PRESS CONFERENCE
Stock Traders On Trial
Trevor Hill, Former Senior Managing Executive Officer and Head of Global Equity at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.
Alexandre Avakiants, Former Executive Officer and Deputy Head of Global Equity at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.
Akio Kawamura, Senior Partner at Atsumi & Sakai
11:00-12:00 Thursday, July 24, 2025
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English.
In November 2021, the SESC (Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission), launched an investigation into SMBC Nikko Securities over stock transactions. The firm was suspected of market manipulation, illegally supporting the price of stocks being sold by corporates to retail investors, a product known as a block offer. A senior trader died of a brain aneurysm after being subjected to intensive questioning, sparking a complaint by the firm to the SESC. Subsequently, five executives were arrested, prompting a public apology from the firm’s then president and CEO Yuichiro Kondo. Prosecutors filed several criminal charges against the company and the five bankers for violating financial instruments and exchange laws. Their lengthy trial is in its final stages now with a verdict expected on July 22.
Two of the defendants, who staunchly maintain their innocence, will appear for a press conference at the FCCJ hosted by PAC, on July 24. Trevor Hill is a former Senior Managing Executive Officer and Head of Global Equity at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. and Alexandre Avakiants is former Executive Officer and Deputy Head of Global Equity at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. Also present will be their attorney Akio Kawamura, Senior Partner at Atsumi & Sakai.
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Doors open 15 minutes before the event.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/Lck5N4fr8ypAwxx27
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. FCCJ will limit live-streaming of FCCJ-hosted press conferences to Club members only. Non-members are NOT permitted to live-stream these events. However, non-members may still film for reporting purposes and use footage after the press conference.
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Professional Activities Committee