Yamaguchi Financial Group to restructure operations, announce share buyback

Yamaguchi Financial Group (YMFG) announced a comprehensive review of its international operations, including converting Yamaguchi Bank's Qingdao and Dalian branches into representative offices, subject to regulatory approvals. This change is part of a broader shift for YMFG and Yamaguchi Bank from international uniform standard banks to domestic standard banks, aiming for enhanced capital efficiency and maximized group synergies. The Busan Branch operations ceased on June 14, 2024. YMFG will continue to deepen economic exchanges and support customers in Qingdao and Dalian.

The company also announced a decision to acquire its own shares, intending to buy back up to 10,000,000 common shares, representing 4.73% of outstanding shares (excluding treasury shares), with a maximum total acquisition cost of 15,000,000,000 yen. This buyback program is scheduled to run from November 27, 2025, to October 30, 2026, and will be executed through market purchases on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

YMFG stated that the international operations review is expected to have an immaterial impact on its consolidated financial results for the current fiscal year, with no changes to the consolidated financial forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026. The share repurchase aims to enhance shareholder returns through improved capital efficiency.