Nomura Financial Partners and Next Capital Partners Consortium Selected
as Buyer of Ashikaga Bank
Tokyo, March 14, 2008 – Nomura Holdings, Inc. today announced that a consortium led by Nomura Financial Partners Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, and Next Capital Partners Co., Ltd. has been selected by Japan's Financial Services Agency as the buyer of The Ashikaga Bank Ltd., a special public management bank under the Japanese government.
The consortium will establish a holding company to carry out the acquisition, apply for the necessary authorization, and raise funds by issuing common and preferred shares as well as subordinated debt. On July 1, 2008, the holding company is scheduled to acquire all outstanding shares of Ashikaga Bank held by the Deposit Insurance Corporation for 120 billion yen and increase Ashikaga Bank's capital.
The consortium also includes JAFCO Co., Ltd., Japan's largest venture capital firm. The consortium also intends to invite a broad range of financial institutions and other investors who approve of the proposed business plan and investment scheme to join them.
Established in 1895, Ashikaga Bank has over 100 years experience providing banking services to local customers and is one of Japan's major regional banks. Based in Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo, the Bank was capitalized at over 147 billion yen and employed over 2,000 people as at September 2007.
Nomura Financial Partners was established in May 2006 as part of Nomura Holdings' Global Merchant Banking division to seek out investment opportunities in the financial services industry. The company is capitalized at 503 million yen.
Next Capital Partners is a private equity fund management company established in July 2005 and capitalized at 50 million yen.
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Nomura
Nomura is a leading financial services group and the preeminent Asian-based investment bank with worldwide reach. Nomura provides a broad range of innovative solutions tailored to the specific requirements of individual, institutional, corporate and government clients through an international network in 30 countries. Based in Tokyo and with regional headquarters in Hong Kong, London, and New York, Nomura employs about 18,000 staff worldwide. Nomura's unique understanding of Asia enables the company to make a difference for clients through five business divisions: domestic retail, global markets, global investment banking, global merchant banking, and asset management. For further information about Nomura, please visit www.nomura.com.
