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
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirteenth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. When I joined an investment bank in 2000, we had afternoon fruit baskets. These disappeared after the internet bubble burst, and even before 9/11 happened. A few years later, fruit baskets made a comeback, only to be
crypto
While the Metaplanet story is widely understood by now, especially since it is largely a replication of the (Micro-)Strategy "Bitcoin Treasury" model (see "Metaplanet's fiscal year 2024 results", and "Metaplanet announces 2025-2026 Bitcoin Plan"), Remixpoint is only now getting traction in
asset management
Mizuho Financial Group, Mercer Japan, and Mercer Investments Japan have entered into a strategic collaboration to offer Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) services in Japan. In September 2024, Goldman Sachs, through its asset management division Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), launched an OCIO business, and offered this service first to
life insurance
Dai-ichi Life Holdings has decided to make an additional investment of approximately 10.3% in Capula, a leading UK-based alternative management firm with world-class expertise in fixed-income arbitrage, crisis alpha and global macro strategies, while agreeing to transfer all shares held by Dai-ichi Life International in Ocean Life Insurance, a
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred eleventh edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. For many, this was a three-day working week. For some, it was a four-day working weekend. Reading the announcements of Sony Bank's migration to a new core banking system reminded us of our own time in
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred ninth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We are entering our own Japanese-style "triple witching" week. First, Golden Week has started, typically a good time to stay pat in Tokyo when everyone is traveling. However, travel has become expensive for Japanese residents, and
asset management
This week, the Asset Management Nation Parliamentary Association, initiated by former Prime Minister Kishida last November, presented its proposal document titled "Proposals for Asset Management Nation 2.0" to current Prime Minister Ishiba, outlining various policy proposals to advance Japan's position as an "asset management
mergers & acquisitions
Nomura and Macquarie have entered into an agreement for Nomura to acquire Macquarie’s U.S. and European public asset management business, with approximately US$180 billion in retail and institutional client assets across equities, fixed income and multi-asset strategies. Under the terms of the agreement, Nomura will acquire 100%
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred eighth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. The digital banking landscape has become a little clearer. This week, Money Forward and MUFG ended their factoring joint venture, Biz Forward, with Money Forward making it a wholly owned subsidiary. A few days later, SMBC and Money
alternatives
Tokyo-based Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, a leading trust bank, and Chicago-based GCM Grosvenor, a leading global alternative asset management solutions provider, have announced a strategic partnership to offer clients best-in-class alternative investment products to capitalize on the attractive Japanese market demand for alternative investment solutions that add value to investment