Natixis Buys Japanese M&A Advisory Firm to Join Tokyo's Dealmaking Boom

Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, the unit of French lender BPCE, has agreed to acquire Sangyo Sosei Advisory, an independent Tokyo-based financial advisory firm, as it pushes into Japan's merger advisory business. The purchase price wasn't disclosed, and the deal still requires approval from Japanese regulators.

Competing for Tokyo's dealmakers

The acquisition puts Natixis in direct competition for a slice of Japan's booming M&A market, where global banks have been racing to build out their Tokyo teams as domestic companies pursue deals at a record pace. Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and UBS have all made senior hires in Japan recently to strengthen their own dealmaking ranks, underscoring how competitive the market for top advisory talent has become.

Gary Chan, co-founder and managing partner of Sangyo Sosei Advisory, will become head of investment banking, real assets and M&A for Japan at Natixis CIB, overseeing newly created investment banking and M&A units. Staff from the acquired firm are set to formally join Natixis CIB's Japan team on January 1, 2027, giving the French bank an established local team rather than building one from scratch.