Japanese banks

The first round of Japanese investment into America, during the 1980s and 1990s, paying large prices with huge loses. Nowadays the Japanese banks are relatively healthy, their capital is good but they are concerned about their own growth in Japan.  The Japanese are once again looking to the west to expand.

Because of new regulations western banks need new equity capital-this has been known as the crisis.  During this crisis, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Japan’s largest financial institution, has acquired 22% of Morgan Stanley. They have also taken control of the Union Bank. Union Bank has operations in California, Oregon, Washington and Texas, and is among the 25 biggest banks in America.  The target is to expand and touch its fingers in the housing market.  This in a turn can help an influx of money to the American people.

http://www.economist.com/node/21546011

Robert Ostler