Expansion of the Nationwide Information Network

「As of 31 March 2026, Regional M&A Centers had 1,111 locations. We have entered into business alliance agreements with Shinkin Capital Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Shinkin Central Bank, and credit unions nationwide, and had business alliances with 223 credit unions as of 31 March 2026.」

「As of 31 March 2024, Regional M&A Centers had 1,021 locations.」

「As of 31 March 2023, Regional M&A Centers had 1,033 locations.」

「As of 31 March 2022, Regional M&A Centers had 1,023 locations.」

「As of 31 March 2021, Regional M&A Centers had 969 locations.」

「In particular, we jointly streamed the SDGs Business Succession and M&A Conference online with Shiga Bank. A total of 5,400 companies and 8,200 people from Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka and other areas attended.」

「These awards recognize regional financial institutions that have achieved notable M&A results and cases, made contributions to their communities, or otherwise distinguished themselves through collaboration with us in M&A support services. This year marked the eighth awards ceremony. We independently select each award based on M&A results, transaction volume, the substance of completed transactions, contribution to the community, new engagements received, information development activities, and initiatives to strengthen M&A capabilities, among other factors. Through the event, we share know-how, cases and results with regional financial institutions and thereby promote further collaboration. This year's awards ceremony was held online for the first time and received favorable feedback from the executives of participating regional financial institutions.」

「As of 31 March 2020, Regional M&A Centers had 899 locations. We have entered into business alliance agreements with Shinkin Capital Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Shinkin Central Bank, and credit unions nationwide, and had business alliances with 215 credit unions as of 31 March 2020.」

「We were also able to increase the number of accounting firms at the core of our group's information network. We successfully added 50 firms to the 853 firms as of the end of December 2018, bringing the total to 903. In October 2019, we held the Japan M&A Association General Meeting of Directors in Yamagata, bringing together many accounting professionals, primarily from member accounting firms serving as directors of the association. At the general meeting, accounting firms actively engaged in M&A work introduced specific initiatives and completed transactions, and shared know-how on approaches to M&A work distinctive to accounting firms. Accounting firms implementing advanced management practices, including operational efficiency improvements using RPA, also presented their initiatives.」

「In June 2019, we held the National Financial M&A Study Group, which was attended by 115 people from 49 banks, including executives of regional financial institutions. At the study group, we held the Bank of the Year Awards to recognize regional banks with outstanding M&A collaboration results in the previous fiscal year. This year again, we divided Japan into 7 regional blocks and presented the Regional Contribution Grand Prize in each block to the regional bank that made the greatest contribution to regional economic revitalization and employment retention. Held for the seventh time this year, the awards ceremony has become established as an M&A event for regional financial institutions, and its growing profile led to extensive media coverage of the ceremony.」

「As a result, the number of member accounting firms increased to 865 as of 31 March 2019, up from 735 as of 31 March 2018, an increase of 130 firms. In addition, for the third network, the securities company and city bank channels, we focused on strengthening alliances and increasing mandates for business transfer deals.」

「To activate the nationwide information network described in ①, we focused on expanding the accounting firm network. As a result, the number of member accounting firms serving as directors of the association increased to 853 as of 31 December 2018, up from 735 as of 31 March 2018, an increase of 118 firms.」

「In July 2018, our group also entered into a business alliance agreement with MUFG Bank, Ltd. Through the alliance with MUFG Bank, Ltd., we aim to contribute to the survival and growth of small and medium-sized Japanese companies by providing capital policy solutions to customers considering business alliances and other options, and to deliver higher-value-added services. One of our group's advantages is its proprietary M&A information network comprising accounting firms, regional financial institutions, major securities companies and others. Through this alliance, we will work to further expand the information network.」

「In June 2018, we also held the National Financial M&A Study Group, which was attended by 107 people from 48 banks, including executives of regional financial institutions.」

「During the fiscal year, the Network Business Division focused on collaboration with major securities companies as the third core information network alongside regional banks and accounting firms, resulting in a substantial increase in the number of engagements received and transactions completed.」

「To activate the nationwide information network described in ①, we held the Japan M&A Association General Meeting of Directors in Sendai on 13 October 2017, bringing together more than 100 accounting professionals, primarily from member accounting firms serving as directors of the association. At the general meeting, accounting firms actively engaged in M&A work in the Tohoku branch introduced specific cases and shared know-how on approaches to M&A work distinctive to accounting firms.」

「In May 2017, we held the National Financial M&A Study Group, which was attended by 107 people from 45 banks, including executives of regional financial institutions. At the study group, we held the Bank of the Year Awards to recognize regional banks with outstanding M&A collaboration results in the previous fiscal year. This year, we divided Japan into 7 regional blocks and presented the Regional Contribution Grand Prize in each block to the regional bank that made the greatest contribution to regional economic revitalization and employment retention. Held for the fifth time this year, the awards ceremony has become firmly established as an M&A event for regional financial institutions, and its growing profile led to extensive media coverage of the study group.」

「Local financial institutions with strong ties to their communities, including Regional M&A Centers operated by accounting firms in each region (665 locations nationwide*), regional banks and second-tier regional banks (business alliances with 98 banks*), and credit unions (business alliances with 203 credit unions*).」

「To activate the nationwide information network described in ①, we held the Japan M&A Association General Meeting of Directors in Kyoto on 14 October 2016, bringing together more than 160 accounting professionals, primarily from member accounting firms serving as directors of the association.」

「In May 2016, we also held the Premium National Financial M&A Study Group, which was attended by 105 people from 44 banks, including executives of regional financial institutions. At the study group, we held the Bank of the Year Awards to recognize regional banks with outstanding M&A collaboration results in the previous fiscal year. Held for the fourth time this year, the awards ceremony has become firmly established as an M&A event for regional financial institutions, and its growing profile led to extensive media coverage of the study group.」

「During the fiscal year, we increased the number of locations of member accounting firms serving as directors of the association, the core of this network, through Regional M&A Centers, from 591 locations (as of 31 March 2015) to 660 locations (as of 31 March 2016).」