Takefumi Kobayashi

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Symphony Financial Partners Co., Ltd. (SFP) is an independent Japan-based alternative investment firm which was founded in 2000 by David Baran and Kazuhiko Shibata. Formerly known as Compass Partners Fund Management, the firm changed their name to Symphony Financial Partners Co. Ltd. in 2003. SFP is an Asia-focused asset manager which is based in Tokyo and has additional offices in Singapore and San Francisco. They manage the Cayman-domiciled SFP Value Realization and Sinfonietta Master Funds for high-net worth individuals and institutions worldwide. The firm aims to achieve high absolute returns with low and defined risk by combining value investing in public markets with private equity value enhancement strategies.

Part of Navigator Global Investments Ltd., North Rock Capital Management (HK) Ltd. is an investment management firm based in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. North Rock Capital Management (HK deploys capital across a diversified set of relative value fundamental and quantitative equity-focused portfolio manager teams. The Chinese company is built upon a multi-pm investment platform. The company was founded in 2022. Simon Chow has been the CEO of the company since 2022.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Point72 (North Asia) Ltd. is an alternative asset manager headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Formerly known as SAC Capital Advisors (North Asia) Ltd., the firm was founded in 2012 and is a subsidiary of Point72 Asset Management LP, which is ultimately owned by Point72 Capital Holdings LP. Point72 (North Asia) offers Discretionary Long/Short, Macro, and Systematic strategies for high-net-worth clients.

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.

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.

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.

Nomura International Plc provides a variety of financial services including advisement, investment banking and asset management. It trades in and sells fixed income and equity products, including related derivatives; and provides investment banking services, and corporate finance and private equity services. The company is also involved in asset and principal finance business. It offers investment advisory and management, custody, and employment services. Nomura International was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.