WM Partners Announces Capital Alliance with Anipos Corporation, Driving Pet Insurance DX

WM Partners Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "our company") announces that the WM Growth No. 5 Investment Limited Partnership, which it manages and operates, has executed an investment in Anipos Corporation (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Takuho Okawa; hereinafter "Anipos"). Anipos is an insurtech company that provides Vertical SaaS and Tech-Enabled BPO services specialized for the pet insurance industry, under the vision of "creating a world where all people can enjoy better, appropriate veterinary care and live happily with animals." Its "Pet Insurance Easy Claim App Anipos" has a cumulative track record of over 1 million claims processed. For insurance companies, through services like "ANIPOS Cloud" and AI-assisted assessment services, it is vigorously promoting the digital transformation (DX) of the pet insurance industry, where many analog processes remain. This transaction is an investment involving the acquisition of shares from existing shareholders, coupled with reinvestment by the management team. Our company promotes "Growth Buyouts," where we take over companies that have grown through the VC phase to the next stage and work alongside the management team to achieve further growth. Building on the high technological capabilities and industry expertise Anipos has cultivated, and with our support, we will accelerate the strengthening of management systems, promotion of talent recruitment, and further expansion of product features. Japan's pet insurance market is a growth industry with a CAGR exceeding 10%, yet the penetration rate remains around 20%, indicating significant room for future expansion. Our company will collaborate with Anipos's new management structure and support its further growth as an "information platform connecting the veterinary care and pet insurance industries" from both capital and operational perspectives.

[Anipos Corporation Overview] ---CELL--- Company Name: Anipos Corporation Head Office: 7F, Ichigaya Hachimancho Bldg., 11-1 Ichigaya Hachimancho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Main Office: 1-12-11 Omachi Nishi, Asaminami-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture Representative: Representative Director Takuho Okawa Established: March 2019 Business Description: Planning, development, and operation of pet insurance claim apps; Provision of core business systems for pet insurance providers such as "ANIPOS Cloud," etc. URL: https://anipos.co.jp/ About WM Partners WM Partners is an independent investment firm established in 2013, with a team composed of investment professionals with over 10 years of experience in the private equity industry and diverse business backgrounds. Since its establishment, we have been committed to providing optimal capital and management support tailored to each company's growth stage. In Japan's private equity market, an ecosystem that seamlessly connects companies from the venture capital stage to growth and then to buyouts is not yet fully mature. As a pioneer in growth capital investment in Japan, our company advocates a unique investment strategy distinct from diversified venture capital funds or acquisition-focused buyout funds. Based on the expertise cultivated under the "Growth Buyout" investment concept, we have recently expanded our focus to include companies aiming for further growth beyond the VC phase. We engage in hands-on support, walking alongside management teams from strategy formulation to execution, including considerations for optimal capital structure and shareholder policies. We will continue to firmly support companies aiming for the next stage as a reliable partner, strongly accelerating their growth and enhancing corporate value. Established: July 2013 Representatives: Moriyoshi Matsumoto, Yasuo Tokunaga Capital: 30 million yen Shareholders: Partners, Development Bank of Japan Inc. Head Office Location: 4F, Kakimi Kojimachi Bldg., 3-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Business Description: Investment in unlisted securities, etc.; Operation and management of private equity funds Managed Funds: WM Growth No. 3 Investment Limited Partnership (2014–, total commitment: 6.2 billion yen) WM Growth No. 4 Investment Limited Partnership (2017–, total commitment: 10.6 billion yen) WM Growth No. 5 Investment Limited Partnership (2022–, total commitment: 12.1 billion yen) Homepage: http://www.wmpartners.jp/