E.SUN FHC held its investor conference today (13) to announce its business overview for the first three quarters of 2017. Cumulative profit after tax was NT$11.58 billion, earnings per share (EPS) was NT$1.18, ROE was 11.10%, and ROA was 0.78%. E.SUN FHC President Joseph Huang announced that the business had reached a new level in terms of size as both the financial holding company and the bank had passed the NT$2,000 billion line in assets and E.SUN FHC now held more than NT$100 billion in capital.
E.SUN Bank Tokyo Branch opened in Japan on October 5, and a large opening party was held on October 20. The branch brings a financial hub in East Asia into E.SUN Bank's overseas network. E.SUN Bank now has a total of 25 overseas offices in 9 countries and regions. These offices connect financial hubs in Asia Pacific, Greater China, and ASEAN countries and create a complete financial integration platform in Asia. The event was attended by E.SUN Bank Founder Yung-Jen Huang, Chairman Gary K.L. Tseng, President Joseph Huang, Ambassador Chang-ting Hsieh of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, Managing Director Hitoshi Funamachi of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, and representatives of Japan's largest credit card issuer, JCB, NTT DATA of Japan's largest telecommunications services provider, NTT Group, Japan's largest advertising agency, Dentsu, and many other Japanese and Taiwanese companies. In particular, internationally renowned architect Tadao Ando was also present to give a speech and celebrate the opening of E.SUN Bank Tokyo Branch.
Japan is one of the G7 countries and one of Taiwan's three largest trade partners. Tokyo is the world's 5th largest financial hub and generates a massive trade volume. The Japanese Yen is one of the major currencies and Japan plays a key role in financial markets worldwide. The Japanese government has been making an active effort to reinvigorate its economy in the last few years. The outlook is turning positive. Meanwhile, Tokyo is carrying out a series of urban renewal projects in preparation for the upcoming 2020 Olympics. These projects present opportunities for financial institutions to provide financing for hotels, commercial buildings and other real estate. As the economy recovers, there are going to be more opportunities.
The E.SUN Bank Tokyo Branch sits in Marunouchi Building, a landmark building situated in the heart of Tokyo's financial district. The branch stands straight across from Tokyo Station and close to the Tokyo Imperial Palace and other large financial institutions and corporate headquarters. With the Tokyo Branch, E.SUN is able to provide deposit and loan services for Japanese and Taiwanese businesses alike and trade in Japanese financial markets. Meanwhile, the Tokyo Branch will seek opportunities to work with Japanese banks and develop a relationship with Japan's three largest banks. It will also try to work with regional banks in Japan and brings E.SUN's overseas network, which encompasses 25 overseas offices in 9 countries and regions, to supply financial advice for Taiwanese and Japanese customers. Its mission is to act as an Asian financial platform and support Taiwanese and Japanese businesses and their operations in China and ASEAN countries.
According the Japan National Tourism Organization's statistics, 4.17 million Taiwanese people visited Japan in 2016. Taiwan produces the third largest number of visitors to Japan. Japan is the most popular country to visit for Taiwanese consumers. To meet the demand for cross-border shopping, E.SUN Bank has teamed up with NTT DATA of Japan's largest telecommunications services provider, NTT Group, to create shopping services in both Taiwan and Japan in order to offer a safer, more friendly shopping experience.
Regarding cross-border financial service, E.SUN has not only opened real branches to support Taiwanese businesses looking to invest or trade, but also participated in local opportunities for growth. Working with leading cross-border payment service providers in Japan and in the United States also makes E.SUN better equipped to meet the demand of cross-border spending by individual consumers. The opening of the Tokyo Branch takes E.SUN another step toward completion of its overseas network. E.SUN will continue to devote itself to providing the most complete range of integrated financial services in Asia and become one of Asia's distinguished banks.
