Hajime Kitano

Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. (NSC) is a wholly-owned brokerage subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, Inc. (TSE: 8604; NYSE: NMR). Headquartered in Tokyo, the firm was founded in 1925. NSC places a strong emphasis on research, both fundamental and quantitative. In addition to stock and bond underwriting, their activities include IPO and M&A advisory, wealth management, separately managed accounts, fund wrap services, prime brokerage and structured equity finance. Their clients include institutions, hedge funds, private banks and private equity funds as well as corporate clients and retail investors.

FIL Investments (Japan) Ltd. (FIJ) is the wholly-owned investment management subsidiary of FIL Japan Holdings KK, ultimately held by FIL Ltd., a Bermuda company that serves as the holding company for the FIL group of companies. Headquartered in Tokyo, FIJ was founded in 1986 and provides discretionary investment advisory services to Japanese and international institutional accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles.

Goldman Sachs (Singapore) Pte. (Goldman Sachs-Singapore) is the brokerage subsidiary of New York-based Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), a global investment bank that offers financial services to corporations, institutions, governments and high-net worth individuals. Headquartered in Singapore, the firm opened in 1989 and is the regional hub for the group's activities in Southeast Asia, particularly asset management and energy trading. Goldman Sachs-Singapore provides a full range of corporate finance and capital markets products and services across a wide range of operating areas. Business functions include capital structuring advisory, and security services.

Credit Suisse Securities Japan Ltd. (CSS Japan) is the Japanese securities brokerage subsidiary of Credit Suisse AG, which is owned by Credit Suisse Group AG (SWX: CSGN; NYSE: CS) in Switzerland. The firm was founded in 1985 as First Boston Securities Tokyo. It subsequently became CS First Boston Securities in 1989 and Credit Suisse First Boston in 1996. In 2006, they began operating as Credit Suisse Securities Japan Ltd. Headquartered in Tokyo, CSS Japan performs underwriting, research, sales and trading of government and corporate bonds, foreign exchange, securitized products and real estate-related assets for institutional clients, corporations and government bodies. In addition, the firm offers sales, trading, research, financing, prime brokerage and market-making in Japanese and international equity and equity-related securities, options, futures, risk management and hedging products.

BofA Securities Japan Co., Ltd. (BofA Securities Japan) is the wholly-owned Japanese brokerage subsidiary of Merrill Lynch International, Inc., which is ultimately owned by Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC). Founded in 1998, the firm was formerly known as Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd. (MLJS) and changed their name to BofA Securities Co., Ltd. in line with grobal re-branding from BofA Merrill Lynch to BofA in 2020. They subsequently became BofA Securities Japan Co., Ltd. Headquartered in Tokyo, BofA Securities Japan provides stock and bond trading, capital markets, investment banking and other advisory services to corporate clients, financial institutions and government agencies.

SBI Net Systems Co., Ltd. engages in the development, manufacture and sale of information security services. Its products include encryption software, LAN security solution and others. The firm also engages in the provision of financial solutions, consulting services and information technology (IT) operation, application service provider (ASP) services, and technical support services. The company was founded on October 22, 1997 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

East West Bank operates as an independent bank. The firm provides commercial banking services. The company was founded by John M. Lee in 1973 and is headquartered in Pasadena, CA.

Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. (GSJCL) is the Japan-based broker-dealer subsidiary of Goldman Sachs (Japan) Ltd., ultimately held by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS) in the US. The firm originated in 1974 and was formally founded in 1983. Headquartered in Tokyo, GSJCL offers Internet-based transaction services covering equity, debt, commodities and derivatives to a substantial and diversified client base, which includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high net worth individuals.

Jefferies (Japan) Ltd. (JJ) is the Tokyo branch and subsidiary of US-based Jefferies Asia Holdings II Pte Ltd., ultimately held by Leucadia National Corp. (NYSE: LUK) in the US. Established in 1996, the firm focuses on Asian markets and provides brokerage and investment banking services to institutional and corporate clients located primarily in Asia and the Middle East. Their activities include sales and trading of Japanese equity, equity-linked and structured products, the distribution of equity research and execution services in cooperation with US and European offices and the provision of electronic connectivity throughout Asia. They issue equity shares through GDRs and ADRs, and are a leading issuer of convertible bonds, high-yield in particular. In-house research covers a variety of industries including the maritime sector, infrastructure, logistics, outsourcing, technology and IT. In addition to Japan, JJ focuses on countries such as China and India, providing a range of services to Chinese and Indian companies, including access to international equity and debt capital markets, securities underwriting, US public and private offerings and cross-border M&A advisory. They also cooperate with private equity and venture capital firms focused on the Chinese and Indian markets.

SBI Investment Co., Ltd. (SBI Investment) is a venture capital subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc. (TK: 8473) headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The firm was formed in 2005 through the merger of SBI Ventures K.K., Softbank Contents Partners Corp. and Biovision Capital Corp.

Deutsche Securities, Inc. (DSI) is the Japanese brokerage subsidiary of Deutsche Bank Holdings (Luxembourg) SARL, itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB) in Germany. The firm was established in 1986 as Deutsche Bank Capital Markets (Asia) Ltd. and became Deutsche Securities Inc. in 2006. Located in Tokyo, DSI is the investment banking platform for the Deutsche Bank group in Japan. The firm provides services including research, sales and trading of bonds and equities, capital raising and M&A advisory for corporate and institutional clients. They have particular expertise in sectors such as automotive, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, energy, financials, media, telecommunications, technology, transportation and trading companies. The M&A division is in a leadership position in Japan, and structures deals including overseas investments by manufacturers, asset sales for restructuring corporations, and domestic mergers and acquisitions. DSI's activities include products and services related to fixed-income, equities and commodities as well as real estate investments and financing. Activities related to foreign exchange and money market are primarily operated by the Tokyo branch of Deutsche Bank.

Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co., Ltd. is the Japanese broker-dealer subsidiary of Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) in the US. Headquartered in Tokyo, the firm was founded in 1984 and provides investment banking, sales & trading, real estate and investment management products and services. It offers securities services including global sales and trading in fixed income and equities, debt and equities financing and investment research. The firm is a provider of products and services in fixed income, equities, global capital markets and investment research to corporations and institutional clients in Japan.

SBI Benefit Systems Co., Ltd. provides record keeping and management of pension contributions. It also offers payroll accounting and welfare benefit services. The company was founded in March 2001 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

SBI Japannext Co., Ltd. operates an online trading system. It creates a proprietary trading system venue to replicate the electronic connection networks in the United States serving as an after-hours market for online users. The company was founded on November 8, 2006 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Town Hall Los Angeles operates as a non-profit, nonpartisan speaker’s forum, providing a platform for discussing and debating today’s most pressing issues. The company was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd. (MUMSS) is an independent securities brokerage firm headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The firm was founded in 1948 through a joint venture between Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Holdings Co. Ltd. and Morgan Stanley Japan Holdings Co. Ltd. MUMSS offers domestic retail brokerage services to corporate and institutional clients.

Part of Lazard Ltd., Lazard Frères KK is a financial services firm based in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese company provides research and special reports on key events driving the financial markets, with a focus on asset management and financial advisory. The company's services are built on a foundation of client service and they have a long-standing reputation in the industry. Additionally, they offer insights on the levelized cost of energy.

Part of Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings, Inc., Tokai Tokyo Research Institute Co. Ltd. is a company that provides investment research. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese company was founded in 1980. The CEO is Hiroshi Maezono.

Part of JPMorgan Chase & Co., JPMorgan Chase Bank (China) Co. Ltd. is a Chinese company that offers trade finance, cash management, and commercial banking. The company is based in Beijing, China.

SMBC Nikko Securities, Inc. is the securities brokerage subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (TYO: 8316) in Japan. Headquartered in Tokyo, the firm was founded in 2009 and provides stockbroking services to Japanese individuals and corporate clients.

Shared Research, Inc. is an independent investment research firm headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The firm was founded by Oleg Zuravljov in 2009. Shared Research provides institutional investors with internet-based research and information sharing platform that aggregates user editable reports on Japanese companies.

Citadel Asia Ltd. is the Hong Kong-based asset management subsidiary of Citadel Enterprise Americas LLC, which is ultimately owned by GFH HFEVA LLC, an investment company headquartered in the US. The firm was founded in 2005 and formerly known as Citadel (Hong Kong) Ltd. Citadel Asia offers multiple investment strategies for high net worth clients.

Part of SBI Holdings, Inc., SBI Capital Management Co., Ltd. engages in asset management business. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan.

SBI Financial Services Co., Ltd. operates as an intermediary holding company that engages in the financial service business. The company was founded in June 2012 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

SBI Money Plaza KK engages in the financial products brokerage business. It also involves in investment advice, banking and insurance services; money lending and mortgage agency business. The company was founded on March 31, 2008 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

SBI Liquidity Market Co., Ltd. engages in the provision of market functions and services related to foreign exchange margin trading. The company was founded on July 8, 2008 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Part of JPMorgan Chase & Co., JPMorgan Private Bank (Hong Kong) provides private banking and wealth management services to help clients create the life and legacy they envision. JPMorgan Private Bank (Hong Kong is based in Hong Kong, HK. The Chinese company offers guidance, access, and execution for complex investments such as currencies, commodities, and rates-based derivatives. The company also specializes in lending for big-ticket assets and finding strategies that work in the best interest of clients' overall wealth plans.

SBI JI Innovation Advisory Ltd (SBI JI Innovation Advisor) is a venture capital firm founded in 2017. The firm is headquartered in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.

SBI Regional Business Succession Investment KK operates and manages business succession fund. The company was founded on February 28, 2019 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Part of i-mobile Co., Ltd., CYBERCONSULTANT, Inc. is a Japanese company that provides digital communications consulting and advertising services. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded in 2006. CYBERCONSULTANT was acquired by i-mobile Co., Ltd. on June 30, 2014.