Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
venture capital
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, its consolidated subsidiaries MUFG Bank, and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking, Kodansha and CREDEUS have launched a new initiative for creating Japanese entertainment titles. This initiative is the first of its kind in Japan to bring together financial and Japanese entertainment companies. It aims to create
cards
TOPPAN Security, a global leader in secure identity and payment solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire dzcard Group, a prominent provider of smart card solutions and personalization services across Asia and Africa. This strategic acquisition immediately positions the TOPPAN Group as the clear leader in the Asian
mergers & acquisitions
SB Payment Service (SBPS), a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank and the core of the company's finance business, has signed a capital and business alliance agreement with Nomupay, a company that provides local payment methods and global-standard payment products in the EU and Asia. Pursuant to this agreement,
weekly
Welcome to the one hundred fourteenth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Never a dull moment in banking! Deal-making galore, and finally the cash on those balance sheets is put to productive use (rather than stock buy backs and increased dividends, i.e. financial engineering), with the aim of developing
mergers & acquisitions
Dai-ichi Life Holdings and M&G announced a new long-term strategic partnership across asset management and life insurance. 🔹 M&G and Dai-ichi Life HD establish an ambitious long-term strategic partnership 🔹 M&G to become preferred asset management partner for Dai-ichi Life HD in Europe 🔹 Partnership is expected
regulation
Listed companies basically face no restrictions under the current legal framework when conducting pre-meeting disclosure. The Financial Services Agency has curated all relevant documents on a single web page, and the following is the translation of the overview. Financial Instruments and Exchange Act * The deadline for submitting the annual report
broker/dealer
PostPrime's consolidated subsidiary, TakaTrade, has received permission from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to operate as a commodity futures trading company under the Commodity Futures Trading Act. Additionally, on the same date, the company joined the Japan Commodity
carbon credit
Carbon EX has launched a white label offering for its carbon credit and emissions trading platform, "Carbon EX." This new service enables local governments and regional financial institutions to build their own branded carbon credit trading platforms, helping foster regionally-driven carbon economies and promoting local sustainability. Challenges and
Insurance
Tokio Marine Holdings has launched "Tokio Marine GX," a new international offering founded upon GCube, a global leader in underwriting and risk management for renewable energy. This offering aims to further promote Tokio Marine's efforts to support the achievement of carbon neutrality and the transition to
mergers & acquisitions
In parallel with NTT Docomo's tender offer for SBI Sumishin Net Bank (SSNB), NTT also executed a Capital and Business Alliance Agreement and an Investment Agreement with SBI Holdings. Background As of March 31, 2025, SBI Holdings consists of 696 subsidiaries and 64 equity-method affiliates, and is primarily
neobank
NTT Docomo has launched a tender offer for SBI Sumishin Net Bank (SSNB), and the latter has resolved at its board of directors meeting held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 to express its opinion in support of the tender offer, and to recommend that the SSNB's shareholders tender
social lending
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has concluded an investment agreement with AGL Holding (Agrolend), a Brazilian digital bank financing the agricultural sector in the country. This project aims to contribute to improving the financial access and agricultural operations of small and medium-sized farmers in Brazil, while increasing the productivity