KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- CIMB Group Holdings Berhad ("CIMB" or "the Group") today announced that Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group’s (“MUFG”) banking entity, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (“BTMU”) had sold its entire stake of 412 million CIMB shares (equivalent to a 4.6% stake) via an overnight block trade. The divestment was part of MUFG's strategic global master plan which included a review of its portfolio of existing investment in affiliates. 

MUFG’s Asia & Oceania network spanned 15 countries, including Malaysia, where MUFG’s presence had been enhanced by its capital investment in CIMB, which was made in various stages from 1974 onwards. Notwithstanding the divestment, both MUFG and CIMB would maintain their current collaboration founded on a mutually beneficial 40-year partnership. 

Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Group Chief Executive, CIMB Group, said, “We have had a mutually rewarding relationship over the last 40 years and whilst MUFG's capital priorities have necessitated this move, I am confident our relationship will remain strong. We will continue to be trusted business partners and look forward to further develop our collaboration in complementary areas." 

Mr. Takayoshi Futae, MUFG’s CEO for Asia & Oceania said: “As a global financial institution rooted in Asia, we have long been a committed partner to Malaysia’s growth. Over the years, our alliance with CIMB has deepened and we found ourselves collaborating broadly on areas ranging from Islamic finance and trade finance to infrastructure projects. This foundation of mutual respect and partnership will not change, and we will continue to explore further ways to grow in Malaysia with CIMB’s support, as well as to help them expand using MUFG’s global resources and network.”

About CIMB Group

CIMB Group is Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider and one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups. It offers consumer banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, asset management and insurance products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is now present in nine out of 10 ASEAN nations (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos). Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, Korea, the US and UK.

CIMB Group has the most extensive retail branch network in ASEAN of around 900 branches as at 30 June 2017. CIMB Group’s investment banking arm is also one of the largest Asia Pacific-based investment banks, offering amongst the most comprehensive research coverage of more than 700 stocks in the region.

CIMB Group operates its business through three main brand entities, CIMB Bank, CIMB Investment Bank and CIMB Islamic. CIMB Group is also the 92.5% shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.1% shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand.

CIMB Group is listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad. It had a market capitalisation of approximately RM60.0 billion as at 30 June 2017. The Group has 38,000 employees located in 15 countries.

About Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world’s leading financial groups, with total assets of approximately US$2.6 trillion as of 31 March 2017.

Headquartered in Tokyo and with approximately 350 years of history, MUFG is a global network with over 2,000 offices across more than 50 countries. The Group has about 150,000 employees and close to 300 entities, offering services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing.

The Group’s operating companies include Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (Japan’s leading trust bank), and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Holdings Co., Ltd., one of Japan’s largest securities firms.

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU) is Japan’s premier bank, with a global network spanning over 50 countries. Outside of Japan, the bank offers an extensive scope of commercial and investment banking products and services to businesses, governments and individuals worldwide.

In the Asia and Oceania region, BTMU has presence in 15 key markets. Singapore serves as the regional headquarters for South Asia, South-east Asia and the Oceania region since July 2013, while the regional headquarters for East Asia including China is located in Japan. In addition, Bank of Ayudhya PCL (Krungsri), BTMU’s majority-owned banking subsidiary in Thailand, with nearly 700 branches and close to 15,000 staff, has further expanded its footprint in this region.

Through close partnerships among our operating companies, the Group aims to “be the world’s most trusted financial group”, flexibly responding to all of the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: MTU) stock exchanges.

Disclaimers:

The information contained in this communication is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this communication or its accuracy or completeness. This communication does not purport to identify or suggest the risks (direct or indirect) which may be associated with an investment in the securities referred herein. Any investment decision in connection with the securities must be made solely on the basis of all publicly available information relating to the securities.

This communication may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons receiving this communication should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction and must not under any circumstances forward this communication to any other person. Failure to comply with such restrictions may violate securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This communication does not constitute or form part of any offer or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for, any securities nor shall it or any part of it, nor the fact of its distribution form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract commitment or investment decision. In particular, this communication does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities mentioned in this communication have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the United States except pursuant to registration or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

This communication contains forward-looking information and statements. Investors and holders of securities are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performances and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of MUFG, BTMU and CIMB, that could cause actual results, developments, synergies, savings and benefits to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. 

SOURCE : CIMB Group 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name : Suria Zainal
Head - Group Corporate Communications
Group CEO’s Office
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
Tel : +603 - 2261 0638
Email : suriawati.zainal@cimb.com

Name : Kana Nagamitsu
Public Relations Division
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
Tel: +81 - 3 - 3240 2950
Email: kana_nagamitsu@mufg.jp

--BERNAMA