Masashi Akutsu

UBS Securities Japan Co., Ltd. (UBS-SJ) is part of the investment banking division and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Switzerland-based UBS AG (SWX: UBSN; NYSE: UBS). Located in Tokyo, the firm was established in 1988. The firm's culture emphasizes cross-business cooperation with fellow subsidiaries both in Japan and globally, combining the reach of a global group with local knowledge and insight. One of the largest securities operations in Japan, UBS-SJ provides investment products and services to Japanese institutional and corporate clients, as well as to foreign investors doing business in Japan. The firm's business is organized in three departments: FIRC (fixed income, rates and currencies), equity and investment banking. The investment banking division specializes in large-cap mergers and acquisitions, performing market research and analysis of M&A deals from a global perspective. The equity department is research-oriented and covers an extensive universe of large-cap Japanese firms. They also cover small- and mid-cap equity, and have specialist expertise in the automobile, auto parts, machinery and pharmaceutical sectors. Services provided to corporate clients include assistance with IPOs, block trades, convertible bonds, and warrants.

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.

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.

Part of Daiwa Securities Group, Inc., Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd. conducts economic research and provides financial and investment advisory services. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese company was founded in 2008. Yoriyuki Kusaki has been the CEO of the company since 2016.

JPMorgan Securities Japan Co. Ltd. (JPMS-J) is the brokerage subsidiary of JPMorgan International Finance Ltd., itself a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) in the US. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, JPMS-J provides investment banking services, intermediary of Global Custody service and other asset servicing business provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and its group companies.

Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (Broker) (Mizuho Securities-Broker) is the brokerage division of Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd., ultimately owned by Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (TYO: 8411; NYSE: MFG) in Japan. The firm was originally founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Tokyo with a network of offices throughout Japan as well as overseas representation through Mizuho entities or strategic partners (in Great Britain, Switzerland, the US, Hong Kong, Mainland China, South Korea, Singapore and India). Mizuho Securities-Broker provides enhanced equity and fixed income execution services for their clients who includes private individuals in Japan, domestic and foreign institutions, non-financial companies, financial institutions and public corporations in the securities and investment banking fields.

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.

Part of Barclays PLC, Barclays Securities Japan Ltd. is a brokerage company based in Tokyo, Japan. Barclays Securities Japan provides brokerage services. The Japanese company was founded in 1987. Kentaro Kiso has been the CEO of the company since 2014.

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.

Citigroup Global Markets Japan, Inc. (CGM-JP) is a wholly-owned broker/dealer subsidiary of Citigroup Japan Holdings GK, ultimately held by Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE: C) in the US. Previously known as Nikko Citigroup Ltd., the firm was founded in 1999 as a joint venture between US-based Citigroup and Nikko Securities, based in Japan. Headquartered in Tokyo, CGM-JP provides brokerage services to governmental institutions, financial institutions, multinational corporations and institutional investors. Their sales and trading, distribution and research capabilities span a broad range of asset classes, currencies, sectors and products including equities, commodities, credit, futures, foreign exchange (FX), emerging markets, G10 rates, municipals, prime finance and securitized markets.

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.

CLSA Securities Japan Co., Ltd. (CLSA Japan) is the Japan-based brokerage subsidiary of CLSA Ltd., itself a subsidiary of CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. (SH: 600030; HK: 6030; PK: CIIHY) in China. The firm was established in 2004 as Calyon Securites Ltd. They subsequently became Credit Agricole Securities Asia B.V., Tokyo Branch and changed their name to CLSA Securities Japan Co., Ltd. in 2013 when they merged with CLSA Japan Co. Headquartered in Hong Kong, CLSA Japan provides brokerage services including Japanese & Asian research and European equities. The CLSA Japan team works closely with the global sales teams in London, NY, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Merrill Lynch Far East Ltd. is the stockbroking subsidiary of Merrill Lynch HK Services Ltd., ultimately owned by Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) in the US. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the firm was founded in 2003 and offers a broad range of brokerage services to institutional investors.

BOCOM International Securities Ltd. (BISL) is the wholly-owned brokerage subsidiary of BOCOM International Holdings Co. Ltd., itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (PK: BCMXY) in China. The firm was created in 2007 when BCOM Securities Co. Ltd., restructured and became BOCOM International Holdings Co., Ltd., establishing BOCOM International-Asia, BOCOM International Securities Ltd., and BOCOM International Asset Management Ltd. as wholly-owned subsidiaries, each specifically designed to focus on their unique businesses. Based in Hong Kong, BISL specializes in providing platforms for securities, futures, contracts trading and margin financing business activities. Clients can place trading instructions directly to investment advisors via designated telephone lines, including a secured on-line trading platform for both securities and futures contracts. As a member of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the firm provides direct execution via the AMS/3 System to their clients for all Hong Kong listed shares.

First Shanghai Securities Ltd. is a securities brokerage firm headquartered in Hong Kong. The firm was founded in 1999 and is subsidiary of First Shanghai Financial Holding Ltd., which is owned by First Shanghai Investments Ltd. (HKG: 0227). First Shanghai Securities provides securities trading services in the Hong Kong financial market. They are also actively engaged in share placement and IPO subscription activities, custodian and nominee services, as well as the newly launched futures trading operation.

Part of Moody's Corp., Moody's Japan KK is a Japanese company that provides investment research. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded in 1985. The CEO is Kei Kitayama.

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.

The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. (Broker) (HSBC-Broker) is the brokerage division of The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. in Hong Kong. Their ultimate parent is HSBC Holdings Plc (LON: HSBA), a multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered in London, UK. HSBC-Broker provides securities brokerage services to their clients.

Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. is the Hong Kong-based brokerage subsidiary of Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd., ultimately owned by Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (TYO: 8411), a banking holding company headquartered in Japan. Founded in 1999, Mizuho Securities Asia provides sales, trading and execution in equity, equity-linked and convertible products across Asia, Japan and US markets for corporate, fund and institutional investors. The firm also provides a full range of fixed income products including sales and trading of investment grade and high-yield credit; government bonds; and securitization and structured products covering the full range of investors and issuers, such as asset managers, central banks, financial institutions, corporates and alternative managers.

Macquarie Capital Securities (Japan) Ltd. (MCS-J) is a securities brokerage firm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Macquarie International Investments, which in turn is a subsidiary of Macquarie Bank Ltd. (SY: MBL), based in Australia. Established in 2004 following the acquisition of the Asian equity division of ING Groep NV (NYSE: ING) by Macquarie, MCS-J provides trading and financial analysis services to Japanese and overseas institutions as well as hedge funds. The firm specializes in Japanese equity, economic research, fundamental research at the company level, quantitative analysis, information on infrastructure funds and other funds, equity derivatives and structured products. They also act as intermediary for Macquarie Bank in the equity-linked notes private placement market. The firm's analysts research themes including Japanese reflation, global industries and Asian technologies. MCS-J is located in Tokyo, and operates in close cooperation with Macquarie sales teams in London, Geneva, Frankfurt, New York and Boston.

Nomura Securities International, Inc. (NSI) is a registered broker/dealer headquartered in New York City and was founded in 1969. The firm is a division of Nomura Holding America, Inc. and their ultimate parent is Nomura Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NMR, TYO: 8604, AMS: 8604). NSI provides securities brokerage services, as well as asset management, domestic retail, global markets, global investment banking and global merchant banking services. The firm's fixed-income business consists of bond sales and trading, origination and product supply for securitization deals and real estate-focused asset finance operations (in cooperation with Investment Banking). In the equity markets, NSI offers sales and trading of domestic and foreign stocks on a global basis, primarily for institutional investors.

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 BNP Paribas SA, BNP Paribas Securities Japan Ltd. is a security brokers, dealers, and Japanese flotation company. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded in 1987. The CEO is Philippe Avril.