Yuji Kusunoki

Rakuten Securities, Inc. (Private Equity) is the wholly-owned private equity subsidiary of Rakuten Securities, Inc., itself a subsidiary of Rakuten, Inc. (NJ: 4755), a leading Japanese Internet services group which began as an e-commerce specialist in 1997 and gradually diversified into activities such as travel agency, securities brokerage, credit, professional sports and telecommunications. Their corporate strategy revolves around integrating their various businesses into a seamless online customer offering of services and content. Rakuten Securities was formerly known as DLJdirect SFG Securities, Inc. before being acquired by the Rakuten group in 2003. They were originally established in 1999 as a joint venture between DLJdirect, Inc., a subsidiary of US-based Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (acquired by Credit Suisse in 2000), and Sumitomo Bank Ltd. The Rakuten group's financial business encompasses online securities brokerage, investment management, mortgages and insurance. They have had a strategic alliance with the eBANK group since 2008. In 2009 their securities arm was reorganized and Rakuten Securities Holdings, Inc. and Rakuten Strategic Partners, Inc. (engaged in buyout and private equity investing) were merged into Rakuten Securities. Rakuten Securities distributes Japanese-domiciled trust funds, some of them no-load products, as well as foreign exchange-traded funds including US and Chinese ETFs. The firm also offers on-line foreign currency margin trading through the Rakuten FX service.

Rakuten Securities, Inc. engages in the business of brokerage services. It products include spot trading, domestic Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) & Exchange-Traded Note (ETN), real estate investment trust, stock lending services, Initial Public Offering (IPO) shares, domestic and foreign bonds etc. The company was founded on March 24, 1999 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.