Analyst Note
| Michael Makdad |We maintain our JPY 6,050 fair value estimate for Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, representing 8% upside from the current share price, after the group announced plans to increase its stake in U.S. investment bank Jefferies to 15% from 4.5% as part of an expanded collaboration between the two firms. SMFG bought 4.5% of Jefferies’ common shares through open-market purchases in 2021 when the initial collaboration was announced and provided $2.25 billion in financing to Jefferies at that time using the Japanese bank’s balance sheet.