DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Toshiba's top investor to sell stake in JIP offer, source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Toshiba's (6502.T) largest shareholder Effissimo Capital Management has decided to tender its 9.9% stake in the $14 billion takeover offer by Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), a source said on Friday, raising the odds of the bid succeeding. The offer, which will end on Sept. 20, needs at least two-thirds of shareholders to tender their shares for it to succeed. Other major shareholders, Elliott Management and Farallon Capital Management, both have their executives on Toshiba's board which has unanimously approved the JIP takeover. Singapore-based fund 3D Investment Partners, previously Toshiba's second-largest shareholder, revealed in a filing in March that it had cut its stake to 4.90% from 7.20%. Sources have said top activist shareholders were eager to exit, even though the offer price was unsatisfactory.

Persons: Androniki, JIP, Effissimo, Elliott, Makiko Yamazaki, Kantaro Komiya, Neil Fullick Organizations: Toshiba Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, Effissimo Capital Management, Japan Industrial Partners, Toshiba, Elliott Management, Farallon Capital Management, Major Toshiba, Partners, Investment Partners, Westinghouse, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan, Singapore

☆ Nearly 70% of Japan firms yet to disclose strategies for better capital efficiency
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A photographer takes photo of a large screen showing stock prices at the Tokyo Stock Exchange after market opens in Tokyo, Japan October 2, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Japan Exchange Group Inc FollowTOKYO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Nearly 70% of companies listed on the top "prime" section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) have yet to respond to the bourse's call for better capital efficiency, a request that helped lift the Japanese market to 33-year highs. "The call has already prompted responses from a certain number of companies," the TSE said in a document released early this week. The remaining 69% made no mention in their annual corporate governance reports, where they are required to disclose such measures. Specific measures include making investments for growth, increasing shareholder returns and revising business portfolios, according to the TSE, owned by Japan Exchange Group (8697.T).

Persons: Kim Kyung, Makiko Yamazaki, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Japan Exchange, TSE, PBR, Japan Exchange Group, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Japan regulator to monitor potential BOJ impact on regional banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A man walks at the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan, January 18, 2023. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) "will monitor how potential changes in the financial markets and client situations will affect regional banks' profits and health," the regulator said in its annual policy outlook released on Tuesday. Large banks have shortened the duration of their bond portfolios in anticipation of higher yields, but analysts say some smaller, regional banks do not have such flexibility. The FSA said in the policy outlook that it would "encourage regional banks to take necessary steps ahead of time" to address potential changes in the financial and economic situations. The policy outlook, set yearly, lays out guidelines for the FSA's supervision and direction of banks and other financial firms.

Persons: Issei Kato, Makiko Yamazaki, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Financial Services Agency, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Mitsubishi UFJ to invest $936 mln in U.S. Bancorp
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People queue inside a branch of the Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFJ) Financial Group's bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in Tokyo, Japan, February 1, 2016. In return, MUFG's stake in the fifth largest U.S. bank will rise to 4.4% from 2.9%. MUFG sold its U.S. retail banking unit MUFG Union Bank to U.S. Bancorp for $8 billion last year. As part of the deal, U.S. Bancorp received $3.5 billion in additional cash held by MUFG Union Bank which it is required to repay within five years. The Minneapolis-based bank will also help MUFG with U.S. dollar liquidity support, allowing the Japanese bank to diversify dollar funding sources in case of contingencies.

Persons: Yuya, MUFG's, MUFG, Makiko Yamazaki, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Mitsubishi, REUTERS, Bancorp, Union Bank TOKYO, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, U.S . Bancorp, U.S, MUFG, Bank, MUFG Union Bank, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Minneapolis

☆ Mitsubishi UFJ to invest $937 mln in U.S. Bancorp
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People queue inside a branch of the Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFJ) Financial Group's bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in Tokyo, Japan, February 1, 2016. REUTERS/Yuya Shino/File PhotoTOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) (8306.T) said on Thursday it would invest $936.7 million in U.S. Bancorp (USB.N) to raise its stake in the U.S. bank to 4.4%. The payment is in connection with MUFG's $8 billion sale of its U.S. retail banking unit MUFG Union Bank to U.S. Bancorp last year. In the deal, U.S. Bancorp received $3.5 billion in additional cash held by MUFG Union Bank which the U.S. bank is required to repay. MUFG also said it has agreed with a bank subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp on U.S. dollar liquidity support to strengthen its sustainable non-Japanese yen funding capacity.

Persons: Yuya, MUFG, Makiko Yamazaki, Tom Hogue Organizations: Mitsubishi, REUTERS, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, U.S . Bancorp, U.S, Bancorp, MUFG's, MUFG, Bank, MUFG Union Bank, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S

☆ Japan's Nomura Q1 profit soars on strong domestic stock market
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We had a market tailwind," Chief Financial Officer Takumi Kitamura told a media briefing. Nomura's April-June profit came in at 23.33 billion yen ($163.42 million) versus 1.696 billion yen a year earlier, when fears of slowing global economic growth hit financial markets and forced investment portfolio writedowns at the Japanese firm. In contrast to the strong gains at the retail business, Nomura's wholesale division, which houses its investment banking and trading businesses, posted a pretax profit of just 2.1 billion yen, down sharply from 25.3 billion yen a year earlier. The Bank of Japan's relaxation of its cap on bond yields last week could also be "a major tailwind" to its business, as it is likely to increase market volatility, he said. ($1 = 142.7600 yen)Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Takumi Kitamura, Nomura's, Kentaro Okuda, Kitamura, Makiko Yamazaki, Himani Sarkar, Mark Potter Organizations: Nomura Holdings Inc, of, Energy, NTT Group, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ Toshiba tender offer pushed back to August due to regulatory delay
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, July 28 (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp (6502.T) said on Friday a group led by Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) is expected to launch a tender offer for the industrial conglomerate "sometime in August 2023", a delay from late July. Toshiba said in a statement that procedures under foreign competition laws and regulations in some jurisdictions are not expected to be completed until after Aug. 1. The Toshiba board has approved the buyout offer, which values the electronics-to-power stations maker at 2 trillion yen ($14.35 billion) and would put it in domestic hands after years of battles with overseas activist shareholders. Some 20 Japanese companies, including financial services firm Orix (8591.T) and chipmaker Rohm Co (6963.T), plan to take part in the deal led by private equity firm JIP. read moreThe buyout group will promptly make an announcement when the conditions for the tender offer are fulfilled, or when there is any further change in the expected schedule, Toshiba said.

Persons: chipmaker Rohm, Makiko Yamazaki, Tom Hogue, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Toshiba Corp, Japan Industrial Partners, Toshiba, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

"When we're 50% foreign owned that gives people pause within Japan," Johnson said in an interview. Companies often view the presence of an activist investor as a challenge to their strategy or a factor that could delay execution of their plans. The activist investor previously praised JSR's "fact-based decision making" and said it supports the sale to JIC. "But that doesn't contribute to the Japanese semiconductor materials industry overall," he said. "I don't think they're being imaginative enough ... there's a wide range of materials expertise in Japan," Johnson said.

Persons: Eric Johnson, Johnson, ValueAct, JSR's, Atsushi Ikeda, Goldman Sachs, Ikeda, Yuta, JSR, Sam Nussey, Miho Uranaka, Makiko Yamazaki, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Stephen Coates Organizations: JSR, Japan Investment Corp, Samsung, Intel, ValueAct, Companies, Citigroup, Svea, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, American, Japan, there's

☆ Nidec's acquisitive CEO hails new Japan rules aimed at making takeovers easier
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Nidec Corp's logo is pictured at an earnings results news conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 25, 2018. Nagamori welcomed the prospect of Japan becoming more receptive to unsolicited bids. Because unsolicited bids are seen as taboo, Nidec has typically focused on buying and turning around money-losing companies, he said, but "that takes time". In corporate Japan, unsolicited bids have been seen as too adversarial. he said, referring to Nidec's tender offer price with an 80% premium.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Shigenobu Nagamori, Nagamori, Nidec, Makiko Yamazaki, Miho Uranaka, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO

[1/3] Pedestrians are reflected on a window of a commercial building at closing hour at a financial district in Tokyo, Japan, November 22, 2017. The number of activist funds has trebled over the last five years to 69, according to data from IR Japan. Joining a hedge fund where you might lose your job tomorrow because you lost money or didn't raise funds is a very foreign world for such workers." "Many global hedge funds are opening up Tokyo offices and hiring talent" to support a growing investment focus, said Masa Yanagisawa, head of prime services Japan at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo. Hong Kong-headquartered activist hedge fund Oasis Management has hired people in Japan this year, including a former senior regulatory official it appointed to its advisory council.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Warren Buffett, Stefan Nilsson, Masa Yanagisawa, Goldman Sachs, Seth Fischer, FinCity.Tokyo, Keiichi Aritomo, Toby Bartlett, Goldman's Yanagisawa, UBP, Cedric Le Berre, Xie Yu, Makiko Yamazaki, Scott Murdoch, David Dolan, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Global, Nikkei, Funds, Oasis Management, Oasis, Citadel, Citadel Securities, Nasdaq, May, Angel, Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, HONG KONG, TOKYO, Hong Kong, Singapore, Swiss, China, Taiwan, Sydney

☆ Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui launches US digital bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) has launched a digital banking service in the United States, as Japan's number two lender aims to tap growth in the U.S. consumer banking market, a bank executive said on Wednesday. Sumitomo Mitsui is providing personal loans through a newly created online banking division of Manufacturers Bank, a California state-chartered bank wholly owned by the Japanese group. Starting with a 270-strong workforce, the digital banking service targets some tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) in net profit within 10 years, said Daisuke Tanaka, an executive at the bank's corporate development group. "But we eventually want to have a solid presence in the United States." ($1 = 139.5100 yen)Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daisuke Tanaka, Tanaka, Makiko Yamazaki, Robert Birsel Organizations: Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui, Manufacturers Bank, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, United States, U.S, California

TOKYO, June 27 (Reuters) - State-backed Japan Investment Corp (JIC) sees potential for more mergers and acquisitions in high-end corners of the chipmaking industry following its planned $6.4 billion buyout of materials maker JSR (4185.T), the head of its private equity arm said. "We see potential in some speciality materials markets where JSR can win dominant positions by combining with other materials makers," Ikeuchi said in an interview. "We believe that we can boost Japanese chip materials makers' global competitiveness by spurring industry consolidation," he added. In the chemicals industry, for example, Japan has "too many players making similar products that were once competitive but are now commoditised," Ikeuchi said. JIC, overseen by the powerful trade ministry, was set up in 2018 to invest in Japanese companies to boost the nation's competitiveness.

Persons: Shogo, Ikeuchi, JIC, Makiko Yamazaki, Ritsuko Shimizu, Jamie Freed Organizations: Japan Investment Corp, JIC Capital, Japan, Innovation Network Corp of Japan, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, chipmaking, Japan

☆ Factbox: Japan ramps up efforts to strengthen its chip industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Below are investments in Japan announced by chipmakers and measures the government is taking to revive its semiconductor industry. Sony Group (6758.T) and auto parts maker Denso (6902.T), which will use the chips TSMC makes, are also investors. It said it would be the first chipmaker to bring EUV technology to Japan for production. It has offered TSMC a 476 billion yen subsidy, or about half the expected cost of the factory. Rapidus secured an initial 70 billion yen of funding from the government, and local media reported in April that the government was finalising a plan to provide an additional 300 billion yen.

Persons: TW, Rapidus, JIC, Makiko Yamazaki, Sam Nussey, Tim Kelly, Miho Uranaka, Miyoung Kim, Jamie Freed Organizations: Semiconductor, chipmakers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Sony Group, Micron Technology, Samsung Electronics, Reuters, Business Machines, IBM, Samsung, Nikon, Tokyo, Japan Investment Corp, Innovation Network Corp of Japan, Toshiba, Japan Industrial Partners, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Kyushu, Denso, KS, Yokohama, Japan's, Chitose, Hokkaido, Rapidus, U.S, China, State

TOKYO, June 24 (Reuters) - Japanese online financial conglomerate SBI Holdings Inc (8473.T) said on Saturday it has raised its stake in SBI Shinsei Bank (8303.T) to 53.74% from 50.04% through a tender offer as a step toward taking the midsize lender private. SBI Holdings said last month it would launch the tender offer for Shinsei, with plans to pay 2,800 yen per share, for up to 154.2 billion yen in total. That remains far below the 7,450 yen share price the government would need to recoup the value of its loan to Shinsei. According to Shinsei's filing, its special committee suggested the bank was worth at least 3,000 yen per share, and one independent director opposed recommending shareholders tender their shares. It already owns the country's largest online brokerage, an online bank and an asset manager and has been taking shares in smaller lenders to create a nationwide network.

Persons: Shinsei, Satoshi Sugiyama, Jacqueline Wong, William Mallard Organizations: SBI Holdings Inc, SBI Shinsei Bank, SBI Holdings, SBI, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

As of end-March, the three banks had total credit exposure of about $64 billion to China, or roughly 1% of their total assets, according to their financial statements. The FSA's request to look into China-related geopolitical risk was made in May, said two other sources. At a meeting last month, one of the banks was asked by the FSA how it is assessing risk related to China operations, one of them said. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. Dealing with China sanctions would be extremely complex, the executive added.

Persons: Banks, SMFG, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Takaya Yamaguchi, Makiko Yamazaki, Sumeet Chatterjee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Financial Services, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho, American Chamber of Commerce, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, TOKYO, Ukraine, Russia, United States, China . U.S, Beijing, West, Taiwan, U.S, Tokyo, New York

TOKYO, June 13 (Reuters) - Toyota (7203.T) faces an unprecedented challenge at its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, with some pension funds voting against Chairman Akio Toyoda on governance issues, while seeking more disclosures on the Japanese automaker's climate lobbying. Two prominent U.S. proxy advisers have flagged concern about Toyota's board independence. The step comes as companies across Japan face more pressure from investors, especially on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The strong financial performance has meant concerns about board independence have largely been shrugged off, said Kazunori Suzuki of Waseda Business School. He enjoys strong support from individual investors and the many suppliers and Toyota group companies among its shareholders.

Persons: Akio Toyoda, Toyoda, Kentaro Shibata, Kazunori Suzuki, Anders Schelde, Denmark's, AkademikerPension, AkademikerPension's Schelde, Nicholas Benes, Benes, that's, Makiko Yamazaki, Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan, William Mallard, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Toyota, Nikkei, Waseda Business School, Tokyo, Exchange, Services, International Paralympic Committee, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Training, of Japan, Nissan, Honda, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, New York, Japan, Toyota

TOKYO, May 28 (Reuters) - Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that shareholders of Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) vote in favour of a resolution urging the automaker to improve disclosure of its lobbying related to climate change. ISS in a report also said it regarded three of Toyota's four outside board director nominees as not truly independent. Toyota's board said the fluidity of such disclosure made the proposal unsuitable for enshrining in the articles of incorporation. A spokesperson previously said few firms globally have made climate policy engagement-related disclosure to the extent of Toyota. "Toyota does not provide shareholders with enough information to evaluate its lobbying activities," ISS said.

Japan's Kioxia and U.S. chipmaker Western Digital have been hit hard by plunging market demand and oversupply. Combining their flash memory businesses could boost competitiveness against rivals like South Korea's Samsung Electronics (005930.KS). Western Digital did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Kioxia, previously Toshiba Memory, was sold by Toshiba Corp (6502.T) in 2018 to a consortium led by Bain Capital for $18 billion. Kioxia and Western Digital were in merger talks in 2021 before the negotiations stalled over a series of issues including valuation discrepancies.

REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierTOKYO, May 9 (Reuters) - Two major European asset managers have jointly filed a shareholder resolution at Japanese electricity generator Electric Power Development Co Ltd (9513.T), known as J-Power, for the second consecutive year in a row. The asset managers are calling on J-Power, Japan's largest operator of coal-fired power stations, to set and disclose credible short and medium-term emissions reduction targets, aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The resolution is supported by Man Group (EMG.L), the world's largest publicly traded hedge fund, ACCR said. Amundi, Man Group, and HSBC Asset Management have nearly $3 trillion in assets combined under management. J-Power will "carefully consider" proposals and disclose its board of directors' opinions "as soon as they are determined", the company said on Tuesday.

[1/2] A logo of Amundi is seen outside the company headquarters in Paris, France, February 3, 2023. Amundi (AMUN.PA) and HSBC Asset Management filed the resolution with the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), the non-profit climate group said in a statement on Tuesday. The resolution is supported by Man Group (EMG.L), the world's largest publicly traded hedge fund, ACCR said. Amundi, Man Group, and HSBC Asset Management have nearly $3 trillion in assets combined under management. Last year, Man, Amundi and HSBC filed a similar shareholder resolution, which they say was the first climate-related proposals by an institutional investor group to a Japanese firm.

☆ Analysis: Investors seek to break through Japan Inc's 'value trap'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

SINGAPORE, April 20 (Reuters) - Corporate governance in Japan has suddenly become a cause celebre, rousing the world's third-largest stock market out of decades of lethargy and drawing in hordes of foreign investors. Japan's stock market has long been seen by investors as a 'value trap' where companies focus on market share, hoard cash and care little about shareholder returns. What has prompted investors globally to sit up and take notice is an endorsement from legendary billionaire investor Warren Buffett. The MSCI Japan Value index (.dMIJP0000VPUS) is up 9% since August 2020 versus a 9% drop for the MSCI Japan growth index (.dMIJP0000GPUS). "I think the value trap that was Japan is no longer."

SAPPORO, Japan, April 15 (Reuters) - Members of the Group of Seven rich nations must act to help emerging countries reduce emissions, including the financing of decarbonisation in "hard-to-abate" industries, Japan's economy and trade minister said on Saturday. Ministers from the G7 are meeting for climate and energy talks in the Japan's northern city of Sapporo on Saturday and Sunday, as part of Japan's G7 presidency this year. The issue of emissions in emerging markets has long been a focus for developed countries. However, the world's richest countries need to do more to help emerging nations reduce carbon, said Alden Meyer, a senior associate at E3G, a climate change think tank. There needs to be "much stronger leadership" from G7 countries in leveraging financial and technology resources to help developing countries reduce emissions, Meyer said.

"The G7 countries have agreed that the first response to the energy crisis must be to reduce energy and gas consumption… For the first time ever, the G7 said that we must accelerate the phasing out of all unabated fossil fuels... The event has also put focus on the need to help emerging countries reduce emissions, including through financing. Nishimura said ministers would like to discuss ways to use finance to help reduce carbon in so-called "hard-to-abate" industries, which include chemicals, shipping and steel. "Developed countries first need to follow through on the $100 billion pledge they made to developing countries over a decade ago." G7 countries must exert "much stronger leadership" in leveraging financial and technology resources to help developing countries reduce emissions, Meyer said.

☆ Goldman Sachs to enter transaction banking business in Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, April 12 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) said on Wednesday it is launching its transaction banking business for corporate clients in Japan, as the U.S. investment bank expands in the world's third-largest economy. Goldman, which received its Japanese banking license in 2021, will provide clients with treasury services including deposits, cash management and cross-border payments into over 160 countries in more than 120 currencies, it said. The service will be based on its cloud platform that was first launched in the United States in 2020, and Japan will be the first country in Asia to start it, the bank said. Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Search resuls for: "Makiko Yamazaki"

25 mentions found