Leifras Co Ltd ADR (NASDAQ:LFS) saw its shares surge 25.5% in after‑hours trading on Tuesday following the announcement that it will acquire Swift Japan Co., Ltd., a childcare facility operator based in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The acquisition price is approximately ¥454.6 million, and the transaction will give Leifras 100% of Swift Japan’s equity interests. The deal is slated to close on July 1 2026.
Swift Japan operates licensed nurseries in education‑focused districts of Nagoya City with near‑100% capacity utilization. Leifras plans to integrate its sports‑based non‑cognitive skill development methodology into these facilities as an extracurricular service, thereby extending its customer reach to infants and complementing its existing children’s sports schools and after‑school programs.
Employment conditions and the management framework at Swift Japan will remain unchanged after the acquisition. Leifras will provide support in recruitment, teacher training, and administrative systems to ensure a smooth transition.
The acquisition addresses Japan’s “First‑Grade Wall,” a shortage of after‑school childcare capacity for children entering elementary school, which has become more acute as dual‑income households increase. Leifras’ CEO, Kiyotaka Ito, stated that the integration is a commitment to supporting child development from infancy and co‑designing communities where parents can raise families with peace of mind. The move aligns with policy guidelines from Japan’s Children and Families Agency that promote continuous support from pregnancy through elementary school entry.