Nomura’s positioning is part of its drive to establish itself as a global financial player, diversifying Japanese companies’ financing needs as the country pulls out of decades of sluggish growth. 

Nomura is reportedly seeking private debt asset management acquisitions as it expands its alternative assets business. 

The Japan-headquartered group, which has also been expanding its wealth management organisation, hopes to bring expertise from more mature overseas markets to the fledgling direct lending industry in Japan. Demand for this work is expected to rise now that domestic interest rates are finally starting to rise, chief executive Kentaro Okuda told Reuters in a recent interview. 

"In the private debt unit of our asset management business we are looking to make an investment or acquisition if the opportunity arises, also to bring knowledge in," Okuda was quoted as saying. 

The reported noted that Nomura’s positioning is part of its drive to establish itself as a global financial player, diversifying Japanese companies’ financing needs as the country pulls out of decades of sluggish growth. 

It is also relevant for the bank’s wealth management arm. Many high net worth and ultra-HNW clients run operating businesses, so their need for financing options adds more ways of recruiting and keeping such clients.

On the wealth side, Nomura has made several senior hires in recent months. In November this year, for example, it appointed Julia Wang – formerly of JP Morgan and HSBC – as its North Asia chief investment officer. This is a new position for Nomura.

As reported here in August 2025, Nomura International Wealth Management appointed Jessica Ng as an executive director and head of business management for Investment Products & Advisory Solutions (IPAS), and Francis Liu as a managing director to lead business development and strategic initiatives for Greater China. In late July, Nomura appointed Harish Hemandas as managing director and senior executive officer and head of coverage for the Middle East and Europe. IWM has also made three other senior appointments in the first quarter of 2025: Ong Kin Yok as managing director and team head; Sudhir Nemali as managing director and COO of IWM; and Germane Wee as managing director and team head.