Launch of a 'Data Sharing Platform' to Enhance Operational Efficiency Across the Asset Management and Administration Industry

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akihiko Ogino) and Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd. (Koto-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsushi Mochizuki) (collectively, "Daiwa Securities Group"), along with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Group CEO: Kazuya Oyama) and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Takahiro Yoneyama) (collectively, "Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group"), are aiming to reform the asset management industry as part of the government's "Asset Management Nation Realization Plan." As announced on March 21, 2025, in "Business Alliance between Daiwa Securities Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group in the Asset Management and Administration Fields - Accelerating Initiatives to Realize an Asset Management Nation (*1)," they are combining their strengths and expertise to achieve efficiency for the entire asset management industry.

Now, they have built and launched a "Data Sharing Platform" ("the Platform") for asset management companies to facilitate smooth information and data linkage between asset managers and trust banks. Currently, the linkage of information and data between these parties takes various different forms depending on the type. By using this Platform, it becomes possible to unify the methods of information and data linkage. The scope of information and data covered by the Platform will start with a partial application and gradually expand. This is expected to reduce the burden of middle and back-office operations for asset management companies. Furthermore, unifying data linkage methods is essential for realizing single-party calculation of investment trust net asset values, one of the long-standing challenges in the investment management industry, and the provision of this Platform is the first step toward that goal.

As the first user of this Platform, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited has signed a contract with Daiwa Asset Management Co. Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Kei Sano), a subsidiary of Daiwa Securities Group Inc. By expanding the number of asset management companies using this Platform in the future, they aim to unify and streamline information and data linkage for the entire industry.

By building a scheme that can be used and shared across the industry to promote the use of data, they believe that achieving single-party calculation and standardizing middle and back-office operations, including systems, will contribute to improving the operational efficiency of asset management companies and encouraging new entrants. Both groups will continue to bring together their respective expertise and contribute to the efficiency and development of the entire industry by combining this Platform, the IT solutions provided by Daiwa Securities Group to asset management companies, and the BPO services (*2) (JABIS® (*3)) provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group to asset management companies.

(*1) Refer to the news release dated March 21, 2025 (https://www.dir.co.jp/release/2025/2025032101.html)

(*2) BPO Service: Business Process Outsourcing service for middle and back-office operations for asset management companies.

(*3) JABIS®: A solution provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank for various challenges in the middle and back-office operations of asset management companies.

■ Positioning of the Data Sharing Platform in the Asset Management and Administration Domain

■ Scheme of the Data Sharing Platform