Japan

Hitachi Zosen Corporation

Industry
Engineering and Construction, Industry Conglomerate, Tunneling
Value of USG Contracts
8
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fiscal_year=2006&contractorid=299473&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go%20http://usaspending.gov/search?query=&searchtype=&formFields=eyJSZWNpcGllbnROYW1lTGNhc2UiOlsiSGl0YWNoaStab3NlbiJdfQ==
Symbol
TYO:7004
Country
Japan
Contact Information
Sources

Hitachi Zosen is a Japanese manufacturing and engineering corporation with product divisions including environmental systems and industrial plants, precision machinery, machinery and process equipment, steel structures and construction machinery, marine and disaster prevention systems. (Company website)

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Hitachi Zosen produces shield tunneling machines in its steel structures and construction machinery division: "We have delivered a number of shield tunneling machines to the United States, China, Korea, Republic of China, Singapore and Thailand including 4 machines for undersea tunnel across the Bosporus straits in Istanbul, Turkey" (Company website).

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A Hitachi Zosen subsidiary lists Iran as a main exporting country for spare parts. (Hitachi-Zosen Plant Techno-Service Corp)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group

Industry
Industry Conglomerate, Manufacturing, Tunneling
Value of USG Contracts
234
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fiscal_year=2004&contractorid=299436&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go
Symbol
TYO:7012
Country
Japan
Contact Information
Sources

Kawasaki Precision Machinery, a division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, lists Hydraulik Karan as their Iranian distributor.

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“Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of transportation equipment and industrial goods primarily in Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia” (Bloomberg Business Week, “Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012:JP),” 2010).

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“The Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group manufactures a vast array of products that demonstrate technological mastery of the land, sea, air and outer space. Its aerospace business offers various products ranging from aircraft to satellites, while the shipbuilding business provides LNG and LPG carriers, submarines and other vessels. Japan's Shinkansen trains and New York City's subway cars are just two examples of its rolling stock business' famed global offerings, just as gas turbines and biomass power plants headline the energy plant and facilities business. The Group also supplies many products that demonstrate its expertise in engineering, such as industrial plants, environmental protection facilities, industrial equipment, construction machinery and steel structures” (Company website).

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Kawasaki lists contact information for Iran distributor Pars Loaders Co. on its website (Company contacts page)

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Kawasaki lists an Iranian distibutor for its motorcycle division, Jaranho Industrial Co. (Company contacts page)

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Website of Kawasaki distributor Jaranho Industrial Co. (Iranian distributor website)

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Kawasaki has collaboration agreements arranged with two other TBM producers, SELI of Italy and Lovat of Canada, both of which sell TBMs in Iran.
•    Alliance with Lovat, Inc. (Lovat Inc. News Release, "BREAKTHOUGH ALLIANCE: LOVAT & KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES," April 12, 2006.)

•    Collaboration with SELI (Tunnel Talk, "Collaboration for new TBM supplier," April 2010.)

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 Kawasaki has received $182,558,912 in federal funds from the U.S. government between 2000 and July 2010. (USASpending.gov)

Kumagai Gumi

Industry
Engineering and Construction, Tunneling
Symbol
TYO:1861
Country
Japan
Contact Information

81-3-3235-8641

Sources

Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd is a Japanese construction company involved in infrastructure and tunnel construction. (Company website)

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Kumagai machines were involved in the completed Koohrang and Cheshmeh Langan tunneling projects. (World Tunneling“Iranian TBMs continue steady march," December 23, 2009)

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Kumagai has a history in Iran. Kumagai incorporated an Iranian subsidiary in the 1977, and around that time was contracted to build a water supply tunnel in Isfahan, Iran. (KUMAGAI GUMI COMPANY, LTD. Company History)

Marubeni Corporation

Industry
Energy, Manufacturing
Value of USG Contracts
11
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fiscal_year=2009&recipientid=359540&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go
Symbol
TYO:8002
States
NY
Country
Japan
Sources

Marubeni Corporation is listed on the March 1, 2022 Report to the New Jersey Legislature Iran Divestment as a prohibited company.
 

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Marubeni lists an office in Tehran, Iran on its company website

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Tehran Oil Refinery has signed a memorandum of understanding with two Japanese companies, JGC Corporation and Marubeni Corporation, on enhancing gasoline quality and quantity as well as reducing mazut output, the refinery’s managing director said. (May 7, 2018)

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In 2018 the U.S. state of Iowa listed Marubeni as an Iran restricted company rendering Marubeni ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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In 2017 the U.S. state of Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee listed Marubeni as an Iran restricted company rendering Marubeni ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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"According to the official, talks are underway with multinationals, namely Italy's Tecnimont, China's Sinopec, Japan's Marubeni, JGC Corporation, JX Nippon Oil & Energy and South Korea's Daelim, to fund the ventures." (October 2017)

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"Japanese traders including Marubeni Corp and Sumitomo Corp that stopped buying Iranian oil during western sanctions are looking to resume imports, potentially by year-end, industry sources said. Conservative Japanese firms have so far held off taking Iranian crude due to a lack of internationally acceptable insurance coverage, but are looking at ways of using cover provided by the Japanese government, the sources said. The traders seeking to restart purchases together imported around 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian oil before sanctions were imposed and renewed purchases would give a boost to Tehran's aim of increasing its exports to 4 million bpd..." (Reuters, "Some Japan trading houses eye resuming Iran oil imports - sources," 10/19/2016).

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Iran says Japan has agreed to fund the development of some of its petrochemical projects – a groundbreaking move that could open the way for similar funding mechanisms for other sectors in the future. Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum announced in a statement that a deal has been signed between the country’s Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC) and Japan’s Marubeni to provide as much as €320 million for the development of PGPIC’s petrochemical projects, IRNA reported. This, the Ministry added, will be carried out through a mechanism known as the Usance Letter of Credit (L/C). (Press TV, "Iran, Japan seal deal to fund petchem plans," 9/25/2016).

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“Marubeni Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp., both with headquarters in Japan, are also interested in working on refinery projects in Iran.”  (Bloomberg, “Iran Plans Oil-Refinery Expansion to Cut Gasoline Imports,” 6/12/2016). 

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“General Manager of Japan’s Marubeni Corporation Masahiro Yamada has announced that his company is in talks with Iranian officials on modernizing the technologies for producing methanol.”  (Iran-Daily, “Japan to modernize methanol technology in Iran,” 12/15/2015).

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Managers of Japanese companies Marubeni Power System, Hitachi and Mitsubishi had visited Iran to hold talks with Iranian officials about their presence in Iran’s electricity market.  (Fars News, “Managers of Japan’s Giant Power Plant Constructors Arrive in Iran for Investment,” 10/20/2015).  

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In 2014 Marubeni was removed from Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement In Iran because the company clarified its involvement and no longer met the $20 million purchasing threshold. 

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Marubeni Corporation is a trading company “involved in the handling of products and provision of services in a broad range of sectors. These areas encompass importing and exporting, as well as transactions in the Japanese market, related to food, textiles, materials, pulp and paper, chemicals, energy, metals and mineral resources, transportation machinery, and includes offshore trading. The Company's activities also extend to power projects and infrastructure, plants and industrial machinery, real estate development and construction, and finance, logistics and information industry. Additionally, Marubeni conducts business investment, development and management on a global level” (Company Profile).

Marubeni has “55 overseas branches & offices and 32 overseas corporate subsidiaries with 63 offices for a total of 118 offices in 71 countries/areas” (Company Profile).

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Marubeni lists contact information for its office in Tehran, Marubeni Iran Co., Ltd. (Company website, “MIDDLE EAST Our Company Marubeni Corporation”)

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In 2013, Marubeni was added to the Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement in Iran because of government oil-related activity. 

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Marubeni-Itochu Steel, a joint venture between Marubeni and Itochu, lists an office in Tehran on its website. (Marubeni-Itochu website)

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As of April 2010, Marubeni imports ten thousand barrels of crude oil per day from Iran. (Reuters, "Iran’s Crude Oil Buyers in Europe, Asia," April 18 2010)

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"China's Sinopec Group and Japan's Marubeni Corp (8002.T) will work together to see contracts worth over $1 billion in the next five years to build refineries and petrochemical plants, Chinese media said. SEI, Sinopec's engineering unit, recently entered energy infrastructure contracts in Iran and Saudi Arabia, the report said, without giving further details." (Reuters, "Marubeni, Sinopec jointly seek $1 bln deals," July 13, 2010)

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"Marubeni has formed a consortium with South Korea's largest rolling stock manufacturer, Rotem Company (Hyundai Motor Group), to win an order worth about 110 million euro (about 15 billion yen) for 120 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) cars from Irankhdro Rail Industries Company (IRICO), and signed the contract on November 1."

"Under this contract, the design and production of the rolling stock and the transfer of technology to IRICO will be carried out by Rotem Company, while, as consortium partner, Marubeni will take charge of the commercial task & functions , including accounting & legal support, local procurement back-up and finance & payment facilitation."

"Marubeni has 40 years experience in Iran, particularly with the Islamic Republic of Iran Railway , in areas such as the supply of signal systems and the delivery of diesel locomotives, and is held in high esteem by the Iranian counterparts."

"The DMUs to be delivered under this contract are intended for the use by the Tehran Suburban Railway by Raja Passenger Company (Passenger Trains Company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railway ) and comprise 24 complete cars, 24 cars for on-site assembly and 72 cars for on-site production. The transfer of technology to IRICO is also included in the scope of work."

"IRICO is a company set up by Iran's largest car maker, Irankhodro, to enter into railcar production business, which is currently burgeoning in Iran against a backdrop of fast population increase in urban areas, and this contract marks IRICO's first project."

"As the future demand for rail vehicles for suburban rapid passenger transportation and urban rail transit looks firm and steady in Iran, Marubeni plans to expand its business for urban and suburban passenger rail vehicles by lining-up various type of rail vehicles on offer and co-operating Iranian customers and partners in the field of technology transfer and local production" (Marubeni News Release, "Series of Large Orders Won in Railroad Projects for Iran," Nov 4, 2004).

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In 2004, Marubeni began dealings with a major Iranian petrochemical company: "Mitsubishi Corp. and two other Japanese trading companies signed initial agreements to buy petrochemicals that may be worth more than $1 billion from Iran Petrochemical Commercial Co., said Mohamad Ehtiati, chairman of the Iranian company.

"It's a new stage of the relationship for Japan and Iran,'' Ehtiati said in an interview last Friday in Tokyo after attending an oil conference.

Iran's National Petrochemical Co. is spending $32 billion to build plants as part of a 10-year plan to boost economic growth and get more value from the nation's oil resources. Iran Petrochemical, the trading unit of National Petrochemical, plans to sell ethylene and other products worth $25 billion by 2014. Liquefied Petroleum Gas output may rise to 7 million tons by 2010 from the current 2.2 million tons a year.

"There have been business talks with Iran Petrochemical and there has been some interest on the Marubeni side,'' said Tsutomu Honda, a spokesman at Marubeni Corp. The talks haven't resulted in any legal obligations, he said.

"The initial agreements known as memorandums of understanding signed by Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Marubeni will lead to shipments of at least 4 million metric tons over five years starting in 2005, Ehtiati said." (Bloomberg,  "Japan May Buy $1 Bln of Iran's Chemicals, Iranian Official Says," March 3, 2004).


 

Idemitsu Kosan Co.

Industry
Energy
Symbol
TYO:5019
Country
Japan
Sources

"Japan's second largest refiner Idemitsu Kosan said Feb. 8 it is yet to consider resuming Iranian crude oil imports, despite the recent US move to grant some sanctions relief to Tehran's civil nuclear program.

"At this moment, we do not have any plans to resume [imports of] Iranian crude oil," Yoshitaka Onuma, general manager of Idemitsu Kosan's finance department, told an online earnings press conference." (SP Global, "Japan's Idemitsu Kosan yet to consider resuming Iran oil imports," 2/8/2022). 

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On June 30, 2020, the Mississippi Department of Finance & Administration identified Idemitsu as a company “engaged in investment activities in Iran, providing funds, goods or services valued at $20,000,000 or more in the energy sector of Iran.” 

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"Oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan told employees to refrain from business trips to Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel. The company has lifted those countries to the second of its three categories for risky destinations." (RT, "Japanese companies pull staff out of Iran, ban Middle East travel," 1/9/2020).

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Idemitsu is listed as a partner of the Iranian firm, Chagalesh Consulting Engineers (“Chagalesh”).  (Chagalesh Website, “About”).

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* Japan’s No.2 oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co is not expecting any supply disruption as it is getting alternative supplies from the Middle East and others to replace sanctions-hit Iranian oil, an executive said on Wednesday. (Reuters, 5/15/2019).

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According to publicly available shipping information, Tanker NISSHO MARU (IMO: 9264881), owned and operated by Idemitsu Kosan, called at an Iranian port in February 2019.

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"Japan's Idemitsu to resume Iran crude oil purchase, Cosmo undecided for more intake." (SPGlobal, 2/14/2019).

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"If payments to Iran cannot continue after a 180-day “wind-down period” ending on Nov. 4, it is possible that Japanese buyers of Iranian oil will have to make their last order for Iranian oil in August for September-loading cargoes, said Takashi Tsukioka, who is also chairman of Japan’s second-biggest refiner, Idemitsu Kosan Co." (June 22, 2018)

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In 2017 the U.S. state of Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee listed Idemitsu Kosan on its Iran prohibited companies list rendering Idemitsu Kosan ineligible for investment and/or state contracting.

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Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan said it intends to persuade its founding family, the largest shareholder, to agree to go ahead with a planned merger with another major refiner Showa Shell, stressing that it does not expect any damage to the entity's relationship with Iran and Saudi Arabia. (July 2016)

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Idemitsu Kosan is listed as one of the companies that, in June 2016, is chartering vessels to transport and sell Iranian oil.  (Reuters, “As Iran's oil exports surge, international tankers help ship its fuel,” 6/6/2016)  

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In 2016 Tennessee used the South Carolina list of "Entities Ineligible to Contract with the State of South Carolina or any Political Subdivision of the State per the Iran Divestment Act of 2014, S.C. Code Ann." as its list of persons it determines engage in investment activities in Iran. Idemitsu Kosan was included on this list in 2016. "Inclusion on this list would make a person ineligible to contract with the state of Tennessee, if a person ceases its engagement in investment activities in Iran, it may be removed from the list."

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In 2015 Idemitsu Kosan was removed from Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement In Iran because the company's "involvement in purchases of crude oil falls under the waivers granted by the U.S. government that meet Section (a)(2) of Act 44's expiration clause."
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“Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co said it will buy either no crude or a maximum of one cargo from Iran in the year through March 2015, a move that could keep at bay any potential U.S. pressure over oil shipments from the Islamic republic. Idemitsu, Japan's third-largest refiner, bought one cargo in the year through March this year, Taiji Hashidoko, manager of Investor Relations Office, said on Friday at an earnings briefing. He declined to reveal the volumes. One Middle East cargo is usually around 600,000 barrels, and Idemitsu has cut its Iranian crude volume for the year ended in March to around 2,000 barrels per day (bpd) from less than 10,000 bpd a year earlier, an industry source familiar with the matter said. ‘(Iran crude) accounts for less than 1 percent of our firm's purchase of crude,’ Hashidoko told reporters on the sidelines of its earnings announcement for the just ended business year. ‘It is not that we are currently considering active dealings with Iran.’ Idemitsu, which sold 516,000 bpd of oil products globally in the year ended March 31, did not reveal how much crude it bought during the business year. Hashidoko added that he has not yet received information that the company has extended an annual Iranian crude contract for this fiscal year, and added it would engage flexibly in dealing with Iran based on the policy of the Japanese government.” (Reuters, “Japan Idemitsu to buy no more than 1 Iran crude cargo this year,” 5/2/14)

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“Two Japanese buyers of Iranian crude, Idemitsu Kosan and Cosmo Oil, are unlikely to raise imports from the Middle Eastern country even after sanctions were eased as part of an initial deal on Tehran's disputed nuclear programme. Executives with the two refiners said on Tuesday they have no plans to increase their contract volumes following the November deal between world powers and Iran that allowed Tehran to keep oil exports at around 1 million barrels per day (bpd), about half of pre-sanction levels…Idemitsu has already cut its Iranian crude contract volume for the year ending March 31 to 5,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 7,000 bpd a year ago, but it has no plans to halt its Iranian imports and end its decades-old relationship with Tehran. The reduced amount is the minimum level for purchases to make commercial sense, Idemitsu President Takashi Tsukioka told Reuters at a New Year gathering for Japan's oil industry." (Reuters, “Japan's Idemitsu, Cosmo unlikely to raise Iranian crude imports,” 1/7/14)

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In 2013, Idemitsu Kosan was added to the Pennsylvania Treasury's List of Scrutinized Companies Determined as Having Involvement in Iran because of Government related oil activity. 

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"Japan will load its first Iranian crude cargo backed by sovereign guarantees since sanctions disrupted coverage in the international reinsurance market.

JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp. and Idemitsu Kosan Co. will load about 1.7 million barrels of Iranian crude on the very large crude carrier Ryuho Maru on about July 20 at Kharg Island, the country’s biggest oil-export terminal, according to three officials from the refiners and Japan’s trade ministry. The tanker, owned by Iino Kaiun Kaisha Ltd. , will be backed by the Japanese state, they said, asking not to be identified because the information is confidential.

Japan’s Iranian crude imports will fall in July because refiners were unsure whether the sovereign insurance would be available when they planned July-loading schedules last month, the officials said. Japan’s parliament passed a bill on June 20 to provide $7.6 billion of guarantees to tanker owners that carry Iranian oil. European Union sanctions, introduced as an attempt to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program, took effect July 1." (Bloomberg, "Japan Set To Load First Iran Crude With Sovereign Insurance," 7/13/12)

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"Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co has renewed its annual crude oil purchase deal withIran but cut the volume in line with its peers to comply with U.S. sanctions against the Islamic nation, industry sources said on Friday... Idemitsu had a term Iranian crude contract worth about 7,000 barrels per day for the financial year that ended in March, the sources estimated. The volume had been cut for the new contract but the size of the cut was unclear, they said. Idemitsu Chairman Akihiko Tembo said in March that the Japanese government probably wanted his firm to continue cutting Iranian crude imports at the same rate as previously, which was by 10 to 20 percent a year... Idemitsu does not release its crude import volumes, but it processed 27.7 million kilolitres (476,000 barrels per day) of crude in 2011/12, a spokesman said. If the imports were the same as its crude refining, the company's Iran imports would be equal to 4,760-9,520 bpd. Idemitsu has four refineries in Japan with total crude refining capacity of 640,000 bpd." (Reuters, "Japan's Idemitsu renews Iran oil deal, cuts volume," 5/22/2012)

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"Japanese refiners will cut Iranian crude imports yet again in April as they shy away from renewing annual contracts, showing continued commitment to U.S.-led sanctions over Tehran's nuclear programme.  Japan, the world's third largest oil consumer, has strongly backed calls to cut Iranian oil imports and earlier reductions were hailed by its top business and military ally, the United States, as an example to other countries...JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, Japan's biggest oil refiner, has not renewed a contract to buy 10,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian crude, which expired in March, the sources said, declining to be identified as they are not authorised to talk to the media.  Apart from JX, at least three other Japanese firms, including Idemitsu Kosan Co and Cosmo Oil Co, which together buy around 40,000 barrels per day, will not lift any Iranian crude in April, industry sources said. These three do not lift Iranian oil every month."  (Reuters, "Japan refiners deepen Iran crude import cuts,"  4/4/12)

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"At least three Japanese firms including two oil refiners will not lift any Iranian crude in April as the third-biggest buyer of Iranian oil comes under pressure from the United States to curtail purchases, industry sources said on Monday.  Japan has been cutting Iran imports even as its imports have been rising on demand related to reconstruction and the switching off of all but one of its nuclear reactors following the March 2011 earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster.  The cut in Iranian crude imports comes at a time of lower demand in Asia as refiners shut their units for maintenance in the second quarter.  Japan's third-biggest refiner, Idemitsu Kosan Co, which lifted about 7,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iran crude up to the end of March, is seen as one of the refiners that could cut the purchases as it has not yet renewed its annual contract with Iran, sources familiar with the matter said." (Reuters, "Some Japan firms to skip Iran crude buying in April," 4/2/12)

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"Some processors, including Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan Co. and Taiwan’s CPC Corp., have cut the amount they buy from Iran." (Businessweek, "Asian Refiners Seek Iran Oil Alternatives on Disruption Threat," 1/6/2012)

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Idemitsu Kosan Co. engages primarily in oil refining and petroleum products, producing and sells oils, petroleum products and petrochemicals. (Company Website "About Idemitsu")

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Idemitsu Kosan Co. is Japan's second-largest petroleum refiner. (Bloomberg, “Idemitsu Raises 109.4 Billion Yen in Oil Refiner IPO (Update2),” October 16, 2006.)

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Fortune Global 500 2008 ranks the company as the 262nd largest company in the world by revenue. (Fortune Magazine, "Global 500 2008: Industry: Petroleum Refining," July 21, 2008.)

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As of April 2010, Idemitsu Kosan imports 12 thousand barrels of crude oil per day from Iran. (Reuters, "Iran’s Crude Oil Buyers in Europe, Asia," April 18 2010)

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On the company website, Tehran is marked on a map of global offices in the Middle East. (Company website, “Global Offices - Middle East”)

Suzuki

Industry
Automotive
Value of USG Contracts
1
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&fiscal_year=2001&contractorid=299621&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go
Symbol
TYO:7269
Country
Japan
Contact Information
Sources

"Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has prepared a package for expansion of trade cooperation with Iran, according to the head of JETRO office in Tehran.

Takayuki Suzuki made the remarks during a meeting in Tehran with Iran Chmber’s Deputy for International Affairs Mohammad Reza Karbasi.  

During the meeting, the two sides referred to a significant drop in trade relations between Iran and Japan and explored the ways for further promotion of bilateral relations.

The Japanese side said that his country is upbeat about the future of relations with Iran, and therefore JETRO is seeking to hold B2B meetings between Iranian companies and the Japanese ones in four sectors – medical equipment, cosmetics, startups, and producing cultural content." (Iran Chamber of Commerce, "JETRO eyes boosting trade with Iran," 1/26/22) 

It is unclear whether the auto industry will be included in those discussions.

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As of November 2021, Suzuki was not listed on the Texas Comptroller List of Companies Engaging in Scrutinized Business Operations in Iran

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"Suzuki Motor reportedly licenses its products to an Iranian state-owned automobile manufacturing firm. In 2019, CalSTRS identified Suzuki Motor Corp. as potentially having ties to Iran and began the review process. The engagement has been delayed by shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, CalSTRS maintained an “Under Review” status in 2020."

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In 2019 Suzuki was listed on the Texas Comptroller List of Companies Engaging in Scrutinized Business Operations in Iran.  

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In 2019, California State Teachers Retirement System listed Suzuki as a company under review for reportedly licensing its products to an Iranian state-owned manufacturing firm. 

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Japanese automaker Suzuki plans to launch and later assemble at least three new models for the Iranian market, hinting a significant shift in its sales outlook for Iran in the post-sanctions environment. (4/6/2016)

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Suzuki is a Japanese automaker and globally recognized trademark with a capital of 120,210 million yen as of March 31, 2009. (Company Profile)

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Suzuki is an affiliate of Volkswagen

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"The report said that aside from Nissan and Peugeot, such car brands as Chinese Lifan, Mazda, Suzuki, and Hyundai are still being manufactured in Iran." (Trend, "Five reasons why Iran's car manufacturing suffers blow after blow," 11/27/2012)

 

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Suzuki's Iranian partner Iran Khodro produced 4,393 Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles during the Persian year ending March 19, 2012.  (Best Selling Cars, "Iran March 2012: Last good showing for Peugeot," 4/18/12)

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“SUZUKI products are now popular in 187 countries worldwide, with local assembly plants” (Company website).

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Suzuki was one of 74 corporations identified by the New York Times as doing business with Iran as well as the United State government in the past ten years. Suzuki, which has received $1.1 million from the U.S. government, "has a production agreement with Iran Khodro Manufacturing Co., the largest automaker in Iran. Iran Khodro mass produces the Suzuki Grand Vitara, a compact SUV. Iran Khodro's Web site showcases several Suzuki models" (The New York Times, "Profiting From Iran, and the U.S.," March 12, 2010).

According to the article, as of March 12 2010, Suzuki status in Iran is listed as active.

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Iranian automaker Iran Khodro Company (IKCO), which manufactures and sells Suzuki vehicles, has a web page for its Suzuki products. (Iranian Dealer website)

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Industry
Banking
Value of USG Contracts
650
Value of USG Contract Source
http://usaspending.gov/explore?fromfiscal=yes&fiscal_year=2009&recipientid=571154&fiscal_year=&tab=By+Prime+Awardee&fromfiscal=yes&carryfilters=on&Submit=Go
Symbol
TYO:8316
Country
Japan
Sources

According to its Annual Report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2019: "During the twelve months ended March 31, 2019, one affiliate of SMFG, SMBC, engaged in activities subject to disclosure under Section 13(r). SMBC conducted these activities consistent with its internal policies and procedures, the policies and procedures of SMFG, and applicable laws and regulations, and to the extent they are not sanctionable under U.S. secondary sanctions. SMBC has discontinued activities that have become impermissible or subject to secondary sanctions as a result of changes in applicable laws and regulations.

SMBC issued letters of credit and provided remittance and other settlement services in connection with customers’ trade transactions between Japan and Iran. These transactions principally involved the importation of oil into Japan or exportation of civilian commercial products from Japan and were conducted with Iranian banks, including the Central Bank of Iran and one other bank owned by the Government of Iran. SMBC supported a Japanese importing company by paying bills of exchange in connection with imports of crude oil from an Iranian oil company owned by the Government of Iran. These transactions did not involve entities or other persons on the SDN List and did not involve the settlement of U.S. dollar-denominated payments cleared through U.S. banks. SMBC has informed SMFG that it intends to continue to engage in these types of transactions only to the extent permitted under applicable regulations and to the extent they are not sanctionable under U.S. secondary sanctions. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2019, the gross revenue related to these transactions was ¥20.4 million, representing about 0.0006% of SMFG’s total interest and fee income. SMFG does not allocate direct costs to interest and fee income and therefore does not calculate net profits with respect to these transactions.

SMBC has issued performance bonds and advance payment bonds that supported various projects, including the construction of petroleum plants in Iran. Some of these bonds had counterparties that were entities controlled by the Government of Iran. Some of these bonds have matured, and SMBC has not renewed and will not renew them unless permitted under applicable regulations and to the extent they are not sanctionable under U.S. secondary sanctions, but SMBC continues to have obligations under the matured performance bonds until they are returned or cancelled by the beneficiaries. SMBC has also received fees from its customers on whose behalf it issued the performance bonds. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2019, the gross revenue relating to these transactions was ¥2.1 million, representing less than 0.0001% of SMFG’s total interest and fee income. As noted above, SMFG does not allocate direct costs to interest and fee income and therefore does not calculate net profits with respect to these transactions. SMBC has informed SMFG that it intends to continue to accept fee income from its customers for whose account the performance bonds were issued and to pay the relevant fees to the Iranian banks, to the extent authorized by the Ministry of Finance of Japan or otherwise permitted under applicable regulations, until the bonds are returned or cancelled. However, SMBC strongly urges the relevant customers to ask the beneficiaries to agree to return or cancel the matured performance bonds.

SMBC has frozen an account of an Iranian bank designated under Executive Order 13224 pursuant to Japanese foreign exchange laws, and has frozen the U.S. dollar accounts of all Iranian banks. SMBC still maintains Japanese yen accounts of government-owned Iranian banks, including an account for the Central Bank of Iran, and certain transactions described in this disclosure were conducted through the use of such accounts. These transactions were conducted in accordance with Japanese law, and we do not believe that the transactions were sanctionable under U.S. sanctions that were in effect at the time the transactions occurred. SMBC has discontinued activities that have become impermissible or subject to secondary sanctions as a result of changes in applicable laws and regulations, including transactions involving the Central Bank of Iran whose account has been frozen. The gross revenue attributable to the accounts of government-owned Iranian banks for the twelve months ended March 31, 2019, was less than ¥5.0 million, representing about 0.0001% of SMFG’s total interest and fee income. SMFG does not allocate direct costs to interest and fee income and therefore does not calculate net profits with respect to these transactions. SMBC has informed SMFG that it intends to continue to maintain the Iranian accounts described above only to the extent permitted under applicable laws and regulations and to the extent the activities are not targeted by secondary sanctions."

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"will carefully consider its response in compliance with the law and based on U.S. sanctions…" (July 12, 2018)

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"Economic relations between Iran and Japan will enter a new phase after a planned $10 billion credit line is opened, said a senior assistant to the dean of Asian Development Bank Institute in Japan.”Three Japanese big banks, namely the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank and Mizuho Bank, have started interactions in the form of telegraphic transfer—an electronic method of transferring funds—and L/C at sight  with a number of Iranian banks." (May 13, 2017)

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"Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ handles the bulk of Japan's oil-related payment to the Islamic nation, with the rest handled by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, sources said." (The New York Times, "Japan's JX: No Problem With Paying Iran for Oil Now," 5/17/2012)
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"Two additional challenges are also in the mix for Tokyo. The first is the financing of oil imports from Iran. Annually, Japan’s oil trade with Iran runs around one trillion yen, or $13.1 billion. On January 19 the Nikkei Shimbun reported that 80 to 90 percent of those transactions are done by the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, and the remainder by the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation." (CFR. "Japan's Iran Sanctions Dilemma," 1/31/12)
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"Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc., Japan’s second-largest publicly traded bank, has identified transactions that may have violated U.S. economic sanctions, the bank said in a securities filing. The bank said it voluntarily disclosed 'a limited number' of transactions with Cuba, Iran, Sudan and other countries to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which enforces U.S. sanctions....The bank has a representative office in Iran and provides financing to entities there." (Wall Street Journal, "Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Discloses Potential Violations of US Sanctions," 10/22/10)
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"Reports issued by U.S. researchers attempting to document activity by multinational companies in Iran have named...units of Japan's three largest banks--Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group Inc--as doing business that could possibly run afoul of new U.S. rules. A widely circulated report issued this year by a former U.S. Treasury Department official on global banks doing business with Iranian banks named the Big Three Japanese financial institutions. Spokespeople for the three Japanese banks declined to comment on the accuracy of the report, or how the law might affect their operations in Iran." (Wall Street Journal, "New U.S. Law on Iran May Hurt Japanese Firms," 7/1/2010).

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc

Industry
Banking
Symbol
TYO: 8411
States
NY
Country
Japan
Sources

According to its Annual Report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2019: "During a portion of the period covered by this disclosure, Mizuho Bank was a party to a legacy counter guarantee that was opened in connection with activity of its customer for the benefit of an Iranian bank. When the guarantee was entered into, the bank in question, which is related to the Government of Iran, had not been designated under U.S. Executive Orders (“E.O.”) 13224 or 13382, although it was subsequently so designated. Mizuho Bank maintained this guarantee post-designation only after confirming that such a transaction did not involve prohibited or sanctionable activity under U.S. or other economic sanctions. As contractual obligations, this guarantee could not be exited by Mizuho Bank unilaterally. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, Mizuho Bank received fees of less than ¥1 million attributable to this guarantee and earned net profits of less than that amount. Mizuho Bank terminated the counter guarantee in July 2018 before the issuance of E.O. 13846.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, Mizuho Bank conducted a limited number of fund transfers through accounts it maintains for or at a limited number of Iranian banks related to the Government of Iran and a bank designated under E.O. 13224, or through other correspondent banking accounts on behalf of such Iranian banks. These transfers were mainly associated with requests by our customers after the relaxation of applicable sanctions pursuant to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and prior to the full re-imposition of such U.S. sanctions on November 5, 2018. Mizuho Bank has policies and procedures to process transfers through these accounts only after confirming that such transactions do not involve prohibited or sanctionable activity. Our non-U.S. offices engage in transactions relating to the Designated Countries on a limited basis and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including trade financing with respect to our customers’ export or import transactions and maintenance of correspondent banking accounts. In addition, we maintain a representative office in Iran." 

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"Will halt all iran transactions to comply with the reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Tehran later this year…The banking unit of Mizuho Financial Group Inc said later on Thursday it would take the same action..." (July 12, 2018).

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”Three Japanese big banks, namely the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank and Mizuho Bank, have started interactions in the form of telegraphic transfer—an electronic method of transferring funds—and L/C at sight  with a number of Iranian banks." (May 2017)

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Lists a representative office in Tehran, Iran on its company website. 

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"Reports issued by U.S. researchers attempting to document activity by multinational companies in Iran have named...units of Japan's three largest banks--Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group Inc--as doing business that could possibly run afoul of new U.S. rules. A widely circulated report issued this year by a former U.S. Treasury Department official on global banks doing business with Iranian banks named the Big Three Japanese financial institutions. Spokespeople for the three Japanese banks declined to comment on the accuracy of the report, or how the law might affect their operations in Iran." (Wall Street Journal, "New U.S. Law on Iran May Hurt Japanese Firms," 7/1/2010).

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

Industry
Banking
Symbol
NYSE: MUFG
States
NY
Country
Japan
Contact Information
Sources

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) "moved Japanese employees stationed at their representative offices in Tehran to locations outside of the country... and restricted travel to [Iran and Iraq]." (Japan Times, "Japan Firms Pull Staff Out of Iran and limit travel to Iraq amid high tensions," 1/9/20)

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According to its Annual report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2019: "During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, one of our non-U.S. subsidiaries engaged in business activities with entities in, or affiliated with, Iran, including counterparties owned or controlled by the Iranian government. Specifically, our non-U.S. banking subsidiary, MUFG Bank, issued letters of credit and guarantees and provided remittance and other settlement services mainly in connection with customer transactions related to the purchase and exportation of Iranian crude oil to Japan, and in some cases, in connection with other petroleum-related transactions with Iran by its customers. These transactions did not involve U.S. dollars nor clearing services of U.S. banks for the settlement of payments. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, the aggregate interest and fee income relating to these transactions was less than ¥100 million, representing less than 0.005 percent of our total interest and fee income. Some of these transactions were conducted through the use of non-U.S. dollar correspondent accounts and other similar settlement accounts maintained with MUFG Bank outside the United States by Iranian financial institutions and other entities in, or affiliated with, Iran. In addition to such accounts, MUFG Bank receives deposits in Japan from, and provides settlement services in Japan to, fewer than 10 Iranian government-related entities and fewer than 100 Iranian government-related individuals such as Iranian diplomats in Japan, and maintains settlement accounts outside the United States for certain other financial institutions specified in Executive Order 13382, which settlement accounts were frozen in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, the average aggregate balance of deposits held in these accounts represented less than 0.1 percent of the average balance of our total deposits. The fee income from the transactions attributable to these account holders was less than ¥20 million, representing less than 0.005 percent of our total fee income. Although there was no outstanding balance as of March 31, 2019, MUFG Bank had, during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, loans that were arranged prior to changes in applicable laws and regulations to borrowers in, or affiliated with, Iran, including entities owned by the Iranian government. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, the agent fee income relating to these loan transactions was less than ¥20 million, representing less than 0.005 percent of our total interest and fee income.

MUFG Bank recognizes that following the withdrawal in May 2018 by the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the United States has imposed secondary sanctions against non-U.S. persons who engage in or facilitate a broad range of transactions and activities involving Iran. MUFG Bank has taken the recent sanctions related developments into account and monitor any future transactions relating to Iran in order to comply with applicable U.S. and Japanese regulations as well as U.S., Japanese and other international sanctions."

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"Will halt all iran transactions to comply with the reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Tehran later this year…" (July 12, 2018). 

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According to its Annual Report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2018: We have loan transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with Iran, the outstanding balance of which was less than ¥50 million representing less than 0.0001% of our total assets, as of March 31, 2018. We do not have any loans outstanding to the financial institutions specifically listed by the U.S. government. In addition to such loan transactions, our other transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism consist of receiving deposits or holding assets on behalf of individuals residing in Japan who are citizens of countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, processing payments to or from entities in or affiliated with these countries on behalf of our customers, and issuing letters of credit and guarantees in connection with transactions with entities in or affiliated with such countries by our customers. These transactions do not have a material impact on our business or financial condition. For a further discussion of transactions required to be disclosed under the U.S. Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, see “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—United States—Disclosure pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.”"

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As stated in its 2017 SEC disclosure: "During the quarter ended September 30, 2017, a non-U.S. subsidiary of MUFG engaged in business activities with entities in, or affiliated with, Iran, including counterparties owned or controlled by the Iranian government. Specifically, MUFG’s non-U.S. banking subsidiary, BTMU, issued letters of credit and guarantees and provided remittance and other settlement services mainly in connection with customer transactions related to the purchase and exportation of Iranian crude oil to Japan, and in some cases, in connection with other petroleum-related transactions with Iran by its customers.  In addition to such accounts, BTMU receives deposits in Japan from, and provides settlement services in Japan to, fewer than ten Iranian government-related entities and fewer than 100 Iranian government-related individuals such as Iranian diplomats, and maintains settlement accounts outside the United States for certain other financial institutions specified in Executive Order 13382, which settlement accounts were frozen in accordance with applicable laws and regulations."

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”Three Japanese big banks, namely the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank and Mizuho Bank, have started interactions in the form of telegraphic transfer—an electronic method of transferring funds—and L/C at sight  with a number of Iranian banks." (May 2017).

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According to its Annual report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2016: "We have loan transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with Iran, the outstanding balance of which was approximately $0.8 million, representing less than 0.0001% of our total assets, as of March 31, 2016. We do not have any loans outstanding to the financial institutions specifically listed by the U.S. government. In addition to such loan transactions, our other transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism consist of receiving deposits or holding assets on behalf of individuals residing in Japan who are citizens of countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, processing payments to or from entities in or affiliated with these countries on behalf of our customers, and issuing letters of credit and guarantees in connection with transactions with entities in or affiliated with such countries by our customers."

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The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ is Japan's largest bank and serves as the core retail and commercial banking arm of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

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According to its Annual report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2015: "We have loan transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with Iran, the outstanding balance of which was approximately $1.0 million, representing less than 0.0001% of our total assets, as of March 31, 2015. We do not have any loans outstanding to the financial institutions specifically listed by the U.S. government. In addition to such loan transactions, our other transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism consist of receiving deposits or holding assets on behalf of individuals residing in Japan who are citizens of countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, processing payments to or from entities in or affiliated with these countries on behalf of our customers, and issuing letters of credit and guarantees in connection with transactions with entities in or affiliated with such countries by our customers. These transactions do not have a material impact on our business or financial condition. For a further discussion of transactions required to be disclosed under the U.S. Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, see “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—United States—Disclosure pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.”"

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According to its Annual report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2014: "We have loan transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with Iran, the outstanding balance of which was approximately $4.5 million, representing less than 0.001% of our total assets, as of March 31, 2014. We do not have any loans outstanding to the financial institutions specifically listed by the U.S. government. In addition to such loan transactions, our other transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism consist of receiving deposits or holding assets on behalf of individuals residing in Japan who are citizens of countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, processing payments to or from entities in or affiliated with these countries on behalf of our customers, and issuing letters of credit and guarantees in connection with transactions with entities in or affiliated with such countries by our customers. These transactions do not have a material impact on our business or financial condition. For a further discussion of transactions required to be disclosed under the U.S. Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, see “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—United States—Disclosure pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.”"

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"Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. agreed to pay $250 million to the state of New York to settle claims it transferred billions of dollars for countries facing U.S. sanctions including Iran, Sudan and Myanmar. Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd., the main lending unit of Japan's biggest bank by market value, moved an estimated $100 billion through the state for government and privately owned entities on the Specially Designated Nationals list issued by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) between 2002 and 2007, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement yesterday. The transfers involved about 28,000 clearing transactions and the bank routinely stripped information from wire transfer messages that could identify countries and people subject to international sanctions, the department said. The agreement follows HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA)'s record settlement with the U.S. last year, stemming from sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran to halt its nuclear program. 'We have and will continue to take a hard line in rooting out misconduct at banks that threaten our national security,' Benjamin Lawsky, the superintendent of the department, said in the statement.” (Bloomberg, “Mitsubishi UFJ to Pay $250 million to NY Regulator,” 6/20/13)

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"The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. was ordered to transfer funds belonging to Iran-based entities to the families of 17 U.S. Air Force service members killed in a 1996 attack in Saudia Arabia... The assets at issue total about $357,000 and Bank of Tokyo said it doesn’t oppose releasing them, according to the filing." (Bloomberg, "Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Must Give Iran Funds to U.S. Families," 1/29/2013)

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According to its Annual Report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2012: "We, through our subsidiaries, engage in business activities with entities in or affiliated with Iran, including transactions with counterparties owned or controlled by the Iranian government, and our banking subsidiary has a representative office in Iran. The U.S. Department of State has designated Iran and other countries as “state sponsors of terrorism,” and U.S. law generally prohibits U.S. persons from doing business with such countries. We currently have business activities with entities in or affiliated with such countries in accordance with our policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with regulations applicable in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

We have loan transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with Iran, the outstanding balance of which was approximately $4.7 million, representing less than 0.001% of our total assets, as of March 31, 2013. We do not have any loans outstanding to the financial institutions specifically listed by the U.S. government. In addition to such loan transactions, our other transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism consist of receiving deposits or holding assets on behalf of individuals residing in Japan who are citizens of countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, processing payments to or from entities in or affiliated with these countries on behalf of our customers, and issuing letters of credit and guarantees in connection with transactions with entities in or affiliated with such countries by our customers. These transactions do not have a material impact on our business or financial condition. For a further discussion of transactions required to be disclosed under the U.S. Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, see “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—United States—Disclosure under Section 13(r) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.”

We are aware of initiatives by U.S. governmental entities and non-government entities, including institutional investors such as pension funds, to adopt or consider adopting laws, regulations or policies prohibiting transactions with or investment in, or requiring divestment from, entities doing business with Iran and other countries identified as state sponsors of terrorism. It is possible that such initiatives may result in our being unable to gain or retain entities subject to such prohibitions as customers, counter-parties or investors in our shares. In addition, depending on socio-political developments, our reputation may suffer due to our transactions with counterparties in or affiliated with these countries. The above circumstances could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

Global financial institutions, including us, have become subject to an increasingly complex set of sanctions laws and regulations in recent years, and this regulatory environment is expected to continue. Moreover, the measures proposed or adopted vary across the major jurisdictions, increasing the cost and resources necessary to design and implement an appropriate global compliance program. The U.S. federal government and some state governments in the United States have enacted legislation designed to limit economic and financial transactions with Iran by limiting the ability of financial institutions that may have engaged in any one of a broad range of activities related to Iran to conduct various transactions in the relevant jurisdictions. The U.S. federal government recently strengthened the Iran-related regulations with the enactment in August 2012 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act, which, among other things, imposes additional disclosure requirements. The Japanese government has also implemented a series of measures under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, such as freezing the assets of designated financial institutions and others that could contribute to Iran’s nuclear activities, and our most recently modified policies and procedures take into account the current Japanese regulatory requirements. There remains a risk of potential U.S. regulatory action against us, however, if U.S. regulators perceive the modified policies and procedures not to be in compliance with applicable regulations."

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"Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp has renewed its annual oil purchase deal with Iran but cut the loading volume to comply with U.S. sanctions against the Islamic nation, trade sources said on Friday…Mitsubishi's new contractual volume from April onwards remained unclear. The company had bought 15,000 barrels of crude per day (bpd), or more, last year."  (Reuters, "Japan's Mitsubishi renews Iran oil imports deal," 6/22/12)

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"Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, which handles most of Japan's payments for oil imports from Iran, on Thursday said it had frozen transactions with Iranian banks after being ordered to do so by the New York District Court earlier this month." (Reuters, "Japan looks to central bank to pay for Iran oil: Nikkei," 5/21/2012)

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"The National Iranian Oil Co., the country’s state-run oil company, will stop Japanese refiners from picking up cargoes until it can find alternative ways to access payments received through accounts at the Bank of Tokyo unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. (8306), the officials said, declining to be identified because of company policies... A district court in New York told Mitsubishi UFJ this month to freeze at least $2.6 billion of Iranian assets held at the bank, Tomohiro Kosaka, a Tokyo-based spokesman for Mitsubishi UFJ, said today... Mitsubishi UFJ filed a petition of objection yesterday to the New York court, said Shinya Matsumoto, a spokesman for the lender in Tokyo." (Bloomberg Businessweek, "Iran Crude to Japan Said to Face Blocks After Court Order," 5/17/2012)

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"Two additional challenges are also in the mix for Tokyo. The first is the financing of oil imports from Iran. Annually, Japan’s oil trade with Iran runs around one trillion yen, or $13.1 billion. On January 19 the Nikkei Shimbun reported that 80 to 90 percent of those transactions are done by the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, and the remainder by the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation." (CFR. "Japan's Iran Sanctions Dilemma," 1/31/12)

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"Reports issued by U.S. researchers attempting to document activity by multinational companies in Iran have named...units of Japan's three largest banks--Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group Inc--as doing business that could possibly run afoul of new U.S. rules... A widely circulated report issued this year by a former U.S. Treasury Department official on global banks doing business with Iranian banks named the Big Three Japanese financial institutions. Spokespeople for the three Japanese banks declined to comment on the accuracy of the report, or how the law might affect their operations in Iran." (Wall Street Journal, "New U.S. Law on Iran May Hurt Japanese Firms," 7/1/2010).

 

Itochu Corporation

Industry
Conglomerate, Energy, Manufacturing
Symbol
TYO:8001
Country
Japan
Sources

According to publicly accessible ship-monitoring data, since January 1, 2016, Itochu-owned vessels have called at Iranian ports

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Itochu Iran Co. Ltd., is listed on the Itochu Corporation website with an office in Tehran, Iran. (Itochu Company Website, “Middle East”).    

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 "Japan’s Itochu Corporation signed a deal on Saturday to purchase 11,000 tons of polyethylene per month from the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC)." (May 2017)

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Japan’s general trading firm ITOCHU has signed a contract, worth €320 million, for financing petrochemical projects in Iran. The deal was signed with Iran’s Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC) in Tehran on Saturday, Shana reported. Back in September, Japan’s integrated trading and investment business conglomerate, Marubeni, signed a deal with the same value with PGPIC on financing petrochemical projects in Iran. PGPIC has announced that it plans to attract €1.5 billion in foreign investment within the framework of short-term (usance) and medium-term contracts by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 2017). (Tehran Times,  "Japan’s ITOCHU signs €320m petchem deal in Iran" 12/5/2016)

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"Conservative Japanese firms have so far held off taking Iranian crude due to a lack of internationally acceptable insurance coverage, but are looking at ways of using cover provided by the Japanese government, the sources said. The traders seeking to restart purchases together imported around 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian oil before sanctions were imposed and renewed purchases would give a boost to Tehran's aim of increasing its exports to 4 million bpd... ... Itochu Corp said it was considering resuming imports of Iranian oil, while trading house Kanematsu Corp which last bought Iran crude in 2010, is also looking to resume purchases at an early date, but has not yet lined up any customers, a company source told Reuters." (Reuters, "Some Japan trading houses eye resuming Iran oil imports-sources," 10/19/2016).

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"With approximately 150 overseas bases in 74 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading sogo shosha, is engaging in domestic trading, import/export, and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, information and communications technology, aerospace, electronics, energy, metals, minerals, chemicals, forest products, general merchandise, food, finance, realty, insurance, and logistics services, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas" (Company Website).

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According to Reuters, "On March 1, 2010, the Company acquired ITOCHU Oil Exploration Co., Ltd” (Reuters Company Profile).

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"ITOCHU Oil Exploration Co., Ltd., also known as CIECO, is an upstream E & P company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. CIECO is known for its technological expertise in all aspects of oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production. As an operating subsidiary company for the ITOCHU Corporation (ITC), CIECO, with its know-how in reservoir management and exploitation, risk management and finance structuring related to the hydrocarbon industry, plays a central role in every aspect of the upstream hydrocarbon businesses of the ITOCHU Group. CIECO's E & P business spans nearly 10 countries globally, allowing for the maximization of ITC's worldwide network" (Itochu Oil Website).

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Itochu has a branch in Tehran, ITOCHU IRAN Ltd. (Company Website)

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Itochu Iran lists describes itself as “a subsidary of a Japanese Trading company. Our main function is marketing and sales of various products in our local market and wordwide. We provide all required information for buyers and suppliers in order to finalize a business” (Itochu Iran Profile).

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As of April 2010, Itochu imports five thousand barrels of crude oil per day from Iran. (Reuters, "Iran’s Crude Oil Buyers in Europe, Asia," April 18 2010)

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In a 2005 news release, Itochu announced a major project with Iran to develop Iranian natural gas: "ITOCHU Corporation is at the last adjustment stage with the parties concerned of the high-density polyethylene Project with plant capacity 300,000t/a in Islamic Republic of Iran. The total investment amounts up to 25 billion yen."

"This Project is an epoch-making one in which Thai, Iranian, and Japanese companies jointly establish a joint venture company in Iran. ITOCHU contributes about 12% equity for the joint venture company through another investment company established with Thai partners. This is a long time since the last formal investment has been made in Iran by a Japanese company. Moreover, ITOCHU will also undertake a role as a Project developer with the role including, but not limited to, coordinating contractual negotiation, and arranging finance for the Project, with the close cooperation with the remaining parties."

"It is the greatest merit of this Project to realize stable supply of the inexpensive ethylene utilizing abundant Iranian natural gas for a long period of time" (Itochu News Release, “Iran/Assaluyeh high-density polyethylene (HDPE) Project,” July 2, 2005).