Christopher Kodama
Advises major Japanese and international companies and financial institutions on a broad range of global capital markets transactions. Proficient in Japanese.
Chris advises major Japanese and international companies and financial institutions, as well as Japanese governmental entities, on a broad range of global capital markets transactions, including IPOs and follow-on equity offerings, offerings of senior and subordinated debt securities, and the establishment and maintenance of SEC-registered shelf and MTN programs. He has extensive experience on securities offerings by Japan’s leading financial institutions, including SEC-registered and exempt offerings of regulatory capital instruments, covered bonds and green/sustainability bonds.
Chris also advises Japanese companies in connection with U.S. public reporting obligations and corporate governance requirements and on cross-border tender offers, spinoffs, share exchanges and other strategic corporate transactions involving U.S. securities laws. He is proficient in Japanese.
Experience highlights
Debt / Hybrid Securities
- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, ORIX and Roper Technologies on SEC-registered offerings of senior debt
- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group on its SEC-registered and Rule 144A/Reg S offerings of Tier 2 subordinated debt
- Panasonic, the Development Bank of Japan, Mitsubishi HC Capital (formerly Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance), Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, the Metropolis of Tokyo and Japan Finance Organization for Municipalities on Rule 144A/Reg S offerings of senior debt
- Nippon Life Insurance and Sumitomo Life Insurance on Rule 144A/Reg S offerings of subordinated debt
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking on its establishment of a GMTN program and its Section 3(a)(2) offerings of senior debt securities thereunder
- Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank as co-guarantor in connection with the establishment of a guaranteed secured obligation programme and Rule 144A/Reg S offering of covered obligations thereunder
- The underwriters on SEC-registered offerings of senior debt by Mizuho Financial Group, Toyota Motor, NIKE, NetApp and Allergan
- The initial purchasers on:
- Rule 144A/Reg S offerings of senior debt by NTT Group, Nissan Motors, Seven & i Holdings, Toyota Industries and Central Japan Railway
- Rule 144A/Reg S offerings of subordinated debt by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance
- Convertible debt offerings by Infinera and JDS Uniphase, and a high-yield debt offering by Brocade Communications
- Green and sustainability bond offerings by Toyota Motor, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, the Development Bank of Japan and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
Equity Securities
- Plaid and Sushiro Global Holdings on Rule 144A/Reg S global IPOs and TSE listings
- The initial purchasers on:
- Rule 144A/Reg S global IPOs and TSE listings for Visional, Appier, Roland, SoftBank, Macromill, KATITAS, Arteria Networks and Forum Engineering
- Rule 144A/Reg S global follow-on offerings by Nissin Foods, Recruit Holdings, SoftBank, Asahi Group, SBI Shinsei Bank, NanoCarrier and Sosei Group
- ORIX on its SEC-registered offering of common stock/ADSs
- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group on its NYSE listing
- Tokyu Fudosan Holdings on its debut Rule 144A/Reg S global follow-on offering
- The underwriters on SEC-registered IPOs and listings by Splunk (Nasdaq) and Cvent (NYSE)
- The underwriters on SEC-registered follow-on offerings by Splunk, Sterling Financial and Onyx Pharmaceuticals
Insights
News
Credentials
Recognition
Chambers Asia-Pacific and Chambers Global – Capital Markets: International: US Law, Japan
IFLR1000 – Capital Markets (Debt, Derivatives and Equity), Japan, Highly Regarded
Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Capital Markets: International Firms and Joint Ventures, Japan, Rising Star
Education
Professional history
- Partner, 2023-present
- Counsel, 2013-2023
- Davis Polk since 2006
- Tokyo office, 2007-2011 and 2013-present
- Northern California office, 2011-2013
- New York office, 2006-2007
Qualifications and admissions
- Japan, Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi, Dai-Ichi Tokyo
- State of California
- State of New York