Tokyo, November 2026

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management Co., Ltd. ("SuMi TRUST AM") is pleased to announce that assets under management of the Sakigake High Alpha UCITS Fund - Japan Thematic Growth (the "Fund"), for which SuMi TRUST AM serves as Investment Manager, reached USD 100 million as of the end of October 2026, marking an important milestone for the firm's flagship fund for overseas institutional investors seeking active exposure to Japanese equities.

Launched in 2018 the Fund is managed under the Sakigake High Alpha strategy, SuMi TRUST AM's flagship active Japanese equity strategy, which was originally launched in January 2013 and manages more than USD 1 billion in assets under management for investors around the globe. The strategy combines thematic investing with bottom-up stock selection to identify companies with strong medium- to long-term growth potential.

The USD 100 million milestone reflects the underlying strategy's strong long-term investment performance and disciplined investment philosophy. Through a rigorous research process, the investment team seeks to identify companies that stand to benefit from long-term societal and industrial transformations while maintaining a concentrated portfolio of high-conviction holdings.

As of the end of September 2026, the underlying strategy had delivered an annualized return of 18.2% since inception, outperforming its benchmark (the TOPIX) by more than 3 percentage points per annum. This consistent investment approach has enabled the Fund to establish itself as one of SuMi TRUST AM's most recognized investment offerings for international investors.

Commenting on the milestone, Katsunori Ogawa, Chief Portfolio Manager of the Sakigake High Alpha Strategy, said:

"We are deeply grateful for the trust and support of our investors. Reaching USD 100 million in Fund AUM marks an important milestone for the Fund. We continue to see attractive long-term opportunities in Japanese equities and remain committed to identifying companies that are well positioned to capitalise on structural changes and deliver sustainable earnings growth, with the aim of delivering long-term value for our clients."

Takahiro Kobayashi, Representative Director and President of SuMi TRUST AM, added:

"We are pleased to see the Fund reach USD 100 million in assets under management. As our flagship fund for overseas investors seeking active exposure to Japanese equities, this milestone marks an important stage in the Fund’s development. We remain committed to delivering attractive long-term opportunities in Japanese equities and creating value for our clients. We sincerely thank our clients and business partners for their continued trust and support."

-ENDS-

About Sakigake High Alpha Strategy

The Sakigake High Alpha Strategy seeks to generate long-term capital appreciation through a concentrated portfolio of Japanese equities. The investment process combines thematic analysis and bottom-up fundamental research to identify companies benefiting from structural changes in society and industry, with a focus on high-conviction investment ideas. Japan Sakigake Strategy | SuMi Trust Asset Management

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