Master Trust Bank of Japan (MTBJ), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Bank (MUTB), has entered into a strategic partnership with BlackRock’s Aladdin platform, to support the closer integration of front-to-back-office investment management lifecycle. The partnership is the first of its kind in Japan, and will be implemented through collaboration between BlackRock Solutions and MTBJ.

The partnership aims to enrich MTBJ’s fund administration services with specialized custodian offering for its asset manager and institutional clients in Japan. Leveraging its expertise in custody and middle- and back-office outsourcing capability, MTBJ can now offer a streamlined investment management experience to mutual clients of MTBJ and BlackRock’s Aladdin platform, enabling a coherent and efficient flow of data for a fully connected front-to-back office.

By providing integrated operational workflows across the investment management lifecycle, clients can enjoy access to seamless data update, and operational risk and cost management that enhances the end-to-end experience, MTBJ says.

Toshikazu Mukohara, representative director and president of MTBJ, says: "As an asset servicing company, we have cultivated know-how and technology over the years through operations related to the settlement, custody, and accounting of securities on behalf of investors. Through the Aladdin platform, we aspire to further contribute to the asset management industry and solve challenges our clients face, by fostering an environment where asset management companies and institutional investors can specialize in investment management.”

Akiyoshi Takeuchi, head of BlackRock Solutions Asia-Pacific, adds: “We are delighted to have MTBJ as our first Japanese partner on Aladdin Provider. It is a critical milestone as we continue to support clients in Japan and across the Asia-Pacific region in enhancing their technology offering. Our partnership can advance our shared value to solve the diverse and complicated needs of clients in asset management and custody operations, and to contribute to the development of the asset management industry.”

MTBJ began its operations in May 2000 as Japan's first trust bank specializing in asset management. The bank has invested in approximately 130 countries and has assets of over 500 trillion yen (US$4.42 trillion) under custody.