Metzler Bank expands its business in Japan with the founding of Metzler Japan Holdings Inc.

• On June 1, 2025, Metzler Bank founded Metzler Japan Holdings Inc. with headquarters in Tokyo
• This holding company aims to strengthen Metzler’s existing business in Japan and open up new opportunities, e.g. M&A and real estate advisory services
• With Claudius Thiell as new Managing Director, Metzler Corporate Finance aims to intensify activities in Japan and the Industrials sector 

The Metzler Group (‘Metzler’) is further expanding its activities in Japan: On 1 June 2025, the newly established Metzler Japan Holdings Inc. (‘MJH’) officially commenced operations. MJH enables closer integration with Metzler’s business areas and strengthens its operational presence in the Japanese market. It is headed by Nina Birke-Wiesheu, who took over as President & CEO on June 1, 2025. She has been Deputy President and CFO of Metzler Asset Management (Japan) Ltd. (“MAMJ”) since January of 2024.

Focus on asset management, M&A and real estate advisory

The founding of MJH marks another milestone in Metzler's long-term strategy for Japan and underscores the importance of the Japanese market – in asset management as well as M&A and real estate advisory. With MAMJ in Tokyo, Metzler has been active in asset management since 2001 and maintains close relationships with Japanese companies and investors, particularly in institutional asset management.

Another key objective of MJH is to expand its M&A-related client advisory services. In future, MJH will act as a local point of contact for Japanese companies and investors planning cross-border partnerships and transactions in Europe, particularly Germany. While the M&A team at Metzler Corporate Finance in Frankfurt, Germany, will continue to handle transaction implementation, MJH will take over local market analysis and support clients in the early stages of strategic projects. This combination of local market knowledge and international implementation expertise creates real added value.

Metzler Corporate Finance intensifies activities in Japan and the Industrials sector

By founding the holding company, Metzler Corporate Finance is expanding its sectoral and regional expertise. On June 1, 2025, Claudius Thiell (54) took over as Managing Director and thus assumed responsibility for expanding German-Japanese M&A advisory services. He will also support expansion of activities in the Industrials sector.

Mr. Thiell has many years of international experience in the M&A sector. Before joining Metzler, he had worked at Deloitte since 2012, where he provided support for industrial companies and cross-border transactions between Germany and Japan.

“With the establishment of Metzler Japan Holdings, we are laying the foundation for further growth and reaffirming our long-term commitment to the targeted development of both existing and new business areas in Japan. The similarities between the German and Japanese economic structures, particularly in the Industrials sector, make Japan a strategically important market for us,” says Gerhard Wiesheu, CEO at Metzler Bank.

"Our goal is to expand our position in asset management in the Japanese market. Since 2001, we have been offering Japanese clients global investment strategies and services from our Tokyo office – as an independent, trustworthy partner with several years of experience in asset management. The founding of Metzler Japan Holdings enables us to manage our local activities more efficiently – in the interests of our clients and in line with our growth targets," says Franz von Metzler, Member of the Executive Board at Metzler Bank and responsible for Metzler’s Asset Management division. 

"With Metzler Japan Holdings, we are laying the foundation for expanding on our many years of experience in advising Japanese companies on M&A transactions with German and European companies. The close ties between Japan and Germany offer great potential, particularly in the M&A segment. With our high-quality M&A advisory services, we want to serve as a reliable bridge builder. We are therefore delighted to welcome Claudius Thiell, a proven expert in the Industrials sector and for German-Japanese transactions," says Kim Comperl, Member of the Executive Board at Metzler Bank and responsible for Metzler’s Corporate Finance division.

Contact for press-related questions