mergers & acquisitions
NEC Corporation and CSG Systems International have announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which NEC will acquire CSG for US$80.70 per share in cash, for a total enterprise value of approximately US$2.9 billion, or JPY438.5 billion, including debt. The transaction price represents
venture capital
Fivot, a startup company aiming to become a challenger bank pioneering the future through "AI × Finance," has completed a funding round consisting of a 1 billion yen third-party allotment of shares in a Series B equity round and 1 billion yen in debt financing (loans), totaling 2 billion
Economics
The NLI Research Institute has published an article titled "The potential growth rate can be changed: The true potential of the Japanese economy," authored by Taro Saito. The following is intended to reflect the essence of this work in English translation 1. The Stagnation Paradox: Challenging the Narrative
corporate venture capital
HIRAC FUND, operated by Money Forward Venture Partners, a group company of Money Forward, has made an investment in E-SEP, which develops ceramic separation membranes. Background of the Investment Efforts toward decarbonization have become an urgent priority for society as a whole in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
quantum computing
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SMBC Digital Marketing Corporation, and Quanmatic jointly conducted a proof-of-concept experiment on "app advertisement analysis using quantum computing" aimed at advancing advertisement distribution in smartphone applications. Background and Purpose Quantum computing is a next-generation computational technology, currently used mainly in hybrid combination with conventional
security token
Progmat, the core developer behind Japan's leading security token (ST) platform, has released the findings of a critical industry study, culminating in a standardized legal and operational framework designed to streamline the utilization of rights holder data in the ST ecosystem. The comprehensive "ST Data Linkage Streamlining
broker/dealer
Nomura Holdings reported solid financial results for the second quarter (Q2) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 (FY2025/26), demonstrating strengthened profitability across its key segments, particularly Wholesale and its stable revenue businesses. While Group Net Income Attributable to Shareholders of Nomura Holdings declined quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to ¥92.
capital markets
Japan Exchange Group (JPX) reported solid financial results for the first half of fiscal year 2025 (FY2025 Q2 cumulative), driven primarily by increased activity in cash equities and a significant contribution from interest rate-related collateral management within clearing services. Operating Revenue rose 9.2% year-over-year (YoY) to JPY 89,322
debt financing
Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) has provided loan insurance for back financing related to a loan extended by a venture debt fund to Hella Infra Market Singapore, a Singapore-based subsidiary of an Indian start-up company. This marks the first individual transaction under the framework agreement entered into by NEXI,
FHE
Fhenix, the leading infrastructure protocol powering Private DeFi via homomorphic encryption, has received strategic investments from BIPROGY and the Translink Sustainability & Innovation Fund. BIPROGY, renamed from Nihon Unisys in 2022, is one of Japan’s largest IT service providers, with a strong footprint in the financial sector. This move
stablecoin
Secured Finance AG, a Japanese-founded, Swiss-incorporated developer of fixed-rate DeFi lending protocols, has announced a new suite of products built around the Japanese yen stablecoin JPYC. The initiative aims to bring the Yen yield curve on-chain, enabling global investors to access the Japanese interest-rate market through transparent, decentralized infrastructure. Key
stablecoin
TIS, part of the TIS INTEC Group, and Ava Labs have launched the "Multi-Token Platform", which supports the issuance and management of next-generation digital financial services including stablecoins and security tokens. The "Multi-Token Platform" is a service that provides platform functionality necessary for tokenizing various financial