Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) said it will keep a close watch on liquidity conditions when issuing loans, according to the company's finance chief, as Japanese banks prepare to potentially back projects tied to Tokyo's $550 billion investment initiative in the United States.
The plan anticipates participation from commercial banks alongside support from state-backed institutions. Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) are expected to join the effort by providing various forms of financing support including equity stakes, loans and loan guarantees.
MUFG Chief Financial Officer Jun Togawa emphasized the need for caution, saying:
"We must be vigilant,"and adding that
"A sharp and sudden rise in long-term loans would be challenging from an NSFR perspective."The reference was to the Basel III Net Stable Funding Ratio, a regulatory measure designed to ensure banks maintain stable funding sources to offset illiquid or long-term assets.
Togawa declined to comment directly on Japan's U.S. investment commitments that form part of the trade agreement with Washington signed last year.
The NSFR is part of international regulatory reforms introduced after the 2008 financial crisis. It requires banks to hold stable funding - such as capital or long-term liabilities - against assets that are less liquid or have long maturities. Rapid expansion of long-term lending would therefore pose challenges to a bank's compliance with that standard.
Several potential deals connected to the investment package are reportedly under discussion and could be unveiled during Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's upcoming visit to U.S. President Donald Trump, according to unnamed sources last week.
Context and implications
- MUFG's comments underline the balance banks must strike between supporting government-backed international investment initiatives and maintaining regulatory funding metrics.
- State-backed agencies JBIC and NEXI are positioned to reduce private-sector funding pressure by offering equity, loans and guarantees.
- Announcements on specific deals may coincide with high-level diplomatic meetings between Japan and the United States.