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Sumitomo Mitsui Launches App for Personal Loan to US Residents

13Jul By AdityaNo Comments

BUSINESS

Sumitomo Mitsui Launches App for Personal Loan to US Residents

TOKYO, July 13, 2023 -- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group announced that it has begun providing personal loans to U.S. residents through Jenius Bank, a division of Manufacturers Bank. California based state-chartered bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SMBC Group. Jenius Bank creates an opportunity for SMBC Group to deepen and expand its U.S. business, providing scale and growth potential in the U.S. consumer banking market. Starting with a 270-strong workforce, the digital banking service targets some tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) in net profit within 10 years, said Daisuke Tanaka, an executive at the bank's corporate development group. By taking a different approach to conventional banking services, Jenius Bank will operate as a digital bank w...

10Aug By PriyankaNo Comments

ANALYSIS

How much Tokyo Olympics Cost to Japan

In the latest study by the University of Oxford says the official price tag for the Tokyo Olympics is USD 15.4 billion, which is the most expensive on record. All but USD 6.7 billion comes from public money from Japanese taxpayers. According to the latest budget, the IOC's contribution is USD 1.3 billion. It also chipped in several hundred million more after the pandemic. The study found that all Games since 1960 have had cost overruns averaging 172%. Tokyo's cost overrun is 111% or 244% depending on which cost figure you select. Several Japanese government audits say the real outlay for the Tokyo Games is even more than the official figure, perhaps twice as much. "The IOC and host cities have no interest in tracking costs because tracking tends to reveal cost overruns, which hav...

SoftBank Posts $12 Billion Profit in First Quarter of 2020

12Aug By PriyankaNo Comments

Market

SoftBank Posts $12 Billion Profit in First Quarter of 2020

Tokyo, Aug 11, 2020: Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group profit rose 12 percent in April-June from a year earlier as its investments added to its coffers, including sales of its shares in US carrier T-Mobile. Tokyo-based SoftBank reported a first-quarter profit of 1.2 trillion yen (USD 11.8 billion), up from 1.1 trillion yen in the previous fiscal year. Quarterly sales inched down 2 per cent to 1.45 trillion yen (USD 13.7 billion). SoftBank, whose group includes the carrier that introduced the iPhone to Japan, said it has been shoring up its cash reserves. Chief Executive Masayoshi Son said, "the company already has raised in several months nearly all the 4.5 trillion yen (USD 41 billion) it had promised in March to attain within a year. But he acknowledged worries about ...

Nissan Launched its First Electric SUV “The Ariya”

15Jul By AdityaNo Comments

Automobile

Nissan Launched its First Electric SUV “The Ariya”

TOKYO, 15th July 2020 – Nissan unveiled its First electric SUV the Ariya, coming with twin electric motors, an estimated 300 miles of range. The starting price of the SUV is $40,000 and it will be sold in Japan in mid-2021. Representing the pinnacle of Nissan’s technologies and design, the 100% electric Nissan Ariya debuted during a digital event in Yokohama. The model is a major step in Nissan’s transformation as the company refocuses on key strengths, including electrified vehicles and SUVs. “We created the Nissan Ariya as an answer to the aspirations and practical needs of today’s customers,” said Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida. “Combining our strengths in EVs and crossovers, it’s a showcase for Nissan’s new era of excitement and design.” The Ariya sets the pace for Nissan’s pla...

SoftBank Group Forecasts USD 7bn Net Loss in 2019 Financial Year

14Apr By NitishNo Comments

News

SoftBank Group Forecasts USD 7bn Net Loss in 2019 Financial Year

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group forecast a USD 7-billion net loss for the year ended March due to the negative impact of coronavirus and losses related to WeWork. The group led by Masayoshi Son said in a press release, "It also expected to suffer an operating loss of 1.35 trillion yen or USD 12.5 billion." The firm cited a 1.8 trillion yen loss at its SoftBank Vision Fund, blaming "the deteriorating market environment" in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. As well as killing more than 100,000 people globally, the virus has tipped the world into what many predict will be a Great Depression, and markets have been in free-fall, battering the group's investments. Under Son's leadership SoftBank Group has morphed into an investment and technology firm, and its $100-b...

24Mar By AnkitaNo Comments

BUSINESS

The Cost of Tokyo Olympic Postponement

The historic decision to postpone this year's Olympic Games over the coronavirus pandemic is likely to pile on the pain for Japan's economy, already expected to be roiled by the global virus outbreak, economists say. What has the Games cost Japan? At the end of 2019, organizers estimated the total cost of the Games at around 1.35 trillion yen ($12.6 billion). That is divided between the city of Tokyo, which is paying 597 billion yen, the Japanese organizing committee, which contributes 603 billion yen and the central government, which is paying 150 billion yen. But the actual costs for the country have been hotly debated, with a widely publicized audit report estimating national government spending from the bid in 2013 until 2018 at 1.06 trillion yen, nearly 10 times the b...

27Jul By AdityaNo Comments

FUNDING

Japanese Space Startup Synspective Raises $100 Million funding

Synspective Inc a Japanese startup which provides satellite data solutions using small sized SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites raises $100 million funding from a group of investors. Started in February 2018, Synspective becomes world’s fastest and Japan’s second highest funded space startup. The investment will help strengthen the company’s SAR satellite development, manufacturing systems, and solutions development. Synspective provides one-stop solutions by satellite gathered geospatial data. The core technology was developed by the ImPACT program led by The Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, building small SAR satellites and constellation, allowing frequent observation of areas of interest. Synspective uses SAR satellites to provide data and produce user-friendly...

9Dec By AnkitaNo Comments

FUNDING

With over 2 Million Subscribers, Japan’s AI based App raises $26.43 Million Series E Funding

Sansan, Inc., the parent company of the Eight app, Japan's leading business card organizer and professional social networking platform has raised approx. Rs. 186 crores (USD 26.43 million) in Series-E funding, taking funding to date to approx. Rs. 7,050 crores (USD 100 million). Sansan's Series E investment was led by Japan Post Capital, T. Rowe Price, SBI Investment, and DCM Ventures. The additional funding will help Sansan deliver on its new mission: "Turning encounters into innovation." The company aims to accelerate its development of innovative technologies centered around maximizing the utility of business cards. Eight is Japan's largest professional social networking platform. The app has well over 2 million registered users. The Eight app uses Artificial Intelligence (AI)...

Car Electronics Systems Company Pioneer Bought by Hong-Kong Fund

7Dec By AdityaNo Comments

ACQUISITION

Car Electronics Systems Company Pioneer Bought by Hong-Kong Fund

Japanese electronics firm Pioneer become a wholly owned unit of a Hong Kong-based fund in a deal worth $904 million. Pioneer, known for its audio equipment as well as car electronics systems, said Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed on a 102-billion-yen ($904 million) plan to revive the struggling Tokyo-based company. Baring will make a 77-billion-yen investment in Pioneer, along with a 25-billion-yen offer to buy existing shares from shareholders. "These steps will secure working capital vital for Pioneer's business operations," a joint statement from the two firms said. "Once privatised, a range of significant changes will be made to revitalise Pioneer, including reviews of the company's business lines as well as structural reforms and an overhaul of the management team," i...

22Nov By Gauri SinghNo Comments

INDIA

Japan’s SoftBank Vision Fund to Open its India Office

Japan’s investment major Softbank investment Advisers, which invests through the SoftBank Vision Fund, is looking forward to deepening its play in India’s technology ecosystem, and thus, the company has announced plans to open an office in Mumbai in India. For this purpose, the company has even roped in Sumer Juneja to lead the same. Norwest Venture Partners’ Sumer Juneja would be joining SoftBank to lead its India investments. Juneja is joining the company after a 9-year stint at Norwest Venture Partners. He has also led and invested in deals like those in Swiggy, Komli Media and Quikr. “I’m delighted to welcome Sumer to the team; he will play a pivotal role in working with our existing portfolio companies as well as sourcing new opportunities on the ground. India represents an enor...

Singapore-based AnyMind Raises $13.4 Million for Expansion

29Oct By Gauri SinghNo Comments

FUNDING

Singapore-based AnyMind Raises $13.4 Million for Expansion

A Singapore-based AI company AnyMind Group has secured funds amounting to $13.4 million in a funding round. This round was led by Line, the Japanese messaging app firm, and Mirai Creation Fund, which is backed by Toyota among others. The company that uses AI in online advertising, HR and marketing is planning to use these funds for its growth in Japan and other Asian markets. Other backers such as JAFCO and Dream Incubator also took part in this round. AnyMind uses AI to offer ad solutions to publishers and advertisers and also to its newer businesses TalentMind (HR) and CastingAsia, influencer marketing. Founded in April 2016 by Kosuke Sogo and Otohiko Kozutsumi the company claims to be profitable since early 2017. It said total revenue for 2017 was $26 million, up from $12.9 millio...

Paytm Launches QR code-based ‘PayPay’ Service in Japan with SoftBank, Yahoo Japan

22Oct By Gauri SinghNo Comments

News

Paytm Launches QR code-based ‘PayPay’ Service in Japan with SoftBank, Yahoo Japan

Paytm has launched a QR-based smartphone payment settlement service in Japan called PayPay in collaboration with SoftBank and Yahoo Japan Corporation. Paytm had formed a joint venture called ‘PayPay’ corporation with SoftBank and Yahoo Japan, and its first offering is a smartphone-based settlement service that allows users to store money from a bank account in their “PayPay” wallet and make payments with it. Paytm said it is built around its QRtech which it has deployed in India to allow customers to make offline payments. “...PayPay was developed with teams from three different countries working together, it is a true testimony for us and our industry-leading solutions that can be easily ported to suit the needs of any country or market,” Madhur Deora, CFO, Paytm said. Paytm is a...