Japanese market: the strengths of Groupe BPCE

Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking and Natixis Investment Managers have both announced new transactions in Japan, illustrating Groupe BPCE’s presence in this market and its ambitions in the region.

Natixis CIB expands its activities in Tokyo

Natixis CIB plans to expand its global capabilities in its investment banking and Real Assets (IBRA) and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) businesses in Tokyo, through the acquisition of local M&A specialist Sangyo Sosei Advisory Inc. (SSA)*. SSA employees are expected to officially join Natixis CIB’s Japanese team on January 1, 2027. Specializing in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors, SSA has expanded its services to the infrastructure sector.

This expansion is part of the corporate and investment banking’s regional roadmap and reflects the continued growth of its activities in Japan, where it has been present for three decades and obtained a banking license last year. In this regard, Natixis CIB’s recent annual flagship conference in Tokyo, with over 400 participants reflects this growth trajectory and demonstrates strong partnerships with clients.

Natixis IM and affiliates win new clients

In asset management, NIM’s international distribution team announced that it had won several clients in Japan in recent weeks, including an investment by the country’s leading trust bank in WCM’s strategy. Two of the country’s major trust banks are now clients of NIM’s network and affiliates, representing a strategic advance in the demanding private pensions market. Japan is now NIM’s third-largest market, behind the United States and France.

Groupe BPCE is a regular player in the Japanese bond market

It should be noted that Groupe BPCE is a major and regular participant in the Japanese Samurai bond market, i.e. yen-denominated issues by foreign issuers. It has been present there since 2012.

In particular, the Group was the first non-Japanese issuer to receive an award in 2019 (“Bond Issuer of the Year” according to Thomson Reuters), and then in 2023 (“Deal of the Year” from Nikkei Veritas magazine) for its record multi-tranche ¥197.7 billion issuance.

Groupe BPCE was the first bank to issue a yen-denominated social bond dedicated to financing education and healthcare, in 2017. It is recognized by Japanese investors for its innovative positioning and long-standing commitment, which enable it to diversify its funding and refinancing sources.

_{* subject to approval by the Japanese Financial Services Agency}