CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title Of Each Class Of Securities To Be Registered		Maximum Aggregate Offering Price				Amount Of Registration Fee(1)
U.S.$2,000,000,000 1.402% Senior Notes due 2026		$         2,000,000,000				$          218,200
U.S.$2,000,000,000 1.902% Senior Notes due 2028		$         2,000,000,000				$          218,200
U.S.$1,000,000,000 2.222% Senior Notes due 2031		$         1,000,000,000				$          109,100

 

(1)	Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-228913

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated December 20, 2018)

 

 

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

(incorporated under the laws of Japan with limited liability)

U.S.$2,000,000,000 1.402% Senior Notes due 2026

U.S.$2,000,000,000 1.902% Senior Notes due 2028

U.S.$1,000,000,000 2.222% Senior Notes due 2031

 

 

We will issue an aggregate principal amount of U.S.$2,000,000,000 of senior notes due September 17, 2026, or the 5-year notes, an aggregate principal amount of U.S.$2,000,000,000 of senior notes due September 17, 2028, or the 7-year notes, and an aggregate principal amount of U.S.$1,000,000,000 of senior notes due September 17, 2031, or the 10-year notes, and together with the 5-year notes and the 7-year notes, the notes. The 5-year notes, the 7-year notes and the 10-year notes will bear interest commencing September 17, 2021, at an annual rate of 1.402%, 1.902% and 2.222%, respectively, payable semiannually in arrears on March 17 and September 17 of each year, beginning on March 17, 2022.

The notes will not be redeemable prior to maturity, except as set forth under “Description of the Notes—Redemption for Taxation Reasons,” and will not be subject to any sinking fund. The notes will be issued only in registered form in minimum denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof.

We have made an application to the Luxembourg Stock Exchange to list the notes on the official list of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and for such notes to be admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s Euro MTF Market. The Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s Euro MTF Market is not a regulated market for the purposes of Directive 2014/65/EU. This prospectus supplement constitutes a prospectus for purposes of Part IV of the Luxembourg law on prospectus securities dated July 16, 2019.

This prospectus supplement does not constitute a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”) as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “EUWA”).

Investing in the notes involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors” of our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement before making any decision to invest in the notes.

 

 

 

		Per 5-year note				Per 7-year note				Per 10-year note				Total
Public offering price(1)			100%				100%				100%			U.S.$	5,000,000,000
Underwriting commissions(2)			0.35%				0.40%				0.45%			U.S.$	19,500,000
Proceeds, before expenses, to SMFG(1)			99.65%				99.60%				99.55%			U.S.$	4,980,500,000

 

(1)	Plus accrued interest from September 17, 2021, if settlement occurs after that date.

(2)	For additional underwriting compensation information, see “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the related prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The notes of each series will be represented by one or more global certificates deposited with a custodian for, and registered in the name of a nominee of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. Beneficial interests in these global certificates will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants, including Euroclear Bank SA/NV, or Euroclear, and Clearstream Banking S.A., or Clearstream. Except as described in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, notes in definitive certificated form will not be issued in exchange for global certificates.

It is expected that the notes will be delivered in book-entry form only, through the facilities of DTC and its participants, including Euroclear and Clearstream, on or about September 17, 2021.

Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners

 

SMBC NIKKO		Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
BofA Securities		J.P. Morgan

Co-Managers

 

Barclays		Citigroup		Nomura

 

China Construction Bank (Asia)				Daiwa Capital Markets

HSBC		Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking		TD Securities

Prospectus Supplement dated September 13, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
Prospectus Supplement Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-10
Use of Proceeds			S-16
Capitalization and Indebtedness			S-17
Selected Financial and Other Information (IFRS)			S-19
Supplemental Financial and Other Information (Japanese GAAP)			S-21
Description of the Notes			S-28
Taxation			S-31
Benefit Plan Investor Considerations			S-38
Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)			S-40
Listing and General Information			S-47
Legal Matters			S-48
Incorporation By Reference			S-49

Prospectus

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			1
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			2
Risk Factors			3
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.			3
Capitalization and Indebtedness			4
Use of Proceeds			5
Description of the Debt Securities			6
Taxation			22
Benefit Plan Investor Considerations			22
Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)			24
Market-Making Activities			25
Experts			27
Legal Matters			27
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities			27
Where You Can Find More Information			27

 

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The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan, or the FIEA, and are subject to the Act on Special Measures Concerning Taxation of Japan, or the Special Taxation Measures Act. The notes may not be offered or sold in Japan, to any person resident in Japan, or to others for reoffering or resale directly or indirectly in Japan or to a person resident in Japan, for Japanese securities law purposes (including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and governmental guidelines of Japan. In addition, the notes are not, as part of the distribution by the underwriters under the applicable underwriting agreement at any time, to be directly or indirectly offered or sold to, or for the benefit of, any person other than a beneficial owner that is, (i) for Japanese tax purposes, neither an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a person having a special relationship with the issuer of the notes as described in Article 6, Paragraph (4) of the Special Taxation Measures Act, or a specially-related person of the issuer or (ii) a Japanese financial institution, designated in Article 6, Paragraph (11) of the Special Taxation Measures Act. Notwithstanding the aforementioned restriction, pursuant to the Special Taxation Measures Act, SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., each acting in its capacity as an underwriter, will be permitted to acquire or purchase, as part of the distribution under the underwriting agreement of the notes, the remainder of the notes from any of the other underwriters, where such other underwriter has failed to sell to subsequent purchasers all of the notes that it acquired or purchased from us in its capacity as an underwriter.

Interest payments on the notes will be subject to Japanese withholding tax unless it is established that the notes are held by or for the account of a beneficial owner that is (i) for Japanese tax purposes, neither an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a specially-related person of the issuer, (ii) a Japanese financial institution designated in Article 6, Paragraph (11) of the Special Taxation Measures Act which complies with the requirement for tax exemption under that paragraph or (iii) a Japanese public corporation, a Japanese financial institution or a Japanese financial instruments business operator described in Article 3-3, Paragraph (6) of the Special Taxation Measures Act which complies with the requirement for tax exemption under that paragraph.

Interest payments on the notes to an individual resident of Japan, to a Japanese corporation (except as described in the preceding paragraph), or to an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a specially-related person of the issuer will be subject to deduction in respect of Japanese income tax at a rate of 15.315% (15% on or after January 1, 2038) of the amount of such interest.

Representation by Investor upon Distribution

By subscribing to any notes, an investor will be deemed to have represented that it is a beneficial owner who is, (i) for Japanese tax purposes, neither an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a person having a special relationship with the issuer of the notes as described in Article 6, Paragraph (4) of the Special Taxation Measures Act or (ii) a Japanese financial institution, designated in Article 6, Paragraph (11) of the Special Taxation Measures Act.

PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA RETAIL INVESTORS—The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area, or the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended, or MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, or the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as

amended, or the PRIIPs Regulation, for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

 

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PROHIBITION OF SALES TO U.K. RETAIL INVESTORS— The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom, or the U.K. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended, or the FSMA, and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently no key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA, or the U.K. PRIIPs Regulation, for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the U.K. has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the U.K. may be unlawful under the U.K. PRIIPs Regulation.

NOTIFICATION UNDER SECTION 309B OF THE SFA—In connection with Section 309B of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, or the SFA, and the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 of Singapore, or the CMP Regulations 2018, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309(A)(1) of the SFA), that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the offering of the notes and also adds to, updates and changes information contained in the prospectus dated December 20, 2018 and filed with the SEC on the same date, and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. The second part is the above-mentioned prospectus, to which we refer as the “accompanying prospectus.” The accompanying prospectus contains a description of the senior and subordinated debt securities and gives more general information, some of which may not apply to the notes. If the description of the notes in this prospectus supplement differs from the description in the accompanying prospectus, the description in this prospectus supplement supersedes the description in the accompanying prospectus.

We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with any information other than that contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. “Incorporated by reference” means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. We are not responsible for, and can provide no assurance as to the accuracy of, any other information that any other person may give you. We are not making, nor are the underwriters making, an offer to sell the notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, including any information incorporated by reference herein or therein, is accurate as of any date other than its respective date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those respective dates.

Copies of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement as of the date of this prospectus supplement will be available free of charge at the offices of the trustee and on the website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu). This prospectus supplement may only be used for the purposes for which it has been published.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain in a number of places forward-looking statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations of our management with respect to the future results of operations and financial condition of us, SMBC and our respective group companies, including without limitation future loan loss provisions and financial support to borrowers. In many cases but not all, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “probability,” “project,” “risk,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements, which include statements contained in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Credit, Market and Other Risk” of our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risk factors described in this prospectus supplement. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described here as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended.

We have identified some of the risks inherent in forward-looking statements in “Item 3. Key Information— Risk Factors” of our most recent annual report on Form 20-F and in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement. Other factors could also adversely affect our results or the accuracy of forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement, and you should not consider these to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

The forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement are made only as of the dates on which such statements were made. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revision to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION

Our primary financial statements for SEC reporting purposes are prepared on an annual and semi-annual basis in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, while our financial statements for reporting in our jurisdiction of incorporation and Japanese bank regulatory purposes are prepared on an annual and quarterly basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Japan, or Japanese GAAP.

Financial information for us contained or incorporated by reference herein is presented in accordance with IFRS or Japanese GAAP, as specified herein or in the relevant document being incorporated by reference. Financial information for SMBC contained or incorporated by reference herein is presented in accordance with Japanese GAAP. See “Incorporation by Reference” for a list of documents being incorporated by reference herein.

IFRS and Japanese GAAP differ in certain respects from each other and from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, and in other countries. For a description of certain differences between IFRS and Japanese GAAP, see “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Reconciliation with Japanese GAAP” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. You should consult your own professional advisers for a more complete understanding of the differences between IFRS, Japanese GAAP, U.S. GAAP and the generally accepted accounting principles of other countries and how those differences might affect the financial information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

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In this prospectus supplement, where IFRS financial information is presented in millions, billions or trillions of yen or thousands, millions or billions of dollars, amounts of less than one thousand, one million, one billion or one trillion, as the case may be, have been rounded. Where Japanese GAAP financial information is presented in millions of yen or thousands or millions of dollars, amounts of less than one thousand or one million, as the case may be, have been truncated. Where Japanese GAAP financial information is presented in billions or trillions of yen or billions of dollars, amounts of less than one billion or one trillion, as the case may be, have been rounded, except for information of SMBC Nikko Securities Inc., or SMBC Nikko Securities, the amounts of which have been truncated. Accordingly, the total of each column of figures may not be equal to the total of the individual items. All percentages have been rounded to the nearest percent, one-tenth of one percent or one-hundredth of one percent, as the case may be, except for capital ratios, which have been truncated.

Unless otherwise specified or required by the context: references to “days” are to calendar days; references to “years” are to calendar years and to “fiscal years” are to our fiscal years ending on March 31; references to “$,” “U.S.$,” “dollars” and “U.S. dollars” are to United States dollars, references to “yen” and “¥” are to Japanese yen and references to “€” are to the euro, the currency of those member states of the European Union that are participating in the European Economic and Monetary Union pursuant to the Treaty on European Union. Unless otherwise specified, when converting currencies into yen we use Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s median exchange rates for buying and selling spot dollars, or other currencies, by telegraphic transfer against yen as determined at the end of the relevant fiscal period. Unless the context otherwise requires, “SMFG,” the “issuer,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. as well as to its subsidiaries. “SMBC” refers to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, which is one of our commercial banking subsidiaries, or to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as the context requires. References to “non-consolidated” information are to the financial information solely of SMBC. References to the “SMBC Group” are to us and our subsidiaries and affiliates taken as a whole.

In this prospectus supplement, all of our financial information is presented on a consolidated basis, unless we state otherwise.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in the notes involves risks. You should consider carefully the risks relating to the notes described below, as well as the other information presented in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before you decide whether to invest in the notes. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer, and the trading price and liquidity of the notes offered could decline, in which case you may lose all or part of your investment. The following does not describe all the risks of an investment in the notes. Prospective investors should consult their own financial and legal advisers about risks associated with investment in a particular series of notes and the suitability of investing in the notes in light of their particular circumstances.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the risks described below, elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors” of our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

Risks Related to the Notes

The notes will be structurally subordinated to indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

As a holding company, our assets consist primarily of equity in and loans to our subsidiaries, in particular SMBC, and our ability to make payments on the notes depends on our receipt of dividends, loan payments and other funds from such subsidiaries. If our subsidiaries’ financial conditions materially deteriorate, or under certain other conditions, we may not be able to receive such funds from our subsidiaries due to legal restrictions, including under the Banking Act of Japan, or the Banking Act, the Companies Act of Japan, or the Companies Act, and the Deposit Insurance Act or as a result of contractual obligations, including loss absorption requirements, applicable to such subsidiaries. Claims of holders of the notes will be structurally subordinated to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries. In addition, our right to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary (and thus the ability of holders of the notes to benefit as our creditors from such distribution) in bankruptcy, corporate reorganization, civil rehabilitation, liquidation or similar proceedings will be junior to creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that we may be recognized as a creditor of those subsidiaries in such proceedings. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries include substantial amounts of long-term debt, deposit liabilities of SMBC and other banking subsidiaries, short-term borrowings, obligations under derivative transactions, trade payables and lease obligations. As a result, holders of the notes may receive less than full payment in the event of our bankruptcy, corporate reorganization, civil rehabilitation, liquidation or similar proceeding, even though the claims of creditors of our subsidiaries may be satisfied in full.

The notes will be subject to loss absorption if we become subject to orderly resolution measures under the Deposit Insurance Act and Japanese insolvency laws. As a result, the value of the notes could be materially adversely affected, and holders of the notes may lose all or a portion of their investment.

In November 2015, the Financial Stability Board, or the FSB, published its final Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity standards, or the TLAC standards. The final TLAC standards define certain minimum requirements for instruments and liabilities so that if a global systemically important bank, or G-SIB, fails, it will have sufficient loss absorbing and recapitalization capacity available in resolution. For more information regarding the FSB’s final TLAC standards, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—4.B. Business Overview—Regulations in Japan—Regulations Regarding Capital Adequacy and Liquidity—Capital Adequacy Requirement” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein.

In March 2019, the FSA published its public ministerial announcements, regulatory guidelines and related documents for the implementation of the TLAC standards in Japan, which we refer to herein as the Japanese

 

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TLAC Standards. The Japanese TLAC Standards apply to Covered SIBs, which includes (i) Japanese G-SIBs, such as us, which are designated as G-SIBs by the FSA in accordance with the designation by the FSB, and (ii) any domestic systemically important bank in Japan, or Japanese D-SIB, that has been deemed to be in particular need for a cross-border resolution arrangement and as having particular systemic significance to the Japanese financial system if it fails. The Japanese TLAC Standards have applied to Japanese G-SIBs from March 31, 2019.

Under the FSB’s TLAC standards and the Japanese TLAC Standards, entities designated by the FSA as entities that would enter into domestic resolution proceedings for Japanese G-SIBs, or the Domestic Resolution Entities, are required:

 

•

to meet certain minimum external TLAC requirements (being at least 16% of their risk-weighted assets starting from March 31, 2019 and at least 18% of their risk-weighted assets starting from March 31, 2022 as well as at least 6% of their Basel III leverage ratio denominator starting from March 31, 2019 and at least 6.75% starting from March 31, 2022); and

 

•

to cause any material subsidiaries or material sub-groups in Japan designated as systemically important by the FSA, or any foreign subsidiaries that are subject to TLAC or similar requirements by the relevant foreign authorities, to maintain a certain level of capital and debt that is recognized as having loss-absorbing and recapitalization capacity, or internal TLAC.

In our case, the FSA designated SMFG as our Domestic Resolution Entity, which makes SMFG subject to the external TLAC requirements. The FSA also designated SMBC and SMBC Nikko Securities as our material subsidiaries in Japan, for which we are required to maintain a certain level of internal TLAC.

Under the Japanese TLAC Standards, unsecured senior debt issued by Japanese G-SIBs is not required to have any contractual write-down, write-off or conversion provisions in order to qualify as external TLAC instruments. In addition, unsecured senior debt issued by a Japanese G-SIB is not required to be contractually subordinated in order to qualify as external TLAC instruments, provided that the amount of excluded liabilities (as defined in the Japanese TLAC Standards) of such Japanese G-SIB which rank pari passu or junior to its unsecured senior liabilities does not exceed 5% of its external TLAC and the Japanese G-SIB’s creditors are recognized by the FSA as structurally subordinated to the creditors of its subsidiaries and affiliates. We intend for the notes to qualify as external TLAC instruments on the basis of, among other things, their structural subordination.

We expect to use the proceeds of the offering to extend unsecured loans to SMBC, which is designated as one of our material subsidiaries in Japan, as internal TLAC. In accordance with the Japanese TLAC Standards, these loans are required to be contractually subordinated to the excluded liabilities as defined in the Japanese TLAC Standards and have contractual loss absorption provisions that will act to discharge or extinguish the loans or convert them into SMBC’s ordinary shares upon a determination by the FSA that SMBC is non-viable due to material deterioration of its financial condition after recognizing that its liabilities exceed or are likely to exceed its assets, or that it has suspended or is likely to suspend payment of its obligations.

The notes are expected to be subject to potential losses through our liquidation pursuant to court-administered insolvency proceedings following the application of the orderly resolution powers under the Deposit Insurance Act. The Deposit Insurance Act, as amended in March 2014, provides the framework for resolving financial institutions, including financial holding companies, such as us, and operating banks. Such framework includes measures that may be applied to a financial institution prior to its failure, although there is no assurance that such measures would be applied in any given situation, and orderly resolution measures for financial institutions that have already failed or are likely to fail. In the FSA’s explanatory paper entitled “The FSA’s Approach to Introduce the TLAC Framework,” which was published in April 2016 and revised in April 2018, the FSA has identified Single Point of Entry, or SPE, resolution, in which resolution powers are applied to the ultimate holding company of a banking group by a single national resolution authority, as the preferred

 

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strategy for resolving currently designated G-SIBs in Japan. Under a possible model for SPE resolution of Japanese G-SIBs described in the Japanese TLAC Standards, if, with respect to a material subsidiary of a Japanese G-SIB that is designated as systemically important by the FSA, the FSA issues to the Domestic Resolution Entity of the Japanese G-SIB an order concerning the restoration of financial soundness, including recapitalization of, and restoration of liquidity to, such material subsidiary, such material subsidiary’s internal TLAC instruments will be written down or, if applicable, converted into common shares in accordance with the applicable contractual loss-absorption provisions of such internal TLAC instruments. The FSA may issue such an order pursuant to Article 52-33, Paragraph 1 of the Banking Act upon its determination that the material subsidiary is non-viable due to a material deterioration in its financial condition after recognizing that its liabilities exceed or are likely to exceed its assets, or that it has suspended or is likely to suspend payment of its obligations.

Following the write-down or conversion into common shares of internal TLAC instruments of the relevant material subsidiary, the relevant Domestic Resolution Entity’s liabilities may exceed its assets or it may suspend payment of its obligations. Under the Deposit Insurance Act, if the Prime Minister recognizes that liabilities of a financial institution, including a currently designated Domestic Resolution Entity, exceed or are likely to exceed its assets, or that it has suspended or is likely to suspend payment of its obligations and further recognizes that the failure of such financial institution may cause significant disruption in the financial markets or other financial systems in Japan, following deliberation by Japan’s Financial Crisis Response Council, the Prime Minister may confirm that “Specified Item 2 Measures (tokutei dai nigo sochi)” should be applied to such financial institution. Any such confirmation by the Prime Minister triggers the non-viability loss absorption provisions of Basel III Additional Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruments issued by the financial institution, causing such instruments to be written down or, if applicable, converted into common shares. The failed financial institution shall also be placed under special supervision by, or if the Prime Minister so orders, under special control of, the DIC, in which case, pursuant to Article 126-5 of the Deposit Insurance Act, the DIC would have broad authority to supervise or control the failed financial institution’s business, assets and/or liabilities, including the transfer of its systemically important assets and liabilities (which we expect in the case of our orderly resolution would include the shares of SMBC and other of our material subsidiaries based on the Japanese TLAC Standards) to a bridge financial institution established as a subsidiary of the DIC or such other financial institution as the DIC may determine, the repayment of certain of its liabilities and ultimately the initiation of court-administered insolvency proceedings with respect to such financial institution, in each case in accordance with the Deposit Insurance Act and other relevant laws. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—4.B. Business Overview—Regulations in Japan—Regulations for Stabilizing the Financial System—Deposit Insurance System” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein. In addition, to facilitate that transfer, the Prime Minister can designate certain assets that will be transferred to a bridge financial institution or to such other financial institution as part of our orderly resolution to be subject to a prohibition on attachment pursuant to Article 126-16 of the Deposit Insurance Act.

To facilitate our orderly resolution under the Deposit Insurance Act and Japanese insolvency proceedings, each holder and the trustee acknowledge, consent and agree (a) for a period of 30 days from and including the date upon which the Prime Minister confirms that Specified Item 2 Measures (tokutei dai nigo sochi) should be applied to us, not to initiate any action to attach any assets, the attachment of which has been prohibited by designation of the Prime Minister pursuant to Article 126-16 of the Deposit Insurance Act (or any successor provision thereto) and (b) to any transfer of our assets (including shares of our subsidiaries) or liabilities, or any portions thereof, with permission of a Japanese court in accordance with Article 126-13 of the Deposit Insurance Act (or any successor provision thereto), including any such transfer made pursuant to the authority of the DIC to represent and manage and dispose of our assets under Article 126-5 of the Deposit Insurance Act (or any successor provision thereto). The above permission may be granted by a Japanese court in accordance with the Deposit Insurance Act if (i) we are under special supervision by, or under special control of, the DIC pursuant to the Deposit Insurance Act and (ii) our liabilities exceed or are likely to exceed our assets, or we have suspended or are likely to suspend payment of our obligations.

 

S-12

If we become subject to orderly resolution procedures under the Deposit Insurance Act, there can be no assurance that the exercise of measures available to the Prime Minister, the DIC or the Japanese courts to prevent disruption to financial markets or other financial systems in Japan would not adversely affect the rights of holders of the notes or the value of any holder’s investment in the notes. For example, if the shares of our subsidiaries are transferred to a bridge financial institution or such other financial institution as determined by the DIC, we would only be entitled to receive consideration representing the fair value of such shares, which could be significantly less than the book value of such shares. As a result, the recovery value of our residual assets in court-administered insolvency proceedings after the exercise of orderly resolution measures by the DIC may not be sufficient to fully satisfy our liabilities, including our obligations under the notes. In addition, the value of assets subject to a prohibition of attachment may decline while such prohibition is in effect, and following such period, holders will be unable to attach any assets that have been transferred to a bridge financial institution or such other financial institution as part of our orderly resolution.

The circumstances surrounding or triggering orderly resolution are unpredictable.

The occurrence of orderly resolution under the Deposit Insurance Act is inherently unpredictable and depends on a number of factors that may be beyond our control. Under the current framework, the commencement of the orderly resolution process is dependent upon, among other things, a determination by the Prime Minister, following deliberation by Japan’s Financial Crisis Response Council, regarding our viability, or the viability of one or more of our subsidiaries, and the risk that any failure may cause significant disruption in the financial markets or other financial systems in Japan. Under the Japanese TLAC Standards, as a possible model of a resolution of Japanese G-SIBs under the SPE resolution strategy, the application of Specified Item 2 Measures (tokutei dai nigo sochi) to us may result from, among other things, a loan that we extended to, or an investment we made in, or any other internal TLAC of, SMBC or any of our other material subsidiaries that are designated as systemically important by the FSA or that are subject to TLAC requirements or similar requirements by the relevant foreign authorities, being subjected to loss absorption before the failure of such subsidiary, pursuant to the terms of such loan or investment or other internal TLAC or in accordance with applicable laws or regulations then in effect. However, according to the Japanese TLAC Standards, the actual measures to be taken with respect to a Japanese G-SIB shall be determined by the relevant authorities on a case-by-case basis after taking into consideration the Japanese G-SIB’s actual condition. In addition, the application of orderly resolution measures under the Deposit Insurance Act is untested and will be subject to interpretation and application by the relevant regulatory and supervisory authorities in Japan. Moreover, it is uncertain how the relevant authorities would determine that our liabilities exceed or are likely to exceed our assets, or we have suspended or are likely to suspend payment of our obligations, which determination is required to commence an orderly resolution, and it is possible that particular circumstances that seem similar may result in different outcomes. Our creditors, including holders of the notes, may encounter difficulty in challenging the application of orderly resolution measures to us.

It may be difficult to predict when, if at all, we may become subject to orderly resolution. Accordingly, the market value of the notes may not necessarily be evaluated in a similar manner as other types of senior securities. Any indication that we are approaching circumstances that could result in us becoming subject to orderly resolution can be expected to have an adverse effect on the market price and liquidity of the notes.

The notes are unsecured obligations.

The notes are unsecured obligations and repayment of the notes may be compromised if:

 

•

we enter into bankruptcy, corporate reorganization, civil rehabilitation, liquidation or similar proceeding;

 

•

we default in payment of any existing or future indebtedness; or

 

•

any of our existing or future indebtedness is accelerated.

If any of these events occurs then our assets may be insufficient to pay amounts due on the notes.

 

S-13

The Indenture and the notes do not restrict our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to pledge, dispose or securitize our assets, pay dividends, incur indebtedness or issue or repurchase securities, and provide holders with limited protection in the event of a change in control and other actions we may take that could adversely impact your investment in the notes.

The Indenture and the notes do not contain any financial covenants or restrictions on our ability, or the ability of our subsidiaries, to pledge assets to secure any indebtedness, securitize assets, pay dividends on our shares of common stock, incur or assume additional indebtedness or other liabilities or repurchase our outstanding securities. These or other actions by us could adversely affect our ability to pay amounts due on the notes. In addition, the Indenture and the notes do not contain any covenants or other provisions that afford more than limited protection to holders of the notes in the event of a change in control.

There is no prior market for the notes and, if a market develops, it may not be liquid.

The notes are new securities which may not be widely distributed and for which there is currently no active trading market. Although we have made an application to the Luxembourg Stock Exchange to list the notes on the official list of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and for such notes to be admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s Euro MTF Market, there can be no assurance that any liquid market for the notes will ever develop or be maintained. The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the notes that they distribute. However, the underwriters have no obligation to make a market in the notes and they may stop at any time. Furthermore, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for the notes or the prices at which you will be able to sell your notes, if at all. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including:

 

•

prevailing interest rates;

 

•

our financial condition and results of operations;

 

•

the then-current ratings assigned to the notes;

 

•

the market for similar securities; and

 

•

general economic conditions.

Any trading market that develops would be affected by many factors independent of and in addition to the foregoing, including the time remaining to the maturity of the notes; the outstanding amount of the notes; and the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally.

In addition, in the event that our obligations in connection with maintaining the listing of the notes on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange become unduly burdensome, we may be entitled to, and may decide to, delist the notes from such securities exchange and seek an alternate listing for the notes on another securities exchange.

The ratings of the notes may change after issuance of the notes, and those changes may have an adverse effect on the market prices and liquidity of the notes.

The notes are expected to receive a credit rating from one or more credit rating agencies. Such ratings are limited in scope, and do not address all material risks relating to an investment in the notes, but reflect only the view of each rating agency at the time the rating is issued. There is no assurance that such credit ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that such ratings will not be lowered, suspended or withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies, if, in each rating agency’s judgment, circumstances so warrant. Ratings may be affected by a number of factors which can change over time, including the credit rating agency’s assessment of: the issuer’s strategy and management’s capability; the issuer’s financial condition including in respect of capital, funding and liquidity; competitive and economic conditions in the issuer’s key markets; the level of political support for the industries in which the issuer operates; and legal and regulatory frameworks affecting the issuer’s legal structure, business activities and the rights of its creditors. The credit rating agencies may also revise the

 

S-14

ratings methodologies applicable to issuers within a particular industry, or political or economic region. If credit rating agencies perceive there to be adverse changes in the factors affecting an issuer’s credit rating, including by virtue of changes to applicable ratings methodologies, the credit rating agencies may downgrade, suspend or withdraw the ratings assigned to an issuer and/or its securities.

A downgrade or potential downgrade in these ratings or the assignment of new ratings that are lower than existing ratings could reduce the number of potential investors in the notes and adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the notes. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the notes and may be subject to suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.

 

S-15

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds (after deducting underwriting commissions and estimated offering expenses) from the sale of the notes will be approximately $4,979 million. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to extend unsecured loans, intended to qualify as internal TLAC, to SMBC. SMBC intends to use the proceeds of the loans for general corporate purposes.

 

S-16

CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS

The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization and indebtedness presented in accordance with IFRS, as of March 31, 2021 and adjusted to give effect to the issuance of the notes but not adjusted for the concurrent issuance of the Concurrent Subordinated Notes. It should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, which are incorporated by reference herein.

 

		As of March 31, 2021
		Actual				As adjusted
		(Millions of yen)
Indebtedness:(1)
Borrowings
Unsubordinated borrowings		¥	17,565,291			¥	17,565,291
Subordinated borrowings			249,833				249,833
Liabilities associated with securitization transactions			1,227,590				1,227,590
Lease liabilities			380,641				380,641
Total borrowings			19,423,355				19,423,355
Debt securities in issue
Commercial paper			2,325,290				2,325,290
Unsubordinated bonds(2)			7,625,948				7,625,948
Subordinated bonds(2)			1,277,362				1,277,362
Bonds being issued(3)			—				553,550
Total debt securities in issue			11,228,600				11,782,150
Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss(4)			239,519				239,519
Total indebtedness(5)			30,891,474				31,445,024
Equity:
Capital stock			2,341,274				2,341,274
Capital surplus			722,595				722,595
Retained earnings			6,078,208				6,078,208
Treasury stock			(13,699	)			(13,699	)
Equity excluding other reserves			9,128,378				9,128,378
Other reserves			2,430,857				2,430,857
Equity attributable to shareholders of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.			11,559,235				11,559,235
Non-controlling interests			68,379				68,379
Equity attributable to other equity instruments holders			648,536				648,536
Total equity			12,276,150				12,276,150
Total capitalization and indebtedness(6)		¥	43,167,624			¥	43,721,174

 

(1)	Figures for indebtedness do not include contingent liabilities.

(2)

We and certain of our subsidiaries, including SMBC, regularly issue senior and subordinated debt securities in a variety of currencies and issuance formats, including debt securities of SMFG similar to the notes offered hereby and debt securities of SMBC under its Global Medium Term Notes Program, Euro Medium Term Note Programme and Covered Bond Programme. Issuances, redemptions and repurchases of debt securities from April 1, 2021 to the date hereof, other than the issuance of the notes, are not reflected in the table above.

(3)	Converted to Japanese yen based on the exchange rate of ¥110.71 = $1.00, which was SMBC’s median exchange rate quotation for buying and selling spot dollars by telegraphic transfer against yen on March 31, 2021.

 

S-17

(4)	Relates to certain debt securities issued by SMBC Group subsidiaries for which we adopted the fair value option.

(5)	48.4% of our total indebtedness was secured as of March 31, 2021.

(6)	Except as disclosed in this prospectus supplement, there has been no material change in our consolidated capitalization and indebtedness since March 31, 2021.

 

S-18

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION (IFRS)

The tables below set forth our selected consolidated financial information as of and for each of the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, which is derived from our audited annual consolidated financial statements as of and for the same periods, prepared in accordance with IFRS. Our annual IFRS consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021 are included in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on June 29, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

		Fiscal year ended March 31,
		2017				2018				2019(1)				2020(2)				2021(2)
		(Billions of yen, except per share data)
Consolidated income statement data:
Interest income		¥	1,900			¥	2,144			¥	2,406			¥	2,407			¥	1,780
Interest expense			541				772				1,137				1,091				397
Net interest income			1,360				1,372				1,269				1,316				1,383
Fee and commission income			1,066				1,131				1,102				1,147				1,174
Fee and commission expense			182				179				178				204				202
Net fee and commission income			885				952				923				943				973
Net trading income			184				270				320				134				238
Net income (loss) from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss			2				(1	)			55				(22	)			280
Net investment income			305				424				94				176				154
Other income			574				756				506				156				138
Total operating income			3,310				3,774				3,167				2,704				3,166
Impairment charges on financial assets			213				137				120				260				282
Net operating income			3,097				3,638				3,047				2,444				2,883
General and administrative expenses			1,714				1,775				1,680				1,696				1,679
Other expenses			532				793				576				489				284
Operating expenses			2,246				2,568				2,255				2,185				1,963
Share of post-tax profit of associates and joint ventures			29				49				40				24				36
Profit before tax			880				1,119				832				283				956
Income tax expense			140				229				184				52				251
Net profit		¥	741			¥	890			¥	648			¥	231			¥	705
Profit attributable to:
Shareholders of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.		¥	628			¥	760			¥	542			¥	200			¥	687
Non-controlling interests			105				120				94				19				4
Other equity instruments holders			8				10				12				12				13
Earnings per share:
Basic		¥	458.56			¥	538.84			¥	387.76			¥	145.48			¥	501.73
Diluted			458.18				538.43				387.49				145.39				501.49
Weighted average number of common shares in issue (in thousands of shares)			1,369,231				1,410,442				1,397,599				1,375,118				1,370,214
Dividends per share in respect of each fiscal year:
Common stock		¥	150			¥	155			¥	175			¥	185			¥	195
		$	1.34			$	1.46			$	1.58			$	1.70			$	1.76

 

S-19

		As of March 31,
		2017				2018				2019(1)				2020(2)				2021(2)
		(Billions of yen)
Consolidated statement of financial position data:
Total assets		¥	191,151			¥	192,176			¥	195,504			¥	212,158			¥	235,025
Loans and advances			95,274				85,129				90,683				94,672				97,715
Total liabilities			179,264				179,680				183,730				201,224				222,749
Deposits			130,295				128,462				134,405				138,431				155,494
Borrowings			12,246				10,652				12,168				17,121				19,423
Debt securities in issue			11,166				10,569				11,171				10,985				11,229
Total equity			11,887				12,496				11,773				10,935				12,276
Capital stock			2,338				2,339				2,339				2,340				2,341

 

(1)	On April 1, 2018, we adopted IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” and IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” retrospectively by adjusting the consolidated statement of financial position at the date of initial application, and have not restated comparatives as permitted by IFRS 9 and IFRS 15.

(2)	On April 1, 2019, we adopted IFRS 16 “Leases” retrospectively by adjusting the consolidated statement of financial position at the date of initial application, and have not restated comparatives as permitted by IFRS 16.

From the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, premiums for deposit insurance have been reclassified from “General and administrative expense” to “Interest expense.” Prior year periods have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

S-20

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION (JAPANESE GAAP)

Supplemental Consolidated Information for SMFG

The tables below set forth our selected consolidated financial information as of and for each of the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, which is derived from our audited annual consolidated financial statements as of and for the same periods, prepared in accordance with Japanese GAAP, and our selected consolidated financial information as of June 30, 2021, and for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021, which is derived from our unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements as of and for the same periods, prepared in accordance with Japanese GAAP. An English translation of such unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements is included in our Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on August 19, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein. For a description of certain differences between IFRS and Japanese GAAP, see “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Reconciliation with Japanese GAAP” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of our operating results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 or for any other period.

 

		Fiscal year ended March 31,																				Three months ended June 30,
		2017				2018				2019				2020				2021				2020				2021
		(Billions of yen)
Consolidated income statement information:
Consolidated gross profit		¥	2,921			¥	2,981			¥	2,846			¥	2,769			¥	2,806			¥	678			¥	692
Net interest income			1,359				1,390				1,331				1,307				1,335				318				354
Trust fees			4				4				5				5				5				1				1
Net fees and commissions			1,013				1,067				1,060				1,083				1,094				230				273
Net trading income			237				246				191				263				200				69				66
Net other operating income			308				274				259				111				172				60				(2	)
General and administrative expenses			(1,812	)			(1,816	)			(1,715	)			(1,740	)			(1,747	)			(421	)			(438	)
Equity in gains (losses) of affiliates			25				39				61				56				25				4				13
Consolidated net business profit			1,133				1,204				1,192				1,085				1,084				261				267
Total credit cost			(164	)			(94	)			(110	)			(171	)			(361	)			(115	)			(10	)
Gains (losses) on stocks			55				119				116				80				93				(1	)			40
Other income (expenses)			(18	)			(64	)			(63	)			(63	)			(105	)			(28	)			(10	)
Ordinary profit			1,006				1,164				1,135				932				711				118				287
Extraordinary gains (losses)			(27	)			(55	)			(12	)			(43	)			(39	)			(1	)			(2	)
Income before income taxes			979				1,109				1,124				889				672				117				285
Income taxes			(171	)			(271	)			(331	)			(168	)			(156	)			(31	)			(80	)
Profit attributable to non-controlling interests			(102	)			(104	)			(65	)			(17	)			(3	)			0				(2	)
Profit attributable to owners of parent		¥	707			¥	734			¥	727			¥	704			¥	513			¥	86			¥	203

 

S-21

		As of March 31,																				As of June 30, 2021
		2017				2018				2019				2020				2021
		(Billions of yen, except percentages)
Consolidated balance sheet information:
Total assets		¥	197,792			¥	199,049			¥	203,659			¥	219,864			¥	242,584			¥	240,120
Loans and bills discounted			80,237				72,946				77,979				82,518				85,133				84,236
Reserve for possible loan losses(1)			(646	)			(536	)			(469	)			(479	)			(659	)			(632	)
Securities			24,632				25,713				24,338				27,129				36,549				35,920
Deposits (including negotiable certificates of deposit)			129,711				127,698				133,491				137,223				154,597				154,109
Net assets			11,234				11,613				11,452				10,785				11,899				12,020
NPL ratio(2)			1.00	%			0.78	%			0.76	%			0.68	%			0.98	%			0.93	%
Loan-to-deposit ratio			61.9	%			57.1	%			58.4	%			60.1	%			55.1	%			54.7	%

 

(1)

Reserve for possible loan losses includes a general reserve, a specific reserve and a reserve for specific overseas countries. “Loan losses” includes losses derived not only from loans but also from other claims to borrowers, including commitments to extend credit, guarantees and standby letters of credit.

(2)

Non-performing loan ratio, or NPL ratio, equals the aggregate amount of outstanding loans and credit-type assets classified as NPLs under the Act on Emergency Measures for the Revitalization of the Financial Functions of Japan, or the Financial Reconstruction Act, divided by the aggregate amount of all loans and credit-type assets subject to disclosure under the Financial Reconstruction Act.

 

S-22

Supplemental Non-Consolidated Information for SMBC

The tables below set forth selected non-consolidated financial information of SMBC as of and for each of the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, which is derived from SMBC’s audited annual non-consolidated financial statements as of and for the same periods, prepared in accordance with Japanese GAAP. The tables also set forth selected non-consolidated financial information of SMBC as of June 30, 2021, and for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021, which is derived from SMBC’s unaudited quarterly non-consolidated financial statements as of and for the same periods, prepared in accordance with Japanese GAAP. SMBC’s audited annual non-consolidated financial statements and unaudited quarterly non-consolidated financial statements are not included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

		Fiscal year ended March 31,
		2017				2018				2019				2020				2021
		(Billions of yen, except percentages)
Non-consolidated income analysis information:
Gross banking profit(1)		¥	1,664			¥	1,428			¥	1,396			¥	1,412			¥	1,482
Net interest income			1,139				957				944				878				936
Trust fees			2				2				2				2				2
Net fees and commissions			349				330				342				323				331
Net trading income (losses)			60				59				43				112				17
Net other operating income (expenses)			114				80				64				97				196
Net gains (losses) on bonds			44				12				3				74				80
Expenses(2)			(817	)			(811	)			(812	)			(808	)			(816	)
Personnel expenses			(332	)			(330	)			(325	)			(320	)			(327	)
Non-personnel expenses			(434	)			(432	)			(438	)			(438	)			(440	)
Taxes			(50	)			(49	)			(48	)			(50	)			(50	)
Banking profit (before provision for general reserve for possible loan losses)(3)			847				617				584				604				665
Total credit cost(4)			(61	)			27				2				(50	)			(243	)
Net gains (losses) on stocks			115				128				68				52				64
Other non-recurring gains (losses)			(37	)			(16	)			(5	)			(122	)			(50	)
Ordinary profit			864				755				650				484				436
Net income			682				577				477				317				338
Non-consolidated other financial information:
Interest rate earned on domestic loans and bills discounted			1.05	%			0.98	%			0.94	%			0.91	%			0.84	%
Interest rate paid on domestic deposits, etc.			0.01	%			0.00	%			0.00	%			0.00	%			0.00	%
Interest spread(5)			1.04	%			0.98	%			0.94	%			0.91	%			0.84	%
Overhead ratio(6)			49.1	%			56.8	%			58.2	%			57.2	%			55.1	%

 

S-23

		Three months ended June 30,
		2020				2021
		(Billions of yen, except percentages)
Non-consolidated income analysis information:
Gross banking profit(1)		¥	371			¥	349
Net interest income			210				236
Trust fees			0				0
Net fees and commissions			70				81
Net trading income (losses)			29				24
Net other operating income (expenses)			62				8
Net gains (losses) on bonds			64				10
Expenses(2)			(204	)			(208	)
Personnel expenses			(82	)			(82	)
Non-personnel expenses			(107	)			(111	)
Taxes			(14	)			(15	)
Banking profit (before provision for general reserve for possible loan losses)(3)			168				141
Total credit cost(4)			(72	)			14
Net gains (losses) on stocks			(2	)			39
Other non-recurring gains (losses)			(19	)			(20	)
Ordinary profit			74				174
Net income			53				117
Non-consolidated other financial information:
Interest rate earned on domestic loans and bills discounted			0.84	%			0.85	%
Interest rate paid on domestic deposits, etc.			0.00	%			0.00	%
Interest spread(5)			0.84	%			0.85	%
Overhead ratio(6)			54.9	%			59.6	%

 

(1)	Gross banking profit (gyoumu ararieki) is the sum of net interest income, trust fees, net fees and commissions, net trading income (losses) and net other operating income (expenses). The Banking Act requires Japanese banks to disclose gross banking profit on a non-consolidated basis.

(2)	Expenses do not include non-recurring losses (credit costs and losses on stocks, etc.).

(3)

Banking profit (before provision for general reserve for possible loan losses) (gyoumu jun-eki), a commonly used indicator of the profitability of banking operations among Japanese banks, is calculated as follows: net interest income + trust fees + net fees and commissions + net trading income (losses) + net other operating income (expenses) – general and administrative expenses on a non-consolidated basis.

(4)	Total credit cost = Provision for reserve for possible loan losses + Write-off of loans + Losses on sales of delinquent loans – Gains on reversal of reserve for possible loan losses – Recoveries of written-off claims.

(5)	Interest spread is the difference between the rate of the interest earned on average interest-earning assets and the rate of interest paid on average interest-bearing liabilities.

(6)	Overhead ratio is SMBC’s expenses divided by gross banking profit.

 

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		As of March 31,																				As of June 30, 2021
		2017				2018				2019				2020				2021
		(Billions of yen, except percentages)
Non-consolidated balance sheet information:
Total assets		¥	162,282			¥	170,923			¥	179,349			¥	193,964			¥	215,847				/
Loans and bills discounted			75,585				73,896				76,402				80,187				81,938			¥	81,052
Classified by type of loan:
Loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises, etc.(1)			34,083				33,700				32,995				33,095				33,528				/
Consumer loans			13,873				13,499				13,001				12,427				12,003				/
Housing loans			12,912				12,567				12,118				11,584				11,239				/
Classified by location:
Domestic offices (excluding offshore banking accounts)			54,503				53,208				53,967				54,613				56,909				55,971
Overseas offices and offshore banking accounts			21,082				20,688				22,434				25,574				25,028				25,081
Deposits (including negotiable certificates of deposit)			117,854				121,508				127,673				130,554				147,389				/
Loan-to-deposit ratio			64.1	%			60.8	%			59.8	%			61.4	%			55.6	%			/
Non-consolidated credit quality information:
NPLs(2)		¥	568			¥	436			¥	476			¥	429			¥	628			¥	600
NPL ratio(3)			0.65	%			0.51	%			0.54	%			0.46	%			0.65	%			0.63	%
Reserve ratio to unsecured assets(4)			63.76	%			69.49	%			66.62	%			66.81	%			57.91	%			/

 

(1)	Loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises, etc., represent a portion of all loans and bills discounted and include some consumer loans. Includes loans to individuals. Housing loans are a subset of consumer loans.

(2)	Loans, acceptances and guarantees, suspense payments and other credit-type assets are included in NPLs based on the Financial Reconstruction Act.

(3)	NPL ratio equals the aggregate amount of outstanding loans and credit-type assets classified as NPLs under the Financial Reconstruction Act divided by the aggregate amount of all loans and credit-type assets subject to disclosure under the Financial Reconstruction Act.

(4)	Reserve ratio to unsecured assets equals the sum of the specific reserve and the general reserve for substandard loans divided by the aggregate amount of unsecured loans classified as NPLs under the Financial Reconstruction Act.

 

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Capital Ratios

The table below sets forth the risk-weighted capital ratios, total capital, and risk-weighted assets, or RWA, for us on a consolidated basis as of March 31, 2020 and 2021, in each case under Japanese GAAP and based on the Basel III rules.

 

		As of March 31,								As of June 30, 2021
		2020				2021
		(Billions of yen, except percentages)
SMFG (consolidated):
Total risk-weighted capital ratio (consolidated)			18.75	%			18.61	%			18.19	%
Tier 1 risk-weighted capital ratio (consolidated)			16.63	%			16.96	%			16.76	%
Common Equity Tier 1 risk-weighted capital ratio (consolidated)			15.55	%			16.00	%			15.81	%
Total capital (Common Equity Tier 1 capital + Additional Tier 1 capital + Tier 2 capital)		¥	11,552.0			¥	12,289.3			¥	12,330.3
Tier 1 capital (Common Equity Tier 1 capital + Additional Tier 1 capital)			10,249.9				11,199.3				11,359.1
Common Equity Tier 1 capital			9,581.3				10,562.8				10,718.2
Risk-weighted assets			61,599.1				66,008.0				67,763.9
The amount of total minimum capital requirements(1)			4,927.9				5,280.6				5,421.1

 

(1)	The amount of total minimum capital requirements is calculated by multiplying RWA by 8%.

We have been managing our regulatory capital ratios by focusing on controlling our RWA while increasing profitability.

Other Supplementary Information

SMBC’s Bond Portfolio

SMBC’s bond portfolio is principally held for ALM purposes, with a small number of securities being held for inventory purposes for sales to customers. Most of SMBC’s bond portfolio is comprised of fixed-rate Japanese and local government bonds and high quality corporate bonds denominated in yen. On a non-consolidated basis, the approximate average duration of SMBC’s yen-denominated bond portfolio, including Japanese government bonds, or JGBs, but excluding private placement bonds, bonds held-to-maturity and bonds for which fair value hedge accounting is applied, was 2.5 years and 2.6 years as of March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively. Bonds are also held to enhance liquidity, and, when needed, they can be used as collateral for call money or other money market funding or short-term borrowing from the Bank of Japan, or the BOJ. Sales of bonds are made from time to time in order to recognize discretionary gains. SMBC’s Treasury Department actively monitors the interest rate and maturity profile of its bond portfolio as part of our overall risk management.

Operating Results of SMBC Nikko Securities

SMBC Nikko Securities, on a consolidated basis, prepared in accordance with Japanese GAAP, recorded net operating revenue of ¥316.0 billion, ordinary income of ¥49.8 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent of ¥39.2 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, net operating revenue of ¥357.9 billion, ordinary income of ¥90.7 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent of ¥71.7 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and net operating revenue of ¥88.2 billion, ordinary income of ¥20.8 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent of ¥14.6 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2021.

Operating Results of SMBC Consumer Finance

SMBC Consumer Finance, on a consolidated basis, prepared in accordance with Japanese GAAP, recorded operating income of ¥288.5 billion, ordinary profit of ¥60.5 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent of

 

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¥90.1 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, operating income of ¥273.5 billion, ordinary profit of ¥73.5 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent of ¥54.1 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and operating income of ¥67.4 billion, ordinary profit of ¥18.3 billion and profit attributable to owners of parent of ¥15.5 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The provision for interest repayment was ¥106.1 billion as of March 31, 2020, ¥100.8 billion and ¥93.5 billion as of March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively. There were approximately 17,300 and 4,100 customer claims for refunds for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The following description of the notes supplements and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of our senior debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Description of the Debt Securities.” It is important for you to consider the information contained in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus and any applicable pricing term sheet in making your investment decision with respect to the notes. Whenever a defined term is referred to but not defined in this section, the definition of that term is contained in the accompanying prospectus or in the Indenture.

General

The notes will constitute senior debt securities to be issued under a senior indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, dated as of March 9, 2016, or the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 16, 2019 between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture. The Indenture is qualified under the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Indenture is more fully described in the accompanying prospectus. Copies of the Indenture and any amendments or supplements thereto will be available at the offices of the trustee.

We will issue the notes in minimum denominations of $200,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes of each series will be represented by one or more registered notes in global form without coupons deposited with a custodian and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, in each case for credit to the accounts of direct and indirect participants, including Euroclear and Clearstream. In certain circumstances, the notes may be represented by definitive notes in certificated form. See “Description of the Debt Securities—Form, Book-entry and Transfer” in the accompanying prospectus.

The notes will not be redeemable prior to maturity, except as set forth below under “—Redemption for Taxation Reasons,” and will not be subject to any sinking fund.

In this section, the term “business day” means any day which is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York, London or Tokyo are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Each series of notes will constitute our direct, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated general obligations and will at all times rank pari passu without any preference among themselves and with all our other unsecured obligations, other than our subordinated obligations and except for statutorily preferred obligations.

We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our operations through our subsidiaries. As a result, claims of holders of the notes will be structurally subordinated to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries. In addition, our right to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary (and thus the ability of holders of the notes to benefit as our creditors from such distribution) in bankruptcy, corporate reorganization, civil rehabilitation, liquidation or similar proceedings will be junior to creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that we may be recognized as a creditor of those subsidiaries. In addition, various statutes and regulations may restrict our subsidiaries from paying dividends or making loans or advances to us, including the Banking Act, the Companies Act and the Deposit Insurance Act. The restrictions could prevent our subsidiaries from paying the cash to us that we need in order to make payments under the notes. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—The notes will be structurally subordinated to indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.”

Principal, Maturity and Interest for the Notes

We expect to issue one or more series of fixed rate notes with the initial aggregate principal amount(s) and maturity date(s) set forth in the applicable pricing term sheet and described on the cover page of this prospectus

 

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supplement and under “Prospectus Supplement Summary—The Offering.” Principal in respect of the notes will be repaid at maturity at a price of 100% of the principal amount.

Interest on the notes of each series will accrue at the rate per annum, and from the date, set forth in the applicable pricing term sheet and described on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and under “Prospectus Supplement Summary—The Offering.” We will pay interest on the notes of each series semiannually in arrears on the dates set forth in the applicable pricing term sheet and described on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and under “Prospectus Supplement Summary—The Offering,” to the persons in whose names the notes are registered as of the close of business on the fifteenth day before the due date for payment (whether or not a business day). Interest on the notes will be paid to but excluding the relevant interest payment date. We will compute interest on the notes on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. We will pay the principal of and interest on the notes in U.S. dollars or in such other coin or currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

If any payment is due on the notes on a day that is not a business day, we will make payment on the date that is the next succeeding business day. Payments postponed to the next succeeding business day in this situation will be treated as if they were made on the original due date. Postponement of this kind will not result in a default under the notes, and no interest will accrue on the postponed amount from the original due date to the next succeeding business day.

All payments in respect of the notes will be subject in all cases to any applicable fiscal laws or other laws and regulations, and, except as described in “Description of the Debt Securities—Taxation and Additional Amounts” in the accompanying prospectus, no additional amounts will be payable as a result of the withholding or deduction of any taxes or duties of whatever nature imposed or levied as a result of such laws or regulations.

Redemption for Taxation Reasons

The notes of each series may be redeemed at our option, in whole, but not in part, at any time, subject to prior confirmation of the FSA (if such confirmation is required under applicable Japanese laws or regulations then in effect), on giving not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ notice of redemption to the holders (which notice shall be irrevocable and shall conform to all requirements with respect to such notice as set forth in the Indenture) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such notes together with accrued and unpaid interest to (but excluding) the date fixed for redemption and any additional amounts thereon, if we have been or will become obliged to pay additional amounts with respect to such series as described in “Description of the Debt Securities—Taxation and Additional Amounts” in the accompanying prospectus as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of Japan or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or therein having power to tax, or any change in application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the original issuance date of the notes of such series and such obligation cannot be avoided by the taking of reasonable measures available to us; provided, that no such notice of redemption shall be given sooner than ninety (90) days prior to the earliest date on which we would be obliged to pay such additional amounts were a payment then due in respect of such notes. Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to this paragraph, we shall deliver to the trustee a certificate signed by an authorized officer stating that the conditions precedent to our right to so redeem have been fulfilled and an opinion of independent legal or tax advisor of recognized standing to the effect that we have become or will be obliged to pay such additional amounts as a result of such change or amendment.

Events of Default and Remedies

An event of default with respect to the notes of a series is any one or more of the following events having occurred and continuing to exist:

 

•

Default shall be made for more than 30 days in the payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest in respect of any of the notes of such series;

 

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•

We shall have defaulted in the performance or observance of any covenant, condition or provision contained in the notes of such series or in the Indenture in respect of the notes of such series for a period of 90 days after written notification requesting such default to be remedied by us shall first have been given to us by the trustee or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding notes of such series; or

 

•

Except for the purposes of or pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or reconstruction under which the continuing corporation or other person, or the corporation or other person formed as a result thereof, effectively assumes our entire obligations under the Indenture in relation to the notes of such series: (a) a decree or order by any court having jurisdiction shall have been issued adjudging us bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking our reorganization or liquidation under bankruptcy, civil rehabilitation, reorganization or insolvency law of Japan, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 days, or a final and non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction shall have been made for our winding up or dissolution or (b) we shall have initiated or consented to proceedings relating to ourselves under bankruptcy, civil rehabilitation, reorganization or insolvency law of Japan, or an effective resolution shall have been passed by us for our winding up or dissolution.

The events of default applicable to senior debt securities issued by us prior to March 31, 2019 (the “Pre-2019 Senior Debt”) provide for a 15-day cure period with respect to any failure by us to pay the principal and premium, if any, of any series of such Pre-2019 Senior Debt. In response to the Japanese TLAC Standards, which came into effect on March 31, 2019, we have modified the events of default applicable to the notes to provide for a 30-day cure period in the event of a principal or premium default. Accordingly, holders of the notes would not be entitled to accelerate their notes until after the expiration of a 30-day cure period, as compared to a 15-day cure period for holders of Pre-2019 Senior Debt, in the event that we fail to pay the principal and premium, if any, on the relevant series of notes when due.

The Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York with limited liability, will be the trustee for the notes. The trustee may, subject to certain conditions, act as trustee for other securities issued by us or by our affiliates.

Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar

The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York with limited liability, will initially act as paying agent, transfer agent and registrar for each series of the notes. We may change the paying agent, transfer agent or registrar without prior notice to holders of the notes, and we or any of our subsidiaries may act as paying agent, transfer agent or registrar.

Governing Law

The notes will be, and the Indenture is, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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TAXATION

Japanese Taxation

The following is a general description of certain aspects of Japanese taxation applicable to the notes. It does not purport to be a comprehensive description of the tax aspects of the notes. Prospective purchasers should note that, although the general tax information on Japanese taxation is described hereunder for convenience, the statements below are general in nature and not exhaustive.

Prospective purchasers are advised to consult their own legal, tax, accountancy or other professional advisers in order to ascertain their particular circumstances regarding taxation. The statements below are based on current tax laws and regulations in Japan and current income tax treaties executed by Japan all as in effect on the date of this prospectus supplement and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). Neither such statements nor any other statements in this document are to be regarded as advice on the tax position of any beneficial owner of the notes or any person purchasing, selling or otherwise dealing in the notes or any tax implication arising from the purchase, sale or other dealings in respect of the notes.

The Notes

The notes do not fall under the concept of so-called “taxable linked bonds” as described in Article 6, Paragraph (4) of the Special Taxation Measures Act, i.e., bonds of which the amount of interest is to be calculated by reference to certain indexes (as prescribed by the Cabinet Order No. 43 of 1957, as amended, or the Cabinet Order, under the Special Taxation Measures Act) relating to the issuer of the notes or a specially-related person of the issuer.

Representation by Investor upon Distribution

By subscribing to the notes, an investor will be deemed to have represented that it is a beneficial owner that is, (i) for Japanese tax purposes, neither an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a specially-related person of the issuer or (ii) a Designated Financial Institution, as defined below. The notes are not as part of the distribution by the underwriters under the applicable underwriting agreement at any time to be directly or indirectly offered or sold to, or for the benefit of, any person other than a beneficial owner that is described in (i) or (ii) above, except as specifically permitted under the Special Taxation Measures Act.

Interest Payments on Notes and Redemption Gain

The following description of Japanese taxation (limited to national taxes) applies exclusively to interest on the notes and the redemption gain, meaning any positive difference between the acquisition price of the interest-bearing notes of the holder and the amount which the holder receives upon redemption of such interest-bearing notes, or the Redemption Gain, where such notes are issued outside Japan and payable outside Japan. In addition, the following description assumes that only global notes are issued for the notes, and no definitive notes and coupons that are independently traded are issued, in which case different tax consequences may apply. It is not intended to be exhaustive and prospective purchasers are recommended to consult their tax advisers as to their exact tax position.

1. Non-resident Investors

If the recipient of interest on the notes or of the Redemption Gain with respect to interest-bearing notes is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation for Japanese tax purposes, as described below, the Japanese tax consequences on such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation are

 

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significantly different depending upon whether such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation is a specially-related person of the issuer. Most importantly, if such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation is a specially-related person of the issuer, income tax at the rate of 15.315% of the amount of such interest will be withheld by the issuer of the notes under Japanese tax law.

1.1. Interest

(1) If the recipient of interest on the notes is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation having no permanent establishment within Japan or having a permanent establishment within Japan but where the receipt of the interest on the notes is not attributable to the business of such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation carried on within Japan through such permanent establishment, no Japanese income tax or corporate tax is payable with respect to such interest whether by way of withholding or otherwise, if certain requirements are complied with, inter alia:

(i) if the relevant notes are held through certain participants in an international clearing organization such as DTC or certain financial intermediaries prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act and the Cabinet Order (each such participant or financial intermediary, a Participant), the requirement that such recipient provide, at the time of entrusting a Participant with the custody of the relevant notes, certain information prescribed by the Cabinet Order together with the Special Taxation Measures Act and the ministerial ordinance and other regulations thereunder, or the Act, to enable the Participant to establish that the recipient is exempt from the requirement for Japanese tax to be withheld or deducted, or the Interest Recipient Information, and advise the Participant if such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation ceases to be so exempted (including the case where it became a specially-related person of the issuer), and that the issuer of the notes prepare and file a certain confirmation prescribed by the Act, or the Interest Recipient Confirmation, in a timely manner based upon the Interest Recipient Information communicated through the Participant and the relevant international clearing organization; and

(ii) if the relevant notes are not held by a Participant, the requirement that such recipient submit to the relevant paying agent a written application for tax exemption (hikazei tekiyo shinkokusho), or the Written Application for Tax Exemption, together with certain documentary evidence, and that the issuer of the notes file the Written Application for Tax Exemption so received with the competent local tax office in a timely manner.

Failure to comply with such requirements described above (including the case where the Interest Recipient Information is not duly communicated as required under the Act) will result in the withholding by the issuer of the notes of income tax at the rate of 15.315% of the amount of such interest.

(2) If the recipient of interest on the notes is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation having a permanent establishment within Japan and the receipt of interest is attributable to the business of such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation carried on within Japan through such permanent establishment, such interest will not be subject to a 15.315% withholding tax by the issuer of the notes, if the requirements concerning the Interest Recipient Information and the Interest Recipient Confirmation or the Written Application for Tax Exemption as set out in paragraph 1.1(1) above are complied with. Failure to do so will result in the withholding by the issuer of the notes of income tax at the rate of 15.315% of the amount of such interest. The amount of such interest will be subject to regular income tax or corporate tax, as appropriate.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs 1.1(1) and (2), if an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation mentioned above is a person who has a special relationship with the issuer of the notes (that is, in general terms, a person who directly or indirectly controls or is directly or indirectly controlled by, or is under direct or indirect common control with, the issuer of the notes) within the meaning prescribed by the Cabinet Order under Article 6, Paragraph (4) of the Special Taxation Measures Act (such person is referred to as a specially-related person of the issuer) as of the beginning of the fiscal year of the issuer of the notes in which the

 

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relevant interest payment date falls, the exemption from Japanese withholding tax on interest mentioned above will not apply, and income tax at the rate of 15.315% of the amount of such interest will be withheld by the issuer of the notes. If such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation has a permanent establishment within Japan, regular income tax or corporate tax, as appropriate, collected otherwise than by way of withholding, could apply to such interest under Japanese tax law.

(4) If an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation (regardless of whether it is a specially-related person of the issuer) is subject to Japanese withholding tax with respect to interest on the notes under Japanese tax law, a reduced rate of withholding tax or exemption from such withholding tax may be available under the relevant income tax treaty between Japan and the country of tax residence of such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, Japan has income tax treaties, conventions or agreements whereby the above-mentioned withholding tax rate is reduced, generally to 10% with, inter alia, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain (for interest due and payable on or before December 31, 2021) and Switzerland. Under the tax treaties between Japan and the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Belgium or Sweden, interest paid to qualified United States, United Kingdom, Danish, German, Austrian, Belgian or Swedish residents is generally exempt from Japanese withholding tax (for Belgium, only for a Belgian enterprise). Japan has also signed amendments to the existing tax treaties with Spain and Switzerland generally exempting interest from Japanese withholding tax, and the amendment with Spain will apply to interest due and payable on or after January 1, 2022 while the amendment with Switzerland has not yet entered into force. Under the current income tax treaties between Japan and France, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand or Switzerland, certain limited categories of qualified French, Australian, Dutch, New Zealand or Swiss residents receiving interest on the notes may, subject to compliance with certain procedural requirements under Japanese law, be fully exempt from Japanese withholding tax on payments of interest on the notes (provided that no exemption will apply to pension funds in the case of Australia and New Zealand). In order to avail themselves of such reduced rate of, or exemption from, Japanese withholding tax under any applicable income tax treaty, individual non-residents of Japan or non-Japanese corporations which are entitled, under any applicable income tax treaty, to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, Japanese withholding tax on payment of interest by the issuer of the relevant notes are required to submit an Application Form for Income Tax Convention regarding Relief from Japanese Income Tax and Special Income Tax for Reconstruction on Interest (as well as any other required forms and documents) in advance through the issuer of the relevant notes to the relevant tax authority before payment of interest.

(5) Under the Act, if an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that is a beneficial owner of the notes becomes a specially-related person of the issuer, or an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that is a specially-related person of the issuer becomes a beneficial owner of the notes, and, if such notes are held through a Participant, then such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation should notify the Participant of such change in status by the immediately following interest payment date of the notes. As described in paragraph 1.1(3) above, as the status of such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation as a specially-related person of the issuer for Japanese withholding tax purposes is determined based on the status as of the beginning of the fiscal year of the issuer in which the relevant interest payment date falls, such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation should, by such notification, identify and advise the Participant of the specific interest payment date on which Japanese withholding tax starts to apply with respect to such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation as being a specially-related person of the issuer.

1.2. Redemption Gain

(1) If the recipient of the Redemption Gain is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation having no permanent establishment within Japan or having a permanent establishment within Japan but where the receipt of such Redemption Gain is not attributable to the business of such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation carried on within Japan through such permanent establishment, no income tax or corporate tax is payable by way of withholding or otherwise with respect to such Redemption Gain.

 

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(2) If the recipient of the Redemption Gain is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation having a permanent establishment within Japan and the receipt of such Redemption Gain is attributable to the business of such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation carried on within Japan through such permanent establishment, such Redemption Gain will not be subject to any withholding tax but will be subject to regular income tax or corporate tax, as appropriate.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs 1.2(1) and (2), if an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation mentioned above is a specially-related person of the issuer as of the beginning of the fiscal year of the issuer of the notes in which such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation acquired such notes, the Redemption Gain will not be subject to withholding tax but will be subject to regular income tax or corporate tax, as appropriate, under Japanese tax law, regardless of whether such individual non-resident of Japan or non-Japanese corporation has a permanent establishment within Japan; provided that an exemption may be available under the relevant income tax treaty.

2. Resident Investors

If the recipient of interest on the notes is an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation for Japanese tax purposes, as described below, regardless of whether such recipient is a specially-related person of the issuer, in addition to any applicable local tax, income tax will be withheld at the rate of 15.315% of the amount of such interest, if such interest is paid to an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation (except for (i) a Designated Financial Institution which complies with the requirement for tax exemption under Article 6, Paragraph (11) of the Special Taxation Measures Act, or (ii) a Public Corporation, etc., as defined below, or a Specified Financial Institution, as defined below, to which such interest is paid through the Japanese Custodian, as defined below, in compliance with the requirement for tax exemption under Article 3-3, Paragraph (6) of the Special Taxation Measures Act.) In addition to the withholding tax consequences upon resident investors as explained in this section 2, resident investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding income tax or corporate tax consequences otherwise than by way of withholding, bearing in mind, especially for individual residents of Japan, the change to the taxation regime of bonds which took effect on January 1, 2016.

2.1. Interest

(1) If an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation (other than a Specified Financial Institution or a Public Corporation etc. who complies with the requirement as referred to in paragraph 2.1(2)) receives payments of interest on the notes through certain Japanese payment handling agents, each a Japanese Payment Handling Agent, income tax at the rate of 15.315% of the amount of such interest will be withheld by the Japanese Payment Handling Agent rather than by the issuer of the notes. As the issuer of the notes is not in a position to know in advance the recipient’s status, the recipient of interest falling within this category should inform the issuer of the notes through a paying agent of its status in a timely manner. Failure to so inform may result in double withholding.

(2) If the recipient of interest on the notes is a Japanese public corporation or a Japanese public-interest corporation designated by the relevant law, or a Public Corporation etc., or a Japanese bank, a Japanese insurance company, a Japanese financial instruments business operator or other Japanese financial institution falling under certain categories prescribed by the relevant Cabinet Order under Article 3-3, Paragraph (6) of the Special Taxation Measures Act, each, a Specified Financial Institution, that keeps its notes deposited with, and receives the interest through, a Japanese Payment Handling Agent with custody of the notes, or the Japanese Custodian, and such recipient submits through such Japanese Custodian to the competent tax authority the report prescribed by the Act, no withholding tax is levied on such interest. However, since the issuer of the notes is not in a position to know in advance the recipient’s such tax exemption status, the recipient of interest falling within this category should inform the issuer of the notes through a paying agent of its status in a timely manner. Failure to so notify the issuer of the notes may result in the withholding by the issuer of the notes of a 15.315% income tax.

 

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(3) If an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation (except for a Designated Financial Institution which complies with the requirements described in paragraph 2.1(4)) receives interest on the notes not through a Japanese Payment Handling Agent, income tax at the rate of 15.315% of the amount of such interest will be withheld by the issuer of the notes.

(4) If a Japanese bank, a Japanese insurance company, a Japanese financial instruments business operator or other Japanese financial institution falling under certain categories prescribed by the Cabinet Order under Article 6, Paragraph (11) of the Special Taxation Measures Act, each, a Designated Financial Institution, receives interest on the notes not through a Japanese Payment Handling Agent and the requirements concerning the Interest Recipient Information and the Interest Recipient Confirmation or the Written Application for Tax Exemption as referred to in paragraph 1.1(1) above are complied with, no withholding tax will be imposed.

2.2. Redemption Gain

If the recipient of the Redemption Gain is an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, such Redemption Gain will not be subject to any withholding tax.

3. Special Additional Tax for Reconstruction from the Earthquake

Due to the imposition of a special additional withholding tax of 0.315% (or 2.1% of 15%) to secure funds for reconstruction from the earthquake of March 11, 2011, the withholding tax rate has been effectively increased to 15.315% during the period beginning on January 1, 2013 and ending on December 31, 2037. On or after January 1, 2038, all references to the tax rate of 15.315% in the foregoing descriptions will read 15%. There is also certain special additional tax imposed upon regular income tax due otherwise than by way of withholding for individual non-residents of Japan, as referred to in the foregoing descriptions, for the period mentioned above.

Capital Gains, Stamp Tax and Other Similar Taxes, Inheritance and Gift Taxes

Gains derived from the sale of notes outside Japan by an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation having no permanent establishment within Japan are, in general, not subject to Japanese income tax or corporate tax.

No stamp, issue, registration or similar taxes or duties will, under current Japanese law, be payable in Japan by noteholders in connection with the issue of the notes, nor will such taxes be payable by noteholders in connection with their transfer if such transfer takes place outside Japan.

Japanese inheritance tax or gift tax at progressive rates may be payable by an individual, wherever resident, who has acquired notes from another individual as legatee, heir or donee.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following is a description of material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the notes by the U.S. Holders described below, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to acquire notes. This discussion applies to you only if you are a U.S. Holder who purchases notes of any series pursuant to this offering at the “issue price,” which is the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes of that series is sold to the public (not including bond houses, brokers or similar persons acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers), and who holds the notes as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This discussion does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances, including the possible effect of the special tax accounting rules under Section 451 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, alternative minimum tax and Medicare contribution tax consequences and differing tax consequences that may be applicable to you if you are, for instance:

 

•

a financial institution;

 

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•

an insurance company;

 

•

a regulated investment company;

 

•

a dealer or trader in securities that uses a mark-to-market method of tax accounting;

 

•

holding notes as part of a “straddle” or integrated transaction;

 

•

a person whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

•

holding notes in connection with a trade or business conducted outside the United States;

 

•

a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership) for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or

 

•

a tax-exempt entity.

If you are a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of your partners will generally depend on the status of the partners and your activities. If you are a partnership owning notes or a partner in such partnership, you should consult your tax adviser as to your particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the notes.

This summary is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and Treasury regulations, and the income tax treaty between the United States and Japan, or the Treaty, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus supplement may affect the tax consequences described herein, potentially with retroactive effect. This summary does not address any state, local or non-U.S. tax considerations, or any U.S. federal tax consequences (including estate or gift taxes) other than U.S. federal income tax consequences.

If you are considering the purchase of notes, you should consult your tax adviser with regard to the application of the U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

You are a U.S. Holder if for U.S. federal income tax purposes you are a beneficial owner of a note and are:

 

•

a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

•

a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or

 

•

an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

Interest

It is expected, and therefore this discussion assumes, that the notes will be issued without original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Interest paid on a note will be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time it accrues or is received, in accordance with your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The amount of interest taxable as ordinary income will include amounts, if any, withheld in respect of Japanese taxes and any additional amounts paid with respect thereto as described under “Description of the Debt Securities—Taxation and Additional Amounts” in the accompanying prospectus. See “—Japanese Taxation—The Notes—Interest Payments on Notes and Redemption Gain—1. Non-resident Investors” for a discussion of the requirements for obtaining an exemption from Japanese withholding tax.

Interest will constitute foreign-source income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and will constitute either “passive category income” or “general category income” for foreign tax credit purposes. Subject to applicable limitations, some of which vary depending upon your particular circumstances, Japanese income taxes

 

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withheld from interest payments on a note may be creditable against your U.S. federal income tax liability. However, any Japanese withholding taxes on interest payments generally will not be creditable to the extent that the Japanese tax could have been eliminated by timely providing the Interest Recipient Information or the Written Application for Tax Exemption described in “—Japanese Taxation” above. In addition, any Japanese withholding taxes on interest payments generally will not be creditable to the extent the interest income is exempt from Japanese tax pursuant to the Treaty. Because interest income is generally exempt from Japanese tax under the Treaty, if you are eligible for Treaty benefits, you generally will not be entitled to a foreign tax credit for any Japanese tax withheld from interest payments on the notes. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex, and you should consult your tax adviser regarding the availability of foreign tax credits in your particular circumstances. Instead of claiming a credit, subject to applicable limitations, you may elect to deduct foreign taxes (if any) in computing your taxable income. An election to deduct foreign taxes instead of claiming foreign tax credits must apply to all foreign taxes paid or accrued in the taxable year.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes

Upon the sale or other taxable disposition of a note, you will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or other taxable disposition and your tax basis in the note. For these purposes, the amount realized does not include any amount attributable to accrued interest, which is treated as described under “—Interest” above. Your tax basis in a note will generally equal the amount you paid for such note.

Gain or loss realized on the sale or other taxable disposition of a note will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the sale or other taxable disposition the note has been held for more than one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate taxpayers are eligible to be taxed at rates lower than those applicable to ordinary income. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Gain or loss generally will be U.S. source for purposes of computing your foreign tax credit limitation.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Information returns may be required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with payments on the notes and proceeds received from a sale or other disposition of the notes unless you are an exempt recipient. You may also be subject to backup withholding on these payments in respect of your notes unless you provide your taxpayer identification number and otherwise comply with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules or, if required, you provide proof of an applicable exemption. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not additional taxes and may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals (or certain specified entities) may be required to report information relating to the notes or non-U.S. accounts through which they may be held. You should consult your tax adviser regarding your reporting obligations with respect to the notes.

 

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BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase of the notes by (i) employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA, (ii) plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or provisions under any other U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state, local or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of the ERISA or the Code (collectively, Similar Laws), and (iii) entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement (each as described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) referred to herein as a Plan).

General Fiduciary Matters

ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or a Covered Plan, and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of a Covered Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of Covered Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of such Covered Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to such a Covered Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the Covered Plan.

Before authorizing an investment in the notes of a portion of the assets of any Plan, a fiduciary should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Law in the context of the Plan’s particular circumstances. Among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Law and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the Plan.

Prohibited Transaction Issues

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit Covered Plans from engaging in certain transactions involving the “plan assets” with persons or entities who are “parties in interest” under ERISA, or “disqualified persons” under Section 4975 of the Code (in either case, Parties in Interest) with respect to such Covered Plans, unless an exemption is available. A Party in Interest that engaged in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the Covered Plan that engaged in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code.

As a result of our business, we, the underwriters, the trustee or our or their respective affiliates (collectively, the Sellers) may be Parties in Interest with respect to many Covered Plans. Where any of the Sellers is a Party in Interest with respect to a Covered Plan (either directly or by reason of such Seller’s ownership interests in its directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries), the purchase and holding of the notes (including any interest in a note) by or on behalf of the Covered Plan could be a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless exemptive relief were available under an applicable exemption (as described below).

Certain prohibited transaction class exemptions, or PTCEs, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the notes. Those class exemptions include PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving life insurance company general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts) and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified asset managers). In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code may provide a limited exemption for the purchase and sale of the notes and related lending transactions, provided that neither we, the underwriters nor any of our or their affiliates have or exercise any discretionary

 

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authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of the Covered Plan involved in the transaction and provided further that the Covered Plan pays no more, and receives no less, than adequate consideration in connection with the transaction (the so-called “service provider exemption”). Each of the above noted exemptions contains conditions and limitations on its application. These exemptions do not, for example, provide relief from the self-dealing prohibitions under ERISA and the Code. It should also be noted that even if the conditions specified in one or more of these exemptions are met, the scope of relief provided by these exemptions may not necessarily cover all acts that might constitute prohibited transactions. Therefore, fiduciaries of Covered Plans considering acquiring and/or holding the notes in reliance on these or any other exemption should carefully review the exemption and consult with their counsel to confirm that it is applicable. There can be no assurance that any of these or any other statutory or class exemptions will be available with respect to any particular transaction involving the notes.

Certain governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and non-U.S. plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA), or Non-ERISA Arrangements, are not subject to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, but may be subject to Similar Laws. Therefore, fiduciaries of Non-ERISA Arrangements should consult with their counsel regarding the potential consequences of an investment in the notes under any applicable Similar Laws before acquiring the notes.

Representation

Each purchaser and subsequent transferee of a note (including any interest in a note) pursuant to this prospectus supplement, including any fiduciary purchasing a note (or interest therein) on behalf of a Plan or a Non-ERISA Arrangement, will be deemed to have represented, in its corporate and its fiduciary capacity, that either (i) it is not acquiring or holding the notes with the assets of a Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement or (ii) its acquisition and holding of the notes will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a violation under any applicable Similar Law.

Each purchaser and holder of the notes has exclusive responsibility for ensuring that its purchase, holding and subsequent disposition of the notes does not violate the fiduciary or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Laws. The sale of any notes to any Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement is in no respect a representation by us, the underwriters or any of our or their affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by Plans or Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement, or that such an investment is appropriate for Plans or Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement.

Neither this discussion nor anything in this prospectus supplement is or is intended to be investment advice directed at any potential purchaser that is a Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement, or at such purchasers and holders generally, and such purchasers and holders should consult and rely on their own counsel and advisors as to whether an investment in the notes is suitable and consistent with ERISA, the Code and any Similar Laws, as applicable.

 

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

Under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement dated September 13, 2021, between us and the underwriters named below, for whom SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as the representatives, the underwriters have severally, and not jointly, agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, the respective principal amount of the notes listed opposite their names below.

 

Underwriter		Principal amount of 5-year notes				Principal amount of 7-year notes				Principal amount of 10-year notes
SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.		$	1,000,000,000			$	1,000,000,000			$	500,000,000
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC			400,000,000				400,000,000				200,000,000
BofA Securities, Inc.			160,000,000				160,000,000				80,000,000
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC			160,000,000				160,000,000				80,000,000
Barclays Capital Inc.			60,000,000				60,000,000				30,000,000
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.			60,000,000				60,000,000				30,000,000
Nomura Securities International, Inc.			60,000,000				60,000,000				30,000,000
China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited			20,000,000				20,000,000				10,000,000
Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc.			20,000,000				20,000,000				10,000,000
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.			20,000,000				20,000,000				10,000,000
Société Générale			20,000,000				20,000,000				10,000,000
TD Securities (USA) LLC			20,000,000				20,000,000				10,000,000
Total		$	2,000,000,000			$	2,000,000,000			$	,1,000,000,000

The underwriters are entitled to be released and discharged from their obligations under, and to terminate, the underwriting agreement in certain circumstances prior to paying us for the notes. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased. The underwriters are offering the notes subject to their acceptance of the notes from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the notes are subject to approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions.

The underwriting agreement provides that we will indemnify the underwriters and their affiliates against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, in connection with the offer and sale of the notes, and will contribute to payments the underwriters and their affiliates may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

Commissions

The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer each series of the notes at the public offering prices listed on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. After the initial offering, the public offering prices, concessions or any other term of the offering may be changed. The underwriters have agreed to purchase each series of the notes from us at the public offering price, and we have agreed to pay the underwriters a fee of 0.35% of the principal amount of the 5-year notes, a fee of 0.40% of the principal amount of the 7-year notes and a fee of 0.45% of the principal amount of the 10-year notes.

 

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The estimated expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting commissions, to be incurred in connection with the offer and sale of the notes, are payable by us and include the following:

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee		$	545,500
Printing expenses			32,450
Legal fees and expenses			335,703
Accounting fees and expenses			122,067
Trustee fees and expenses			19,500
Miscellaneous			23,846
Total		$	1,079,066

We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses in connection with this offering.

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

In connection with the offering, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., or the Stabilization Manager, and/or any person acting on behalf thereof, may purchase and sell the notes in the open market and engage in other transactions, subject to applicable laws and regulations. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the Stabilization Manager and/or any person acting on behalf thereof of a greater principal amount of the notes than they are required to purchase from us in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases by the Stabilization Manager and/or any person acting on behalf thereof for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress. These transactions may also include stabilizing transactions by the Stabilization Manager and/or any person acting on behalf thereof for the accounts of the underwriters.

In addition, the Stabilization Manager and/or any person acting on behalf thereof may impose a penalty bid. A penalty bid is an arrangement that permits the Stabilization Manager and/or any person acting on behalf thereof to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the offering when the notes originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in syndicate covering transactions.

These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market prices of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued at any time.

One or more of the underwriters may not be U.S.-registered broker-dealers. All sales of securities in the United States will be made by or through U.S.-registered broker-dealers, which may include affiliates of one or more of the underwriters.

No Sale of Similar Securities

We have agreed, during the period from the date of this document through and continuing until the closing of the offering, without the prior written consent of the underwriters, not to, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, offer or contract to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, in any market outside Japan, any U.S. dollar-denominated senior debt securities of SMFG.

New Issues of the Notes

The notes are new issues of securities with no established trading market. We have made an application to the Luxembourg Stock Exchange to list the notes on the official list of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and for such notes to be admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s Euro MTF Market. The underwriters

 

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have advised us that they presently intend to make a market in the notes after completion of this offering. SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. and our other broker-dealer affiliates may use this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in connection with these activities. Such market making activity will be subject to the limits imposed by applicable laws. However, they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without any notice. Broker-dealers subject to prospectus delivery requirements may be unable to engage in market-making transactions during certain periods of the year. A liquid or active public trading market for the notes may not develop. If an active trading market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected. If the notes are traded, they may trade at a discount from their initial public offering price, depending on the market for similar securities, our performance and other factors. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—There is no prior market for the notes and, if a market develops, it may not be liquid.”

Selling Restrictions

General

No action has been or will be taken by us that would permit a public offering of the notes, or possession or distribution of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any amendment or supplement hereto or thereto, or any other offering or publicity material relating to the notes in any country or jurisdiction outside the United States where, or in any circumstances in which, action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any amendment or supplement hereto or thereto, and any other offering or publicity material relating to the notes may not be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction outside the United States except under circumstances that will result in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Japan

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the FIEA, and are subject to the Special Taxation Measures Act. Each underwriter has represented, warranted, and agreed that (i) it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any of the notes in Japan or to any person resident in Japan for Japanese securities law purposes (including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any person resident in Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and governmental guidelines of Japan; and (ii) it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, as part of its distribution under the underwriting agreement at any time, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any of the notes to, or for the benefit of, any person other than a beneficial owner that is, (a) for Japanese tax purposes, neither (x) an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor (y) an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a person having a special relationship with the issuer of the notes as described in Article 6, Paragraph (4) of the Special Taxation Measures Act or (b) a Japanese financial institution, designated in Article 6, Paragraph (11) of the Special Taxation Measures Act. Notwithstanding the aforementioned restriction, pursuant to the Special Taxation Measures Act, SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., each acting in its capacity as an underwriter, will be permitted to acquire or purchase, as part of the distribution under the underwriting agreement of the notes, the remainder of the notes from any of the other underwriters, where such other underwriter has failed to sell to subsequent purchasers all of the notes that it acquired or purchased from us in its capacity as an underwriter.

Canada

The notes may be sold only in any province of Canada to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are both accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and permitted clients, as defined in National

 

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Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment hereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Under Canadian securities law, National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105) provides disclosure requirements with respect to potential conflicts of interest between an issuer and underwriters, dealers or placement agents, as the case may be. To the extent any conflict of interest between us and any of the underwriters (or any other placement agent acting in connection with this offering) may exist in respect of this offering, the applicable parties to this offering are relying on the exemption from these disclosure requirements provided to them by section 3A.3 of NI 33-105 (Exemption based on U.S. disclosure).

Upon receipt of this document, each Canadian purchaser hereby confirms that it has expressly requested that all documents evidencing or relating in any way to the sale of the securities described herein (including for greater certainty any purchase confirmation or any notice) be drawn up in the English language only. Par la réception de ce document, chaque acheteur canadien confirme par les présentes qu’il a expressément exigé que tous les documents faisant foi ou se rapportant de quelque manière que ce soit à la vente des valeurs mobilières décrites aux présentes (incluant, pour plus de certitude, toute confirmation d’achat ou tout avis) soient rédigés en anglais seulement.

Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors

The notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this document, as supplemented by any applicable supplement or pricing term sheet in relation thereto, may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For the purposes of this provision, the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

(a)

a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or

 

(b)

a customer within the meaning of the Insurance Distribution Directive where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II.

United Kingdom

The notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this document, as supplemented by any applicable supplement or pricing term sheet in relation thereto, may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the U.K. For the purposes of this provision, the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

(a)

a retail client as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or

 

(b)

a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules and regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA.

 

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Switzerland

The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Hong Kong

The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This document has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this document and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes have not been circulated or distributed and will not be circulated or distributed nor have any notes been offered or sold or the notes been caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase nor will the notes be offered or sold caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore (as modified or amended from time to time, the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

(a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

(1)

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

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(2)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

(3)

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

(4)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

(5)

as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

NOTIFICATION UNDER SECTION 309B OF THE SFA—In connection with Section 309B of the SFA and the CMP Regulations 2018, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309(A)(1) of the SFA), that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking and commercial banking services for us or our subsidiaries and affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities), financial instruments (including bank loans), currencies and commodities for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities, instruments or assets of ours or related to our business. If any of the underwriters and their respective affiliates has a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their respective affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and may publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments or in respect of assets, currencies or commodities that may be related to our business, and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities, instruments, currencies or commodities.

We have certain longstanding business arrangements with Goldman Sachs, including an arrangement for us to provide credit loss protection.

We have a strategic business alliance with Citigroup Inc., including an arrangement for Citigroup Inc. to provide us with global corporate and investment banking network access.

Conflicts of Interest

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. is an affiliate of ours and, as a result, has a “conflict of interest” under Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering is being conducted in compliance with the provisions of Rule 5121. Because this offering is of notes that are rated investment grade, pursuant to Rule 5121, the appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” is not necessary. SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. will not confirm sales to accounts over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of its customer.

 

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Settlement

We expect delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about September 17, 2021, which is the fourth New York business day following the date of pricing of the notes. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date of pricing of the notes or the next one succeeding business day will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle four New York business days after pricing of the notes, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement and should consult their own advisers.

 

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LISTING AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Clearing Systems

The notes have been accepted for clearance and settlement through the clearing systems DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream. The CUSIP number of the 5-year notes is 86562M CH1, the ISIN is US86562MCH16 and the common code is 238726336. The CUSIP number of the 7-year notes is 86562M CG3, the ISIN is US86562MCG33 and the common code is 238726328. The CUSIP number of the 10-year notes is 86562M CJ7, the ISIN is US86562MCJ71 and the common code is 238726425.

Listing

We have made an application to the Luxembourg Stock Exchange to list the notes on the official list of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and for such notes to be admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s Euro MTF Market.

Copies of the following documents will, so long as any of the notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, be available, with English translations where appropriate, during usual business hours on any weekday (Saturdays and public holidays excepted) at the office of the listing agent, SMBC Nikko Bank (Luxembourg) S.A., located at 2, rue Hildegard von Bingen, L-1282 Luxembourg, Luxembourg: (a) the Indenture, (b) our Articles of Incorporation and Regulations of the Board of Directors and (c) our audited annual consolidated financial statements and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

Authorization

We have obtained all necessary consents, approvals and authorizations in connection with the issuance and performance of the notes. The issue of the notes was duly authorized by the resolution of our Board of Directors dated June 29, 2017 and a decision by an authorized Corporate Executive Officer dated March 19, 2021.

Responsibility for Statements

We accept responsibility for the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. To the best of our knowledge, the information contained in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus is in accordance with the facts and contains no omission likely to affect its import.

Share Information

The number of authorized and outstanding shares of our capital stock as of March 31, 2021 was 1,370,427,759 common shares, all of which have been fully paid and have no par value.

No Material Adverse Change

Except as disclosed in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or prospects of us and our subsidiaries taken as a whole since March 31, 2021.

Other Information

There are no provisions in the Indenture limiting the time of validity of claims to payment of interest and repayment of principal.

Notices

So long as the notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of that exchange so require, notices to holders of the notes will also be published either on the website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu) or in a leading newspaper having general circulation in Luxembourg (which is expected to be Luxemburger Wort).

 

S-47

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the notes and certain U.S. legal matters will be passed upon for us by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, our U.S. counsel. Certain Japanese legal matters will be passed upon for us by Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, our Japanese counsel. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, U.S. counsel to the underwriters, will pass upon certain matters of U.S. federal law and New York law for them.

 

S-48

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus supplement. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement include:

 

•

our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, filed on June 29, 2021 (File Number 001-34919);

 

•

our report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on July 6, 2021, which includes our audited annual Japanese GAAP consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and 2021;

 

•

our report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on July 30, 2021, except for the statements regarding our earnings forecast under the caption “3. Earnings forecast on a consolidated basis (for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021),” which includes an English translation of our quarterly Japanese GAAP consolidated financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2021;

 

•

our report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on August 13, 2021, which includes our and SMBC’s capital ratios and the related information as of June 30, 2021; and

 

•

our report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on August 19, 2021, which includes an English translation of our unaudited quarterly Japanese GAAP consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included as part of our quarterly securities report (shihanki hokokusho) for the three months ended June 30, 2021.

All subsequent reports filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of the offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. In addition, any Form 6-K subsequently furnished to the SEC specifying that it is being incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference. Documents incorporated by reference shall become a part of this prospectus supplement on the respective dates the documents are filed or furnished with the SEC.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes that statement. The modifying or superseding statement need not state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document that it modifies or supersedes. The making of a modifying or superseding statement shall not be deemed an admission for any purposes that the modified or superseded statement, when made, constituted a misrepresentation, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

Upon written or oral request, we will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus supplement has been delivered, a copy of any document that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement but not delivered with this prospectus supplement. You may request a copy of these documents by writing or telephoning us at:

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

1-2, Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku

Tokyo 100-0005 Japan

Attention: Investor Relations Department

Fax: +81-3-4333-9861

Tel: +81-3-3282-8111

 

S-49

You may obtain a copy of any audited annual consolidated financial statements and any unaudited interim consolidated financial statements published by us subsequently to the date of this prospectus supplement on our internet site at https://www.smfg.co.jp.

Except as described above, no other information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, information on our internet site at https://www.smfg.co.jp.

 

S-50

PROSPECTUS

 

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

(incorporated in Japan)

Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, which we collectively refer to as the “debt securities.”

We may offer and sell any combination of the debt securities described in this prospectus in different series, at times, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at or prior to the time of each offering. This prospectus describes the general terms of these debt securities and the general manner in which these debt securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these debt securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will also describe the specific manner in which these debt securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this prospectus. Before you invest in any of these debt securities, you should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including documents incorporated by reference herein or therein.

The debt securities covered by this prospectus may be offered through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers. The supplements to this prospectus will provide the specific terms of the plan of distribution.

The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any listing on any securities exchange of the debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement.

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any additional risk factors included in the applicable prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors.”

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these debt securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

One or more of our broker-dealer affiliates, or Broker-Dealer Affiliates, including SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., expect to offer and sell the debt securities as part of its business, and may act as principal or agent in such transactions. The Broker-Dealer Affiliates may use this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement in connection with these activities.

The date of this prospectus is December 20, 2018.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			1
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			2
Risk Factors			3
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.			3
Capitalization and Indebtedness			4
Use of Proceeds			5
Description of the Debt Securities			6
Taxation			22
Benefit Plan Investor Considerations			22
Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)			24
Market-Making Activities			25
Experts			27
Legal Matters			27
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities			27
Where You Can Find More Information			27

 

i

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the debt securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities that we may offer. Each time we sell debt securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the debt securities and the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will supersede this prospectus to the extent it contains information that is different from, or conflicts with, the information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we authorize to be delivered to you together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 27 of this prospectus before purchasing any of our securities.

We have not authorized any other person to provide you with any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. “Incorporated by reference” means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. We are not responsible for, and can provide no assurance as to the accuracy of, any other information that any other person may give you. We are not making, nor will we make, an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, including any information incorporated by reference herein or therein, is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those respective dates.

In this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, where information is presented in millions of yen or thousands or millions of dollars, amounts of less than one thousand or one million, as the case may be, have been truncated. Where information is presented in billions or trillions of yen or billions of dollars, amounts of less than one billion or one trillion, as the case may be, have been rounded. Accordingly, the total of each column of figures may not be equal to the total of the individual items. All percentages have been rounded to the nearest percent, one-tenth of one percent or one-hundredth of one percent, as the case may be.

Unless otherwise specified or required by the context: references to “days” are to calendar days; references to “years” are to calendar years and to “fiscal years” are to our fiscal years ending on March 31; references to “$,” “dollars” and “U.S. dollars” are to United States dollars and references to “yen” and “¥” are to Japanese yen. Unless otherwise specified, when converting currencies into yen we use the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s median exchange rates for buying and selling spot dollars, or other currencies, by telegraphic transfer against yen as determined at the end of the relevant fiscal period. Unless the context otherwise requires, “SMFG,” the “issuer,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. as well as to its subsidiaries. “SMBC” refers to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, which is one of our commercial banking subsidiaries, or to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as the context requires. References to “non-consolidated” information are to the financial information solely of SMBC.

Our primary financial statements for SEC reporting purposes are prepared on an annual and semi-annual basis in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, while our financial statements for reporting in our jurisdiction of incorporation and Japanese bank regulatory purposes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Japan, or Japanese GAAP.

 

1

IFRS and Japanese GAAP differ in certain respects from each other and from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, and in other countries. For a description of certain differences between IFRS and Japanese GAAP, see “Item 5.A Operating Results—Reconciliation with Japanese GAAP” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. You should consult your own professional advisers for a more complete understanding of the differences between IFRS, Japanese GAAP, U.S. GAAP and the generally accepted accounting principles of other countries and how those differences might affect the financial information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus.

Financial information for us contained or incorporated by reference herein is presented in accordance with IFRS or Japanese GAAP, as specified herein or in the relevant document being incorporated by reference. Financial information for SMBC contained or incorporated by reference herein is presented in accordance with Japanese GAAP. See “Where You Can Find More Information—Incorporation by Reference” for a list of documents being incorporated by reference herein.

In this prospectus all of our financial information is presented on a consolidated basis, unless we state otherwise.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the financial statements and other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements, including statements concerning our industry, our operations, our anticipated financial performance and financial condition, and our business plans and growth strategy and product development efforts. These statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “probability,” “risk,” “project,” “should,” “seek,” “target,” “will” and similar expressions, among others, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by our management that, although we believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and the differences may be material. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the following:

 

•

deterioration of Japanese and global economic conditions and financial markets;

 

•

declines in the value of our securities portfolio;

 

•

changes in the level or volatility of market rates or prices;

 

•

constraints on our operations due to capital adequacy requirements;

 

•

problems of other financial institutions;

 

•

adverse regulatory developments or changes in government policies;

 

•

incurrence of significant credit-related costs;

 

•

a significant downgrade of our credit ratings;

 

•

our ability to successfully implement our business strategy through our subsidiaries, affiliates and alliance partners;

 

•

exposure to new risks as we expand the scope of our business;

 

•

the industry specific risks of the consumer finance industry;

 

2