Asterisk Inc.

On August 5, multiple companies announced new or revised shareholder benefit programs. Kao announced a new program where shareholders holding 100 shares or more as of the end of December each year for at least six consecutive months will be entered into a lottery to receive company products, while those holding 400 shares or more will receive a cosmetics set or household goods set worth 6,000 to 10,000 yen, depending on the number of shares held. Asterisk, to mark its 20th anniversary, will give a flat 500-yen QUO Card Pay to shareholders holding 100 shares or more as of the end of August 2026. Saint Marc Holdings will add new business formats to the eligible uses of its benefit card, while introducing a requirement for continuous holding of at least six months starting from the record date at the end of March 2027. QLS Holdings will increase the value of digital gifts by 30% from the record date at the end of September 2026, raising the amount from 5,000 yen to 6,500 yen for holdings of 500 to less than 1,000 shares, and from 10,000 yen to 13,000 yen for holdings of 1,000 shares or more. Chichibu Railway will discontinue discount tickets due to facility closures and add five one-way ride tickets for the Hodosan Ropeway. Techno Ryowa will keep the shareholding requirement for benefits at 100 shares or more even after a stock split, effectively expanding the program. Shofu will change the eligibility for its discounted company product sales from all shareholders to those holding 100 shares or more, discontinue the nail product benefit sale, and give national rice vouchers to shareholders holding 100 shares or more as of the end of September for at least one consecutive year.