 1, 2026. The deal expands the company from infancy-focused sports programs into a broader childcare ecosystem, leveraging near-full nursery capacity in Nagoya to add recurring revenue from proprietary non-cognitive skills programs and strengthen long-term member retention.

LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. Forms Strategic Partnership with Swift Japan Through Acquisition, Expanding into Childcare Sector

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

M&A

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