PROFESSIONALS

SENIOR ADVISER

MASAHITO AMANO

Career
1977-1981 Waseda University (B.A. degree in Law granted in March, 1981)
1982-1984 Legal Research and Training Institute, the Supreme Court of Japan
1984-1988 Nishimura & Sanada (currently Nishimura & Asahi (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)) law firm, practicing primarily international capital market, corporate finance and structured finance area (-1992)
1988-1989 Graduate School of Law, University of Washington (Seattle)
(LL.M. degree granted in June, 1989)
1990-1991 Hughes, Hubbard & Reed NY law office practicing general corporate law
1992 Joined Merrill Lynch Japan Securities
1996-2008 General Counsel of Merrill Lynch Japan Securities
2001-2009 Member of the Board of Directors of Merrill Lynch Japan Securities
2009-2019 Head of Legal, Bank of America Group, Japan (including Merrill Lynch Japan Securities)
2019 Masuda & Partners Law Office, Senior Adviser (-present)
 
Specialized Areas of Expertise
Equity Finance
M&A
Finance and SaaS Industrial Coverage
 
Main Professional Experience

・June, 2013 - December, 2018 Member of the Whole Sale Business Discussion Committee of Japan Securities Dealers Association
・September, 2009 - March, 2014 Visiting instructor, Graduate School of Finance, Accounting and Law, Waseda University
・September,2006-December,2006 Disclosure Working Group Member of FSA Financial Council
・September,2002-December 2002 TOB Rule Change Working Group Member FSA Financial Council

 
Major Works

“Corporate Finance from Legal Aspect”

 
Major Seminars

“Legal aspect of Corporate Defense Measures”
“Start-up Equity Financing-J-KISS”
“Start-up Equity Financing-Preferred Stocks”
”Legal Aspect of Equity Capital Markets”
”IPO from Legal Aspects”

 
Major Awards

・Contributed by providing legal support regarding documentation and regulatory aspects in order to further the establishment and development of Merrill Lynch/Bank of America’s investment banking and wholesale security businesses in Japan. My duties also included legal support and oversight of the execution of critical transactions related thereto, among other things, Equity and Equity Linked Capital Market (including IPOs, Privatizations, Global Add on Offerings, CB and Convertible Preferred Offerings), M&A Advisory (including advisory business for friendly, competing or raid defense M&A deals), Leveraged Financing, Securitization and Principal Investment.

・Involvement in Merrill Lynch/Bank of America’s own M&A, Strategic Alliance, Reorganization and other projects in Japan driven by its U.S. corporate strategy team including Consolidation of Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Japan Operations, Sale of Joint venture stakes in Private Banking Wealth Management business, Creation of Joint Venture as to Private Banking Wealth Management business with an alliance Mega Bank and Acquisition of Security Firm’s Retail business operations, resources and infrastructure.

・Contributed to corporate governance in Japan, including management and administration from legal aspect of the board of directors and shareholders meetings of local legal entities as well as participation in the board and local management and transaction vetting committees as a regular member.