
First Nordic Announces Positive Top-of-Bedrock Drill Results at the Nippas Target and Prepares for Diamond Drilling Program
TORONTO, April 30, 2025 /CNW/ - First Nordic Metals Corp. (" FNM" or the " Company") (TSX.V: FNM, Stockholm: FNMC SDB, OTCQB: FNMCF, Germany: HEG0) is pleased to announce base-of-till / top-of-bedrock ("BoT/ToB") drilling results and a Q2 diamond drill plan at its high-priority Nippas target ("Nippas") on the Company's 100%-owned Storjuktan project, located in Västerbotten County, northern Sweden on the Gold Line belt. Nippas is located approximately 30 km north of the Company's resource-stage Barsele project.
Highlights:
Highly anomalous kilometric-scale bedrock and till anomalism identified on three parallel structural trends at the Nippas target, including bedrock results of up to 2.66 ppm gold ("Au").
Targets consist of a cumulative total of 5.2 km of anomalous sub-parallel structural corridors identified for follow up diamond drilling.
First pass 5,000 m diamond drilling program prepared to begin to test first two targets in Q2 2025.
FNM CEO Taj Singh comments:"Our recent BoT/ToB drilling at Nippas continues to support this area as an exciting diamond drill target and we are now preparing to mobilize a diamond drill rig here within the coming weeks. Our understanding of the overall Nippas area has grown considerably with this program and now three trends of interest have emerged. Our current diamond drilling at the Aida target, which had the objective of aggressively testing the strike extent of the gold mineralized corridor there, continues to progress well and we expect to release a first batch of results shortly."
Q1 2025 Nippas BoT/ToB Results
A total of 66 BoT/ToB drill holes were completed in the Q1 2025 program targeting structural corridors coincident with a broad Au and pathfinder till anomaly. Drilling intercepted significant Au in bedrock, with results up to 2.66 ppm Au, and has helped to define three structurally controlled target trends for follow-up diamond drilling. For regional context, any results of 0.05 ppm (50 ppb) or higher in glacial till and 0.10 or higher in bedrock are considered highly anomalous and thus important for the discovery of gold mineralization. During BoT/ToB drilling samples of the lowest part of the till are sampled, as well as samples of the "upper bedrock" immediately below the till base, and "lower bedrock" further below (1.5-3 m below till).
Nippas BoT/ToB drilling targeted portions of a broad 5 km gold and pathfinder surface till anomaly coincident with a complex anastomosing shear corridor, oriented NW-SE along the ice flow direction. Access was complex in some areas of the drilling program due to challenging terrain and an unusually mild winter resulting in approximately 25% of the planned holes not being drilled. Most of the Q1 BoT/ToB program targeted the central portion of the surface till anomaly and 1 km to the north and 1.2 km to the south of the identified target area remains untested.
Results from the drilling were positive and encountered strongly anomalous gold mineralization in bedrock and glacial till, including: bedrock samples of 2.66, 0.84 and 0.22 ppm Au, and several more samples over 0.10 ppm; and till samples of 0.22 and 0.21 ppm Au, and several more over 50 ppb. Anomalous samples are coincident with surface till Au and As, Cu, Zn and Mo (arsenic, copper, zinc, molybdenum) pathfinder element signatures and magnetic geophysical trends interpreted to be sheared contacts between metasediment, metavolcanic, and granitic lithologies. Three sub-parallel trends have been identified with combined strike length of over 5.2 km (see Figure 1 in Appendix). These trends lie within a flexure in the regional structure and on several interpreted second order splay structures along the margin of a large granite intrusion. The complex geological and structural setting (prospective settings for dilation, fluid flow, and Au deposition) combined with the highly anomalous surface till and bedrock results make these trends compelling targets that the Company plans to imminently test with diamond drilling in Q2 2025.
Nippas Diamond Drill Program
The Company plans to complete an initial 5,000 metres ("m") of diamond drilling at the Nippas target using one diamond drill rig (in addition to the one currently operating at the Aida target). Drilling, as at the Aida target, will be operated by Finland-based Comadev Oy. A total of up to 26 diamond drill holes have been designed to test two of three identified target areas where identified structural corridors are coincident with anomalous BoT/ToB gold and surface till gold and pathfinder anomalies. The third corridor identified to date in the Nippas target area is located within an area dominated by bogs and is planned to be tested in the winter after freeze-up. Based on the success of this drilling program FNM will be in a position to complete a further ~5,000 m of diamond drilling on the Nippas target through 2025. A total exploration budget of C$1.5 million has been allocated for the Q2 2025 Nippas project diamond drilling program.
Target 1 is a 2.2 km Au, As, Cu, Zn and Mo surface till anomaly coincident with strongly elevated ToB results. The anomaly is located along a geophysical trend interpreted to be the sheared contact between two lithological units. Target 1 will be initially tested with up to 3,600 m of diamond drilling in 16 drill holes over 1.4 km strike of identified structural feature.
Target 2 is a parallel 2.0 km trend of anomalous surface till Au, As, Cu, Zn and Mo coincident with elevated Au bedrock (up to 0.13 ppm Au) and glacial till (up to 0.20 ppm Au) located along a geophysical trend interpreted to be the sheared boundary between metasediments and a large granite intrusion. Target 2 will be initially tested with up to 1,400 m of diamond drilling in 10 drill holes over the 1.3 km strike of the identified structural feature.
The initial diamond drilling program is designed to confirm the anomalous gold in BoT/ToB results and understand size, geometry, and structural controls of mineralization within the shear corridors. Figure 1 shows the Nippas plan for the first approximately 5,000 m of drilling in 26 holes. Planning for additional meters will occur as drilling progresses and results are received.
About the Nippas Target
The Nippas project is located in the Storjuktan project area of the Gold Line belt in northern Sweden. The geology consists of a sequence of inverted basin sediments and mafic volcanic rocks intruded by small syn-kinematic granitic intrusions within a broad, anastomosing high strain structural corridor. These lithological sequences are highly prospective for orogenic gold deposits.
About the Storjuktan Project
The Storjuktan project is a large, early-stage project strategically positioned north of the Company's resource-stage Barsele project. It consists of seven contiguous licenses covering 30,000 ha located in the northern portion of the Gold Line belt. The Storjuktan project contains over 60 km of the regional Gold Line structural corridor. All mineralization discovered to date shows a spatial relationship to this structural corridor, occurring mainly on second- and third-order splay structures.
The Project contains over 60 km of the regionally significant "Gold Line" structure which can be traced for over 200 km in regional geophysics data. The Gold Line was first recognized in the late 1970s as a large arsenic-in-soil anomaly formed by a regional fault. All mineralization discovered to date shows a spatial relationship to this structural corridor, occurring either in the main shear corridor or on perpendicular structures within a few km of the main structures. The geology of the Storjuktan project consists of a sequence of inverted basin sediments and mafic volcanic rocks intruded by small syn-kinematic granitic intrusions within a broad, anastomosing high strain structural corridor. The rocks are regionally metamorphosed to amphibolite facies and gold mineralization is associated with intense biotite, and calc-silicate alteration assemblages and sulphide minerals pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and minor other sulphides. These lithological sequences are highly prospective for orogenic gold deposits.
ABOUT FIRST NORDIC METALS
First Nordic Metals Corp. (FNM) is a Canadian-based gold exploration company, consolidating assets in Sweden and Finland, with a vision to create Europe's next gold camp. The Company's flagship asset is the Barsele gold project in northern Sweden, a joint venture project with senior gold producer Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. Immediately surrounding the Barsele project, FNM is 100%-owner of a district-scale license position comprised of two additional project areas (Paubäcken, Storjuktan), which combined with the Barsele project, total ~100 km of strike coverage of the Gold Line greenstone belt. Additionally, in northern Finland, FNM is the 100%-owner of a district-scale position covering the entire underexplored Oijärvi greenstone belt, including the Kylmäkangas deposit, the largest known gold occurrence on this belt.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Taj Singh, M.Eng, P.Eng, CPA
CEO & Director
Qualified Person
Benjamin Gelber, P. Geo., Exploration Head of FNM, is the Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101, and takes responsibility for the technical disclosure contained within this news release.
Follow First Nordic Metals:
Twitter: @fnmetals | Youtube: @firstnordicmetalscorp | LinkedIn: @firstnordicmetals
Facebook: @FirstNordicMetals | Instagram: @firstnordicmetals
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's intentions, beliefs, or current expectations about and targets for the Company's and the group's future results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, anticipated growth, strategies and opportunities and the markets in which the Company and the group operates. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "may", "plan", "estimate", "will", "should", "could", "aim" or "might", or, in each case, their negative, or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that they will materialize or that the assumptions on which it is based are correct. Because these statements are based on assumptions or estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties, the actual results or outcome could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this press release are free from errors and readers of this press release should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements that are expressly or implicitly contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to change without notice. Neither the Company nor anyone else undertake to review, update, confirm or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this press release, unless it is required by law or Nasdaq First North Growth Market Rulebook for Issuers of Shares.

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However, despite these advantages, Sumitomo Realty trades at just half of the post-tax market value of its real estate ("PNAV"), 1 making it the most undervalued real estate developer in Japan. Sumitomo Realty also trades at a depressed multiple of earnings, despite its stable, high-quality core office leasing business. Sumitomo Realty's persistent stock underperformance and valuation discount are not coincidental. The Company is an outlier in several areas: it holds a large portfolio of cross shareholdings, it has a unique policy of not selling property assets or managing REIT assets, and its board and governance structure rank near the bottom of all TOPIX 100 companies on several metrics 2. In our view, these self-imposed problems and others we highlight below are responsible for the Company's significant undervaluation. We see a clear opportunity for Sumitomo Realty to close its discount to fair value by taking steps to resolve these issues. The upside potential is significant: Applying a peer-average PNAV multiple – a conservative approach given Sumitomo Realty's superior asset quality – would imply a share price of just under ¥8,000, over 40% higher than the current level. See Chart 1 – PNAV and Price Target Bridge. The Case for Change The market's negative sentiment toward Sumitomo Realty reflects deep shareholder concerns with the Company's performance. In 2024, Elliott commissioned a third-party shareholder perception study to better understand investor views on the Japanese real estate developer sector, including Sumitomo Realty and its large-cap peers. This study surveyed large and mostly long-term institutional investors, both in Japan and abroad, on topics including the Company's strategy, its shareholder-return policy and its cross-shareholding policy. 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See Chart 4 – ROE. Poor corporate governance and board structure: Sumitomo Realty ranks near the bottom of the TOPIX 100 on corporate-governance metrics. A global company with the size and stature of Sumitomo Realty should aspire to market-leading governance standards. While the Company has recently outlined plans to gradually improve its governance, progress on these reforms can and should be accelerated. See Chart 5 – Corporate Governance Comparison. Setting the Right Course These issues are largely self-imposed and can be addressed quickly and decisively by management. Specifically, we believe that the Company should take the following steps: Shareholder return: Immediately increase its shareholder payout ratio to 50% or more, a level that is in-line with its peers, via a higher dividend payout and larger and more regular share repurchases; Cross shareholding: Decrease its cross-shareholdings portfolio, which we believe is worth more than ¥500 billion on a post-tax basis, to below 10% of net assets (based on current market value) by the end of its current medium-term management plan ("MTMP") period; ROE target: Set a ROE target of at least 10% and outline clear plans to achieve this target, such as by shifting capital from mature projects to growth projects. For instance, the Company could unlock ¥500 billion of capital by transferring rental apartment assets into a REIT structure; and Governance: Strengthen governance by adding independent directors and establishing a nomination and remuneration committee. The time to implement a more ambitious policy to unwind cross shareholdings is now. Several large holders of Sumitomo Realty shares – including Taisei Corp, Obayashi, Shimizu and Kajima, which collectively own more than ¥160 billion worth – have announced plans to aggressively sell their cross shareholdings. Sumitomo Realty reciprocally owns more than ¥60 billion worth of shares in these four construction companies. This dynamic presents a compelling opportunity for Sumitomo Realty: It can unlock significant capital by selling shares in these four firms and use the proceeds to repurchase a portion of the Sumitomo Realty shares they currently hold. Such a transaction would reduce cross shareholdings and deploy capital back into the Company's own shares at extremely attractive levels. While cross shareholdings have historically been seen as promoting business relationships across Japanese companies, they are now viewed as a poor use of capital and an enabler of corporate leadership entrenchment. Sumitomo Realty and its key cross shareholders are meant to adhere to the Corporate Governance Code, which requires Japanese companies to scrutinize the purpose and benefits of cross shareholdings, particularly those held for business relationships, which are increasingly viewed as inappropriate. We believe the Company should act decisively and expeditiously to unwind its cross-shareholdings portfolio. See Chart 6 – Key Corporate Cross Shareholding. The steps we have outlined would not only raise management's standing at the 2025 AGM, but also improve Sumitomo Realty's valuation. In the Japanese real estate developer sector, there is a clear relationship between valuation (PNAV), capital efficiency (ROE) and shareholder returns. We are confident that taking the steps above – particularly on improving shareholder payout and capital efficiency – will unlock significant value for Sumitomo Realty shareholders and increase management's credibility with shareholders ahead of the 2025 AGM. See Chart 7 – ROE and Shareholder Returns Explain Valuation. Companies that have proactively embraced Japan's ongoing corporate reforms – by unwinding cross shareholdings, improving capital efficiency, increasing shareholder returns and strengthening governance – have been rewarded with higher valuations and greater shareholder support. Examples from the general construction, non-life insurance, and real estate developer sectors show how such reforms can successfully unlock value and transform investor perception at previously underperforming companies. Conclusion We appreciate that in recent months, Sumitomo Realty management has taken several initial steps in the right direction – some of which are aligned with our recommendations. However, progress has been insufficient and too slow. The market reacted negatively to the uninspiring MTMP released in late March, which failed to address core issues. Many of our suggestions remain ignored. The 2025 AGM is a critical opportunity for shareholders to express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with Sumitomo Realty's current strategy. Management's approval rating is the clearest and most effective way for shareholders to catalyse change. Despite the modest shareholder-friendly actions taken to date, there remains deep skepticism, including from Elliott, about management's genuine commitment to ambitiously and decisively address the Company's key issues. As such, absent further value- and governance-enhancing measures from Sumitomo Realty, Elliott plans to vote against the reappointment of senior management at the 2025 AGM. We urge all shareholders to carefully consider their voting decisions and engage with Sumitomo Realty management in the lead up to the AGM. Your vote can shape the Company's future. We are hopeful management will be attentive to shareholder viewpoints and will take decisive steps to raise Sumitomo Realty's corporate value and enhance its governance. Sincerely, Aaron Tai Portfolio Manager Elliott Investment Management, L.P. About Elliott Elliott Investment Management L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Elliott") manages approximately $72.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2024. Founded in 1977, it is one of the oldest funds under continuous management. The Elliott funds' investors include pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, funds-of-funds, high net worth individuals and families, and employees of the firm. Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited is an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management L.P. Media Contacts: London Alice Best Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited T: +44 203 009 1715 [email protected] Tokyo Brett Wallbutton Ashton Consulting T: +81 (0) 3 5425-7220 [email protected] DISCLAIMER THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY ELLIOTT ADVISORS (UK) LIMITED ("EAUK"), WHICH IS AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM'S FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY ("FCA") AND ELLIOTT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT L.P. ("EIMLP"). NOTHING WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT PROMOTES, OR IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE, AND MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED AS PROMOTING, ANY FUNDS ADVISED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY EAUK AND EIMLP (THE "ELLIOTT FUNDS"). THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR DISCUSSION AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HEREIN REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF EAUK, EIMLP AND THEIR AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY, "ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT") AS OF THE DATE HEREOF. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR MODIFY ANY OF ITS OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN AT ANY TIME AND FOR ANY REASON AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION TO CORRECT, UPDATE OR REVISE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. ALL OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO SUMITOMO REALTY & DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD. (THE "COMPANY"), INCLUDING PUBLIC FILINGS AND DISCLOSURES MADE BY THE COMPANY AND OTHER SOURCES, AS WELL AS ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT'S ANALYSIS OF SUCH PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT HAS RELIED UPON AND ASSUMED, WITHOUT INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION, THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF ALL DATA AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM PUBLIC SOURCES, AND NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY IS MADE THAT ANY SUCH DATA OR INFORMATION IS ACCURATE. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT RECOGNISES THAT THERE MAY BE CONFIDENTIAL OR OTHERWISE NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPANY THAT COULD ALTER THE OPINIONS OF ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT WERE SUCH INFORMATION KNOWN. THIS DOCUMENT REFERS TO THE 92ND ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY (THE "AGM"). NOTHING IN THIS DOCUMENT SEEKS ANY FORM OF AGREEMENT OR UNDERSTANDING FROM ANY RECIPIENT OF THIS DOCUMENT ABOUT VOTING IN RELATION TO ANY MATTER AT THE AGM OR THE EXERCISING OF SHAREHOLDERS' RIGHTS. YOU SHALL RETAIN AND EXERCISE DISCRETION TO VOTE IN ANY MANNER OR NOT TO VOTE AS DETERMINED BY YOU IN YOUR SOLE DISCRETION. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT FOR OUR SOLICITATION OF YOUR PROXY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY MATTER AT THE AGM. NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR UNDERTAKING, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS GIVEN AND NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY OR DUTY OF CARE IS OR WILL BE ACCEPTED BY ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT OR ANY OF ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR ADVISORS (EACH AN "ELLIOTT PERSON") CONCERNING: (I) THIS DOCUMENT AND ITS CONTENTS, INCLUDING WHETHER THE INFORMATION AND OPINIONS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE ACCURATE, FAIR, COMPLETE OR CURRENT; (II) THE PROVISION OF ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, WHETHER BY WAY OF UPDATE TO THE INFORMATION AND OPINIONS CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT OR OTHERWISE TO THE RECIPIENT AFTER THE DATE OF THIS DOCUMENT; OR (III) THAT ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT'S INVESTMENT PROCESSES OR INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES WILL OR ARE LIKELY TO BE ACHIEVED OR SUCCESSFUL OR THAT ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT'S INVESTMENTS WILL MAKE ANY PROFIT OR WILL NOT SUSTAIN LOSSES. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NONE OF THE ELLIOTT PERSONS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSSES, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DAMAGES, COSTS, CLAIMS OR EXPENSES RELATING TO OR ARISING FROM THE RECIPIENT'S OR ANY PERSON'S RELIANCE ON THIS DOCUMENT. EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, THE INFORMATION AND OPINIONS INCLUDED IN THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, INCLUDING ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS PREPARED WITH RESPECT TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE COMPANY'S ANTICIPATED OPERATING PERFORMANCE, THE VALUE OF THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES, DEBT OR ANY RELATED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE BASED UPON OR RELATE TO THE VALUE OF SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY (COLLECTIVELY, "COMPANY SECURITIES"), GENERAL ECONOMIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS AND OTHER FUTURE EVENTS. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT ALL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS ARE INHERENTLY UNCERTAIN AND SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC, COMPETITIVE, AND OTHER UNCERTAINTIES AND CONTINGENCIES AND HAVE BEEN INCLUDED SOLELY FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES. ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN DUE TO REASONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE FORESEEABLE. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE COMPANY SECURITIES WILL TRADE AT THE PRICES THAT MAY BE IMPLIED HEREIN, AND THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT ANY ESTIMATE, PROJECTION OR ASSUMPTION HEREIN IS, OR WILL BE PROVEN, CORRECT. THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE (A) AN OFFER OR INVITATION TO BUY OR SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR SELL OR TO OTHERWISE ENGAGE IN ANY INVESTMENT BUSINESS OR PROVIDE OR RECEIVE ANY INVESTMENT SERVICES IN RESPECT OF, ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT AND NO LEGAL RELATIONS SHALL BE CREATED BY ITS ISSUE, (B) A "FINANCIAL PROMOTION" FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 OF THE U.K. (AS AMENDED), (C) "INVESTMENT ADVICE" AS DEFINED BY THE FCA'S HANDBOOK OF RULES AND GUIDANCE ("FCA HANDBOOK"), (D) "INVESTMENT RESEARCH" AS DEFINED BY THE FCA HANDBOOK, (E) AN "INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION" AS DEFINED BY REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 AND BY REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF U.K. DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF SECTION 3 OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 ("EUWA 2018") INCLUDING AS AMENDED BY REGULATIONS ISSUED UNDER SECTION 8 OF EUWA 2018, (F) ANY ACTION CONSTITUTING "INVESTMENT ADVISORY BUSINESS" AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 28, PARAGRAPH 3, ITEM 1 OF THE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND EXCHANGE LAW OF JAPAN (THE "FIEL"), (G) ANY ACTION CONSTITUTING "INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT BUSINESS" AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 28, PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE FIEL, OR (H) FINANCIAL PROMOTION, INVESTMENT ADVICE OR AN INDUCEMENT OR ENCOURAGEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRODUCT, OFFERING OR INVESTMENT. NO INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS A RECOMMENDATION BY ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT INTENDED TO FORM THE BASIS OF ANY INVESTMENT DECISION OR AS SUGGESTING AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT (AND MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO BE) LEGAL, TAX, INVESTMENT, FINANCIAL OR OTHER ADVICE. EACH RECIPIENT SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL AND TAX AND FINANCIAL ADVISERS AS TO LEGAL AND OTHER MATTERS CONCERNING THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE ALL-INCLUSIVE OR TO CONTAIN ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO AN EVALUATION OF THE COMPANY, COMPANY SECURITIES OR THE MATTERS DESCRIBED HEREIN. NO AGREEMENT, COMMITMENT, UNDERSTANDING OR OTHER LEGAL RELATIONSHIP EXISTS OR MAY BE DEEMED TO EXIST BETWEEN OR AMONG ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON BY VIRTUE OF FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT IS NOT ACTING FOR OR ON BEHALF OF, AND IS NOT PROVIDING ANY ADVICE OR SERVICE TO, ANY RECIPIENT OF THIS DOCUMENT. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO ANY PERSON FOR PROVIDING ADVICE IN RELATION TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS DOCUMENT. BEFORE DETERMINING ON ANY COURSE OF ACTION, ANY RECIPIENT SHOULD CONSIDER ANY ASSOCIATED RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES AND CONSULT WITH ITS OWN INDEPENDENT ADVISORS AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY. THE ELLIOTT FUNDS MAY HAVE A DIRECT OR INDIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT THEREFORE HAS A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE PROFITABILITY OF THE ELLIOTT FUNDS' POSITIONS IN THE COMPANY. ACCORDINGLY, ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT MAY HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS IMPARTIAL. NOTHING IN THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD BE TAKEN AS ANY INDICATION OF ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT'S CURRENT OR FUTURE TRADING OR VOTING INTENTIONS WHICH MAY CHANGE AT ANY TIME. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE ITS VOTING INTENTION AT ANY TIME NOTWITHSTANDING ANY STATEMENTS IN THIS DOCUMENT. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT INTENDS TO REVIEW ITS INVESTMENTS IN THE COMPANY ON A CONTINUING BASIS AND DEPENDING UPON VARIOUS FACTORS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION, THE OUTCOME OF ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMPANY, OVERALL MARKET CONDITIONS, OTHER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF COMPANY SECURITIES AT PRICES THAT WOULD MAKE THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF COMPANY SECURITIES DESIRABLE, ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT MAY FROM TIME TO TIME (IN THE OPEN MARKET OR IN PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS, INCLUDING SINCE THE INCEPTION OF ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT'S POSITION) BUY, SELL, COVER, HEDGE OR OTHERWISE CHANGE THE FORM OR SUBSTANCE OF ANY OF ITS INVESTMENTS (INCLUDING COMPANY SECURITIES) TO ANY DEGREE IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY OTHERS OF ANY SUCH CHANGES. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT ALSO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITS INVESTMENTS IN THE COMPANY AS IT MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE. ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT HAS NOT SOUGHT OR OBTAINED CONSENT FROM ANY THIRD PARTY TO USE ANY STATEMENTS OR INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY SUCH STATEMENTS OR INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS INDICATING THE SUPPORT OF SUCH THIRD PARTY FOR THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HEREIN. ALL TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES USED HEREIN ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. 1 Defined by dividing share price by book value per share adjusted for the post-tax difference between market value of leasing properties and the book value of leasing properties as disclosed in Sumitomo Realty's yuho. 2 Sumitomo Realty ranks at the bottom of the TOPIX 100 on its ISS Governance Score, director independence ratio and its usage of independent board committees (e.g. nomination, remuneration and audit committees).