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
weekly
Welcome to the one hundred sixth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. What a week, eh? According to our friends at Goldman Sachs, the TOPIX’s 11.8% decline over the six trading days from Friday, March 28, to Friday, April 4, 2025, is the 35th largest decline since 1968,
asset management
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Daiwa Securities Group, and Daiwa Institute of Research have entered into a business alliance agreement in the field of asset management and asset administration. By combining the strengths and expertise of both groups, the companies aim to reform the asset management industry
weekly
Welcome to the one hundred fifth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Happy new fiscal year! There were a few deals that still had to get done before the end of March, with insurance and regional banking being especially busy. Congratulations and best of luck to anyone who started a
venture capital
INCJ was established in September 2018 via company split from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ). INCJ was established in July 2009 with the aim of overcoming boundaries between companies and industries, creating and nurturing key industries via open innovation for the prosperity of future generations, and providing risk capital
asset management
The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) establishes the target weights of different assets as a policy asset mix and makes an investment based on it. GPIF has formulated the policy asset mix for the fifth medium-term objectives (5-year plan) starting from fiscal 2025. The new policy asset mix was decided
weekly
Welcome to the one hundred fourth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Happy second birthday to us! What started as a personal effort to keep our fingers on the pulse of the Finance & FinTech ecosystem is now being shared with more than 15,000 subscribers (12,500 on LinkedIn
weekly
Welcome to the one hundred third edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. The Bank of Japan meets for its Monetary Policy Meeting this week. The consensus is for no change in the policy rate. The Nikkei reports real wages down 1.8% in January, the first time in negative territory
asset management
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and its subsidiary SMBC Global Investment & Consulting (SGIC) have announced that Ken Kobayashi has been appointed as President and Representative Director of SGIC effective April 1, 2025. By welcoming a professional with over 30 years of experience in the asset management field, SMBC Group aims
asset management
Alyssa Partners, a leading real estate investment management firm focusing exclusively on the Japanese market, has acquired a portfolio of residential assets located in Japan on behalf of The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company. The portfolio consists of 10 stabilized, high-quality multifamily properties located in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. The 669-unit