Abstract

The case study gives a detailed account of the attempts made by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), Japan's third largest bank, to acquire UFJ Holdings (UFJ), the fourth largest bank in Japan. The Japanese banking industry has witnessed several major mergers and acquisitions in the past ten years. Though unsuccessful, SMFG's aggressive bid to acquire UFJ marked a new beginning in the tradition bound Japanese corporate world. Finally, Japan's second largest bank, Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group (MTFG) merged with UFJ, to form the largest bank in the world in terms of assets. The case also includes a detailed note on the Japanese banking industry describing the financial problems faced by the Japanese banks in the recent past and the ongoing consolidation in the industry.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Takeover Regulations in Japan.

Keywords

Case, UFJ Holdings, Acquisition, Japanese Banking Industry, Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Takeover Regulations in Japan, Top Ten Banks in the World, Merger Integration