Natixis CIB to Acquire Japan Advisory Boutique Sangyo Sosei in M&A Push
Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) has agreed to acquire Tokyo-based advisory firm Sangyo Sosei Advisory (SSA) to expand its investment banking, real assets, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) operations in Japan, subject to regulatory approval from the Financial Services Agency.
SSA's team will formally integrate into Natixis CIB's Japan operations on January 1, 2027. The transaction builds on the French lender's footprint in the country following the establishment of its Tokyo banking branch in July 2025.
Following the acquisition, Gary Chan, co-founder and managing partner of SSA, will be appointed head of investment banking, real assets, and M&A for Japan at Natixis CIB. Chan will oversee the bank's newly established investment banking and real assets (IBRA) and M&A units in the country. He will report to Emmanuel Gillet-Lagarde, head of real assets, global trade & credit portfolio and resources management for Asia Pacific and the Middle East; Raghu Narain, head of investment banking for Asia Pacific and the Middle East; and Makito Nagahiro, senior country manager for Japan.
Kentaro Relnick, currently managing director at SSA, will take on the role of head of M&A for Japan at Natixis CIB, reporting to Chan and Miranda Zhao, head of M&A for Asia Pacific and the Middle East. SSA co-founder and managing partner Fumiaki Sato will be named executive advisor to the Natixis Tokyo branch.
Founded in 2009 as Japan's first independent financial advisory dedicated to the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sectors, SSA later expanded its advisory practice into infrastructure, catering to corporate clients and financial sponsors.
Natixis CIB, the corporate and investment banking arm of France's Groupe BPCE, stated that the acquisition aligns with its broader regional strategy to scale its advisory, capital markets, and financing solutions across the Asia-Pacific region.
Norbert Gehrke
