Tokyo – Nomura Asset Management, the investment arm of Nomura Holdings, announced that it is capitalising on renewed global enthusiasm for Japanese assets to broaden its international footprint. Chief executive Shoichi Ohkoshi told Reuters that the firm sees a clear shift among investors who were historically underweight Japan during the country’s prolonged deflationary period.
Investor sentiment turns positive
“Global investors were underweight Japan over the ‘lost 30 years,’” Ohkoshi said. “Now interest is rising, those who were underweight are moving to neutral and we’re aiming to push them further to overweight by promoting the attractiveness of Japanese stocks.” He highlighted the recent rally in Japanese equities and the climb in bond yields as key drivers of this sentiment.
Strategic acquisitions boost scale
Last year Nomura completed the purchase of Macquarie’s U.S. and European public‑asset‑management businesses. The deal gave Nomura a substantially larger distribution network in markets where organic growth is difficult. “There aren’t many Japanese asset‑management companies that truly manage global equities. After the Macquarie acquisition we are in a position to scale up significantly,” Ohkoshi explained.
Asset base and growth outlook
Nomura Asset currently manages about 156 trillion yen (approximately $985 billion), making it Japan’s largest investment manager. While the firm did not disclose specific targets for new inflows or client numbers, it said the combination of strong equity performance, improving bond yields and growing corporate credit demand creates a fertile environment for expanding its product suite.
“Yields are still low compared to other countries but sovereign bonds are finally becoming investible assets,” Ohkoshi added, noting that Japanese government bonds are now attractive to foreign investors seeking stable returns.
Expanding credit offerings
In addition to equities, Nomura sees an opportunity in Japan’s corporate‑funding market, which has traditionally relied heavily on bank lending. “Corporate funding demand is expanding beyond what banks alone can provide so we’re actively developing corporate credit products,” he said, indicating a push into fixed‑income solutions for global clients.
The firm’s strategy aligns with broader market trends that favour diversified, globally‑oriented investment options and underscores Japan’s re‑emergence as a key destination for capital. By leveraging its expanded footprint and the renewed appetite for Japanese assets, Nomura aims to solidify its status as a truly global asset‑management player.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
