Shoei Yakuhin and Aeronext Enter into Capital and Business Partnership

– Combining Drone Technology and Functional Products to Jointly Develop New Solution Businesses –

　Shoei Yakuhin Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President: Saichiro Fujiwara;　hereinafter “Shoei Yakuhin”) and Aeronext Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Keisuke Toji; hereinafter “Aeronext”) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a capital and business partnership.
　As part of this partnership, Shoei Yakuhin will make an investment in Aeronext, and the two companies will work together as long-term strategic partners to jointly develop new solution businesses that combine drone technology with Shoei Yakuhin’s functional products.

Background to the Partnership

　Since its founding in 1937, Shoei Yakuhin has expanded its business as a specialized chemical trading company, primarily handling oleochemicals derived from natural oils and fats, serving as a bridge between raw material manufacturers and manufacturers of finished products.
　In the agricultural sector, for example, Shoei Yakuhin provides functional products based on surfactants^*2, including fertilizers, agrochemicals, emulsifiers, and wettable formulations.^*1 In its consumer products business, the company also engages in product planning and OEM development of products such as insect repellents and disaster preparedness items.
　Aeronext, meanwhile, develops its business through joint development and technology licensing with major companies and other partners, centered on its proprietary 4D GRAVITY™^*3 center-of-gravity control technology. Through its strategic subsidiary NEXT DELIVERY, Aeronext also operates the SkyHub™^*4 Smart Logistics business and drone operation services, advancing the real-world deployment of aerial infrastructure^*5 in areas such as logistics infrastructure for depopulated and regional communities.
　Going beyond the traditional business model of simply “selling products,” the two companies aim to jointly evolve and expand their businesses into a solution-oriented model that delivers products at the optimal time, place, and through the optimal method, while also providing services such as application and deployment.

Objectives of the Partnership

　This investment represents a strategic capital and business partnership designed to enable the two companies to pursue joint businesses from a medium- to long-term perspective.
　By combining Aeronext’s drone platform with Shoei Yakuhin’s customer base, functional products, and specialized expertise in chemicals, the two companies aim to increase the added value of their existing businesses while creating new markets.

Overview of the Capital and Business Partnership

1. Agreement Date　　August 28, 2026

2. Scope of Collaboration
　Aeronext has established a technological foundation for the real-world deployment of drones, including its proprietary 4D GRAVITY™ airframe control technology, remote and autonomous operation technologies, and the SkyHub™ operation platform.
　Shoei Yakuhin, meanwhile, has extensive expertise in chemical products, including surfactants, developed over many years, as well as a broad customer base and sales network across fields such as agriculture, disaster preparedness, and construction.
　By combining these respective capabilities, the two companies will jointly explore new problem-solving solutions that combine chemicals and drone technology across a wide range of fields, including agriculture, wildlife damage management, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure inspection.

Comments from the Representatives

Keisuke Toji, President & Group CEO of Aeronext Inc.
　By combining Shoei Yakuhin’s expertise in functional products and its broad customer base with our drone technologies and know-how in real-world deployment, we will create new solutions across a wide range of fields beyond logistics, including agriculture, disaster preparedness, and wildlife damage management, and accelerate the real-world deployment of aerial infrastructure, where drones are used routinely across a variety of industries.

Saichiro Fujiwara, President of Shoei Yakuhin Co., Ltd.
　Since our founding, we have cultivated extensive expertise in chemicals and built a broad network of customers. By combining these strengths with Aeronext’s advanced drone platform, we aim to create new market opportunities and develop innovative business models that contribute to the environment, people, and everyday life.
　Going beyond the sale of products, we will pursue high-value-added solutions while working to achieve both sustainable growth in corporate value over the medium to long term and the resolution of social challenges.

【For inquiries from the press regarding this news release】

Aeronext Inc. PR Dept. (Contact: Ito)
Tel: +81-3-6455-0626　Email: aeronext_pr@aeronext.com

Shoei Yakuhin Co., Ltd. Business Planning/IR Dept.（Contact：Kobayashi）
Tel: 06-6262-2707　Email: information@shoei-yakuhin.co.jp

Reference

*1 Emulsifiers and Wettable Formulations
An emulsifier is an additive used to uniformly mix water and oil, which have different properties. A wettable formulation is a type of agrochemical formulation in which an active ingredient that is difficult to dissolve in water is finely powdered and formulated so that it can be suspended in water for application.

*2 Surfactants
Compounds that contain both water-attracting and oil-attracting components within their molecular structure. Surfactants provide functions such as emulsification, dispersion, penetration, and cleaning, and are widely used in products including detergents, agrochemicals, and cosmetics.

*3 4D GRAVITY™ Center-of-Gravity Control Technology
4D GRAVITY™ is Aeronext’s proprietary airframe structural design technology. By optimizing the aircraft’s center of gravity and aerodynamic characteristics, the technology enhances the flight stability and payload efficiency of drones.

*4 SkyHub™ Smart Logistics
SkyHub™ is the new smart logistics business operated by Aeronext’s strategic subsidiary, NEXT DELIVERY Inc. Using Drone Depo™ facilities as logistics hubs, SkyHub™ is an operation platform that consolidates and streamlines regional logistics by efficiently combining ground vehicles and drones.

*5 Aerial Infrastructure
Aerial Infrastructure is Aeronext’s concept of developing drone operation systems, operational hubs, communications infrastructure, and operation management platforms as regional infrastructure that can be shared across multiple applications, including logistics, agriculture, and disaster preparedness.