Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking has expanded its capabilities into Japan. As part of that expansion, it has agreed to acquire a local M&A specialist, Sangyo Sosei Advisory.  

France’s Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (Natixis CIB) is extending its global Investment Banking & Real Assets (IBRA) and M&A capabilities in Tokyo, Japan, subject to obtaining approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency.

As part of a broader team expansion and reflecting its commitment to the Japanese market, Natixis CIB has agreed to acquire a local M&A specialist, Sangyo Sosei Advisory (SSA). SSA staff will formally join Natixis CIB’s Japan team on 1 January 2027.

Gary Chan, co-founder and managing partner of SSA, will be appointed head of investment banking, real assets and M&A, Japan, Natixis CIB. In this role, he will oversee Natixis CIB’s newly-established IBRA and M&A businesses in Japan, the firm said in a statement.

Chan will report to Emmanuel Gillet-Lagarde, head of real assets, global trade and credit portfolio and resources management, Asia Pacific & Middle East, Natixis CIB, Raghu Narain, head of investment banking, Asia Pacific & Middle East, Natixis CIB, and Makito Nagahiro, senior country manager, Japan, Natixis CIB.

Kentaro Relnick, managing director at SSA, will become head of M&A, Japan, Natixis CIB, reporting to Miranda Zhao, head of M&A, Asia Pacific & Middle East, Natixis CIB, and Chan. Fumiaki Sato, co-founder and managing partner of SSA, will be appointed executive advisor of Natixis Tokyo Branch, the firm continued.

SSA, which was created in 2009 as Japan’s first independent financial advisor, focuses on technology, media, telecommunications (TMT) sectors. It has since expanded into the infrastructure sector.

By synergising SSA's local expertise with Natixis CIB's global platform, the bank is able to deliver forward-looking financial solutions and drive investment banking in Japan.

“IBRA is a core part of Natixis CIB’s ecosystem of financial experts, bringing together complementary teams of specialists to deliver on key areas including structured advisory, investments and divestments, access to capital and liquidity, value creation, listing and ratings, capital structure, and risk management,” Fabrice Croppi, global head of IBRA, Natixis CIB, said.  

“Building out our IBRA & M&A practice in Japan will drive forward our global and regional Scale Up ambitions and deliver value not only to clients, but the Japanese economy overall,” Bruno Le Saint, CEO, Asia Pacific & Middle East, Natixis CIB, added.

“Given the rapid growth of investment banking in Japan, our transition from M&A specialist to a diversified financial solutions provider comes at a perfect time,” Chan and Sato added.