Credit Suisse further strengthens its investment banking and capital markets business in Japan with three senior appointments, according to an internal memo seen by finews.asia.
Satoko Honda and Tatsuya Watanabe have been named as co-heads of equity capital markets within the capital markets solutions group of the investment banking and capital markets (IBCM) unit in Japan, according to the memo. The team will focus on equities underwriting and quick-to-market placements.
Prior to the appointment, Watanabe was most recently with UBS where he has experience in financial sponsor-led IPOs. He has more than 15 years of ECM experience and previously worked with Nikko Citi.
Honda has been with Credit Suisse since 2017 with extensive experience in equity-linked products for corporate and private equity clients in Japan.
Retail and Consumer
Joining the duo is Yasuhiro Kuroki who has been named head of retail, consumer products & services coverage in IBCM, Japan, a key focus area of the bank globally. Kuroki will continue reporting to Ryuya Hishinuma, Credit Suisse’s head of IBCM for Japan.
A spokesperson for the bank confirmed the appointments.
«We are focused on further strengthening our [IBCM] business in Japan by selectively investing in senior talent to enhance the service we deliver to clients,» Hishinuma said in the memo. «Our deep bench of talent has contributed to the strong momentum of our business.»
Japan Focus
Japan has been an increasingly important market for Credit Suisse with notable investment banking transactions last year such as Seven & i Holdings’ $21 billion acquisition of convenience store Speedway or Meiji Holdings’ $254.4 million purchase of a 25 percent stake in AustAsia Investment Holdings.
The bank’s focus in the world’s third-largest economy has not been limited to just investment banking activities. It hired ex-UBS banker Sean Byrne in July last year to join its private wealth unit as a market leader and head of Japan international.
