Access shares on special alert after accounting irregularities discovered

Access Co., Ltd. announced on August 27, 2025, that the Tokyo Stock Exchange has designated its shares as a Security on Special Alert, effective the same day, and imposed a listing agreement penalty of JPY 48 million. This action follows a special investigation committee's report revealing inappropriate accounting treatment at an overseas subsidiary, including overstating software license sales and improperly capitalizing software development costs. These issues led to corrections of financial results from the fiscal year ended January 2021 through the second quarter of the fiscal year ended January 2025.

The inappropriate accounting, which began in the fiscal year ended January 2018, resulted in substantial misrepresentation of profits and losses. For instance, the operating loss for the fiscal year ended January 2024 was understated from JPY 1,977 million to JPY 105 million. Furthermore, Access obtained approval for a market change in February 2020 by submitting documents containing false financial statements to the exchange.

The special alert designation will last for one year, during which Access must demonstrate improved internal control and governance systems to avoid delisting. The company has apologized and is implementing recurrence prevention measures at both the subsidiary and the parent company to restore trust.