UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM20-F

(Mark One)

OR

OR

OR

Commission file number:001-34919

Kabushiki Kaisha Mitsui Sumitomo Financial Group

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

SUMITOMO MITSUI FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Takeshi MikamiMasahiko Tsutsui

1-2, Marunouchi1-chome,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo100-0005, Japan

Telephone:+81-3-3282-8111 +81-3-3282-8111         Facsimile:+81-3-4333-9954 +81-3-4333-9954

(Name, telephone,e-mail and/or facsimile number and address of company contact person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

At March 31, 2018,2019, the following shares of capital stock were outstanding: 1,414,443,3901,399,401,420 shares of common stock (including 3,884,9683,800,918 shares of common stock held by the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries and equity-method associates as treasury stock).

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of RegulationS-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☐☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, anon-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ☐

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.    Item 17  ☐    Item 18  ☐

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i

ii

CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS, CONVENTIONS AND

PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

As used in this annual report, unless the context otherwise requires, “SMFG,“we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our”“SMFG” and similar terms refer to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. as well as to its subsidiaries, as the context requires. “SMBC” refers to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, which is one of our commercial banking subsidiaries, or to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, depending on the context. References to the “SMBC Group” are to us and our subsidiaries and affiliates taken as a whole.

In this annual report, all of our financial information is presented on a consolidated basis, unless we state otherwise. As used in this annual report, “IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Boards (“IASB”) and “Japanese GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in Japan. Our consolidated financial information in this annual report has been prepared in accordance with IFRS, except for the risk-weighted capital ratios, the segment results of operation and some other specifically identified information, which are prepared in accordance with Japanese banking regulations or Japanese GAAP. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all financial information contained in this annual report is expressed in Japanese yen.

Our fiscal year ends on March 31.

Unless otherwise specified or required by the context: references to “days” are to calendar days; references to “years” are to calendar years and to “fiscal years” are to our fiscal years ending on March 31; references to “$,” “dollars” and “U.S. dollars” are to United States dollars; references to “euros” and “€” are to the currency of those member states of the European Union which are participating in the European Economic and Monetary Union pursuant to the Treaty on European Union; references to “£” and “British pounds sterling” are to the currency of the United Kingdom; and references to “yen” and “¥” are to Japanese yen. Unless otherwise specified, when converting currencies into yen we use our median exchange rates for buying and selling spot dollars, or other currencies, by telegraphic transfer against yen as determined at the end of the relevant fiscal period.

Unless otherwise indicated, in this annual report, where information is presented in millions, billions or trillions of yen or thousands, millions or billions of dollars, amounts of less than one thousand, one million, one billion or one trillion, as the case may be, have been rounded. Accordingly, the total of figures presented in columns or otherwise may not equal the total of the individual items. Except for capital ratios, which have been truncated, percentage data, unless we state otherwise have been subjected to rounding adjustments for the convenience of the reader.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Securities Exchange Act of 1934”). When included in this annual report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “probability,” “risk,” “project,” “should,” “seek,” “target,” “will” and similar expressions, among others, identify forward-looking statements. You can also identify forward-looking statements in the discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements, which include, but are not limited to, statements contained in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Credit, Market and Other Risk,” reflect our current views with respect to future events and are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risk factors described in this annual report. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described here as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended.

The U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking information to encourage companies to provide prospective information about themselves. We rely on this safe harbor in making these forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and the differences may be material. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the following:

Given these and other risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of the filing of this annual report. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report to reflect any changes in events, conditions, circumstances or other developments upon which any such statement is based. The information contained in this annual report identifies important factors in addition to those referred to above that could cause differences in our actual results.

PART I

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

3.A.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data at and for each of the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 2015 and 20142015 have been derived from our consolidated financial statements. You should read this data together with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

factors, including, but not limited to, the risks faced by us described below and elsewhere in this annual report. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Forward-looking statements in this section are made only as of the filing date of this annual report.

Changes in the levels or volatility of market rates or prices could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We engage in trading and investing activities dealing with various kinds of financial instruments such as bonds, equities, currencies, derivatives and funds. For example, we have substantial investments in debt securities. At March 31, 2018,2019, we had ¥8¥5 trillion of Japanese government bonds classified asavailable-for-sale financial assets, debt instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income, which accounted for approximately 4.0%2.6% of our total assets.

Our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by actual changes or volatility in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and market prices of other investment securities. Increases in interest

Stability Board (“FSB”) as Global Systemically Important Banks(“G-SIBs”), including us. This requirement is commonly referred to as theG-SIB capital surcharge. Based on the list, we will behave been required to maintain an additional 1% of Common Equity Tier 1 capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets whenfrom 2019.

On March 15, 2019, the requirement is fullyFSA published its guidelines for the leverage ratio applicable to banks with international operations, which have been applied from March 31, 2019. Under thephase-in requirements, we FSA’s guidelines for the leverage ratio, banks with international operations must maintain a leverage ratio of at least 3% on both a consolidated basis and a nonconsolidated basis from March 31, 2019.

G-SIBs are currently required to maintain 0.75% of Common Equity Tier 1 capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets.G-SIBs will also be subject to a global standard for Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity (“TLAC”), which defines certain minimum requirements for total loss-absorbing capacity so that ifG-SIBs fail, they will have sufficient loss absorbing and recapitalization capacity available in resolution. In November 2015, the FSB published the final TLAC standard. Asstandards (“FSB’s TLAC Standards”) and, in March 2019, the FSA published its regulatory guidelines and related documents for the implementation of the TLAC standards in Japan (“Japanese TLAC Standards”) to which we are subject as aG-SIB, we will be subject to the final TLAC standard, as implemented in Japan. G-SIB.

If our or SMBC’s capital ratios fall below required levels, the FSA may require us or SMBC to take a variety of corrective actions, including withdrawal from all international operations or suspension of all or part of our operations, which may indirectly affect our ability to fulfill our contractual obligations or may result in restrictions on our businesses. Failure to maintain capital levels under the capital buffer requirements under Basel III and the requirement for theG-SIB capital surcharge will result in restrictions on capital distributions, such as dividends, share buybacks, discretionary payments on other Tier 1 capital instruments and bonuses. In addition, some of our and SMBC’s domestic and overseas subsidiaries are also subject to local capital ratio requirements. Failure of those subsidiaries to meet local requirements may result in administrative actions or sanctions imposed by local regulatory authorities.

We may incur losses as a result of financial difficulties of counterparties and other financial institutions.

We regularly execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of deterioration of creditworthiness of a counterparty or client. With respect to secured transactions, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral cannot be foreclosed on or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the loan or other exposures due to us.

The FSA and regulatory authorities in the United States and other jurisdictions, along with the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force, have in recent years made the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing a focus of governmental policy relating to financial institutions. In April 2019, SMBC and its New York branch entered into a written agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York requiring SMBC and its New York branch to address certain deficiencies relating to the New York branch’s anti-money laundering and economic sanctions compliance program. SMBC and its New York branch are required, among other things, to implement corrective measures and submit periodic progress reports to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. If we fail to comply with the terms of the written agreement, we may become subject to monetary penalties and other regulatory sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on us. Further, as a result of the deficiencies identified in the written agreement, we no longer meet the requirements to be treated as a financial holding company, and, pending completion of a remediation plan designed to meet these requirements, we are currently subject to restrictions in our ability to engage in certain new categories of financial activities in the United States and to make acquisitions of companies engaged in activities in the United States. If we fail to correct the conditions giving rise to such restrictions within the prescribed period of time, we may be required to divest or terminate certain business activities in the United States, which could adversely affect our operations and impair our ability to implement our business plans. Although we are committed to improving compliance with laws and regulations relating to anti-money laundering and economic sanctions, we will continue to be subject to ongoing inspection by the regulatory authorities in the United States and other jurisdictions. Any adverse regulatory action or change in regulatory focus, whether as a result of inspections or regulatory developments, may negatively affect our banking operations, cause harm to our reputation, and may requireresult in expensive remediation.remediation, monetary penalties and other regulatory sanctions.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) provides a broad framework for significant regulatory changes across most areas of U.S. financial regulations. The Dodd-Frank Act addresses, among other issues, systemic risk oversight, bank capital standards, the resolution of failing systemically significant financial institutions,over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, the ability of banking entities to engage in proprietary trading activities and invest in hedge funds and private equity funds, consumer and investor protection, and securitization. The Dodd-Frank Act as well as other post-financial crisis regulatory reforms in the United States have increased costs, imposed limitations on activities and resulted in an increased intensity in regulatory enforcement and fines across the banking and financial services sector. The current U.S. Presidential administration has expressed different policy goals with respect to regulation of the U.S. financial system, but the impact that the U.S. Presidential administration’s policy goals or any new or proposed legislation could have on the regulatory requirements currently imposed on us remains uncertain.

Increased competition in Japan may put downward pressure on prices for our financial services, cause us to lose market share or require us to incur additional expenses in order to remain competitive. Internationally, various forms of financial support provided by foreign governments to foreign banks and other financial institutions may reduce the cost of capital to those institutions and otherwise give them competitive advantages. In addition, the development of new technologies in the “Fintech” and other sectors, along with the corresponding rise of new entrants from these sectors into the financial services industry, may further intensify competition in the business environments in which we operate, and as a result, we may be forced to adapt our business to compete more effectively. There can be no assurance that we will be able to respond effectively to current or future competition.

The changesChanges in the financial environment in Japan may also have a negative effect on the Japanese financial services industry. For example, prolonged monetary easing by the Bank of Japan (“BOJ”) may continue to lower the domestic interest spreads. This may significantly affect the businesses of commercial banks in Japan, including us. For further information on the BOJ’s monetary policy measures, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Overview—Factors Affecting Results of Operation.”

Adverse economic conditions and deterioration of the financial conditions of our customers could increase our credit costs.

Ournon-performing loans (“NPLs”) and credit costs for corporate and individual customers may increase significantly if:

other government support measures in response to the financial crisis or other unexpected incidents such as large-scale natural disasters and any subsequent collateral events. Even if our current or future loans to borrowers have received or will receive any government support measures, it is unclear to what extent those loans will benefit, directly or indirectly, from the current or any future government guarantees or support measures.

In addition, our NPLs may increase and there may be additional credit costs if we fail to accurately estimate the incurredexpected losses in our loan portfolio. These estimates require difficult, subjective and complex judgments such as credit evaluation of our borrowers, valuation of collateral and forecasts of economic conditions.

The ratio of impaired loans and advances to the total loans and advances, both net of allowance for loan losses, were 0.6%, 0.7%0.6% and 0.8%0.7% at March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 2016,2017, respectively. For further information, see “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Financial Condition—Loans and Advances.”

A significant downgrade of our credit ratings could have a negative effect on us.

At the date of this annual report, the Company has the issuer ratings ofA1/P-1 from Moody’s Japan K.K., (“Moody’s”), the issuer credit rating ofA- from S&P Global Ratings Japan Inc. (“S&P”) and the foreign and local currency issuer default ratings of A/F1 from Fitch Ratings Japan Limited (“Fitch”). There can be no assurance that these ratings will be maintained.

A material downgrade of our credit ratings may have various effects including, but not limited to, the following:

Any of these or other effects of a downgrade of our credit ratings could have a negative impact on the profitability of our treasury and other operations, and could adversely affect our regulatory capital position, liquidity position, financial condition and results of operations. For more information about our credit ratings, see “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

We are exposed to new risks as we expand our businesses, the range of our products and services, and geographic scope of our businesses overseas.

As part of our business strategies we have expanded and may continue to expand our businesses or our range of products and services beyond our core business, commercial banking. This could expose us to new risks, such as adverse regulatory changes, more competition or deterioration in the operating environments that affect those businesses, products and services. Some of those risks could be types with which we have no or only limited experience. As a result, our risk management systems may prove to be insufficient and may not be effective in all cases or to the degree required.

In accordance with our strategy to further increase our presence in the international financial markets, we may continue to expand the scale of our overseas businesses, especially in emerging economies, notably Asian countries and regions. The expansion of our overseas businesses may further increase our exposure to risks of adverse developments in foreign economies and markets, including interest rate and foreign exchange rate risk, regulatory risk and political risk. Our overseas expansion also exposes us to the compliance risks and the credit and market risks specific to the countries and regions in which we operate, including the risk of deteriorating conditions in the credit profile of overseas borrowers.

Failure of our business strategies through our subsidiaries, affiliates and other business alliance partners could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations, including impairment losses on goodwill or investments.

Aligned with our business strategies, we have made and may undertake acquisition of a subsidiary, investments in affiliates and other business alliance partners, and reorganization within SMBC Group companies. It is uncertain whether we will receive the expected benefits from those business strategies, due to any adverse regulatory changes, worsening of economic conditions, increased competition or other factors that may negatively affect the related business activities. Furthermore, unanticipated costs and liabilities may be incurred in connection with those business strategies, including liabilities from the claims related to the businesses prior to our business alliances, and cost from actions by regulatory authorities.

When we acquire a subsidiary, we may recognize goodwill and intangible assets. Impairment losses on goodwill or intangible assets in connection with acquisitions must be recognized when the recoverable amount of goodwill or intangible assets of the business is lower than the carrying amount at the time of impairment testing, which is performed annually or whenever there is an indication that the goodwill or intangible assets may be impaired.

(ranging from 15% to 20%) up to the 29.2% maximum rate permitted under the Act Regulating the Receipt of Contributions, Receipt of Deposits and Interest Rates (“Contributions Act”). However, amendments to laws regulating moneylenders, which increased the authority of government regulators, prohibited gray zone interest and introduced an upper limit on aggregate credit extensions to an individual by moneylenders atone-third of the borrower’s annual income, were promulgated in 2006 and became fully effective in June 2010. After the promulgation of such amendments, Cedyna, SMBC Consumer Finance and other companies engaged in related business reduced their interest rates on loans in preparation for the prohibition of gray zone interest. As a consequence, margins earned by those companies, as well as the amounts of loans extended, decreased.

In addition, as a result of court decisions unfavorable to those companies, claims for refunds of amounts paid in excess of the applicable maximum allowed rate by the Interest Rate Restriction Act have increased substantially. Although Cedyna, SMBC Consumer Finance and other subsidiaries have each recorded a provision for claims for refunds of gray zone interest on loans, we may be required to recognize additional losses if such provisions are determined to be insufficient, and the additional losses could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Inability to generate sufficient future taxable profits or adverse changes to tax laws, regulatory requirements or accounting standards could have a negative impact on the recoverability of certain deferred tax assets.

We recognize deferred tax assets relating to tax losses carried forward and deductible temporary differences only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the tax losses carried forward and the temporary differences can be utilized. The deferred tax assets are quantified on the basis of currently enacted tax rates and accounting standards and are subject to change as a result of future changes to tax laws or the rules for computing taxable profits and allowable losses. Failure to generate sufficient future taxable profits or changes in tax laws or accounting standards may reduce our estimated recoverable amount of net deferred tax assets. Such a reduction could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Declines in returns on our plan assets or revised actuarial assumptions for retirement benefits may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

SMBC and some of our other subsidiaries have various defined benefit plans. We have experienced in the past, and may experience in the future, declines in returns on plan assets and changes in the discount rates and other actuarial assumptions. If returns on plan assets decrease, or if we revise the discount rates and other assumptions, the deficit of the impacted defined benefit plan may increase and adversely affect our financial

unfavorable terms. Circumstances unrelated to our businesses and outside of our control, such as, but not limited to, adverse economic conditions, disruptions in the financial markets or negative developments concerning other financial institutions perceived to be comparable to us, may also limit or adversely affect our ability to replace maturing liabilities in a timely manner. Without sufficient liquidity, we will be forced to curtail our operations, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Sales of our shares by us may have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares and may dilute existing shareholders.

We may issue shares from the unissued portion of our authorized share capital and sell shares held as treasury stock, generally without a shareholder vote. Sales of shares in the future may be at prices below prevailing market prices and may be dilutive.

Our business relies on our information technology systems, which are at risk of being damaged or failing as a result of various incidents including cyberattacks, and their failure could harm our relationships with customers or adversely affect our provision of services to customers.

In all aspects of our business, we use information technology systems to deliver services to and execute transactions on behalf of our customers as well as for back-office operations. We therefore depend on the capacity and reliability of the electronic and information technology systems supporting our operations. We may encounter service disruptions in the future, owing to failures of these information technology systems. Our information technology systems are at risk of being damaged or failing as a result of quality problems, human errors, natural disasters, power losses, sabotage, acts of terrorism, cyberattacks and similar events.

In particular, cybersecurity risks for financial institutions have significantly increased in recent years. This is partly because of the continuous introduction of new technologies and the use of the Internetinternet and telecommunications technologies as well as the elaboration of the cyberattacks, which include computer viruses, malicious code, phishing attacks or other security breaches. As we rely on information technology systems in our business and our receipt and handling of confidential personal information from our customers, any impairment, compromise or destruction of such systems may interfere with, or temporarily prevent us from, continuing our operations. In addition, we also face indirect cybersecurity risks relating to our customers and other third parties, including counterparties in the financial services industry. As a result of increasing consolidation, interdependence and complexity of financial entities and technology systems, a technology failure or cyberattack could have a material impact on counterparties or other market participants, including us. Any third-party technology failure or cyberattack could adversely affect our ability to execute transactions or deliver services to our clients effectively. For example, vulnerabilities in third-party technology systems may be exploited in ways that increase the risk our information technology systems are exposed to cyberattacks.

We handle personal information obtained from our individual and corporate customers in relation to our banking, securities, consumer lending, credit card, asset management and other businesses. The systems we have implemented to protect the confidentiality of personal information, including those designed to meet the strict requirements of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, may not be effective in preventing disclosure of personal information by unauthorized access from a third party. Leakage of personal information could expose us to demands for compensation or lawsuits for ensuing economic losses or emotional distress, administrative actions or sanctions, additional expenses associated with making necessary changes to our systems and reputational harm. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Fraud, misconduct or other unlawful behavior by directors, officers and employees or third parties could subject us to losses and regulatory sanctions.

We are exposed to potential losses resulting from fraud, misconduct and other unlawful behavior by directors, officers and employees. Directors, officers and employees may bind us to transactions that exceed authorized limits or present unacceptable risks, hide from us and from our customers unauthorized activities, improperly use confidential information or otherwise abuse customer confidences. Third parties may engage in fraudulent activities, including fraudulent use of bank accounts or the use of false identities to open accounts for money laundering, tax evasion or other illegal purposes. Third parties could also use stolen or forged ATM cards, engage in credit card fraud or transfer funds illegally through online banking fraud, and we may be required to indemnify victims of such fraud for related losses. In the broad range of businesses in which we engage, fraud, misconduct and other unlawful behavior are difficult to prevent or detect. In addition, with or without actual fraud, misconduct and other unlawful behavior by directors, officers and employees, investigations, administrative actions or litigation could commence in relation to them. Furthermore, we may not be able to recover the losses caused by these activities, including possible deterioration of our reputation.

Transactions involving Iran and other countries and targets that are subject to U.S. or other financial sanctions may lead some potential customers and investors to avoid doing business with us or investing in our securities or may limit our business operations.

U.S. law generally prohibits or substantially restricts U.S. persons from doing business with countries, a region and persons that are the subject of sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or other agencies (“Restricted Targets” which include Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine). Other applicable financial sanctions are administered by the Ministry of Finance of Japan and authorities in other countries.

We maintain a SMBC Group-wide policy designed to ensure compliance with U.S. and other applicable sanctions laws and regulations. Ournon-U.S. offices engage in transactions relating to the Restricted Targets in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. These activities include or have included remittance of Japanese yen with

by SMBC have been identified and voluntarily disclosed to OFAC. These transactions resulted from the inherent limitation on information about underlying transactions that can be obtained in the course of normal banking operations, inadvertent operational errors, or from the lack of familiarity of some personnel of SMBC with the requirements of the relevant regulations in the past. We have continuously strengthened our SMBC Group-wide OFAC and other financial sanctions compliance program in an effort to prevent the recurrence of such potential violations. We settled some of the voluntarily disclosed potential violations with OFAC and the others were closed without a penalty. However, in light of the inadvertent nature of such potential violations and the degree to which our strengthened compliance program aims to mitigate the risk of potential violations, we do not believe that our settlement with OFAC, or any possible penalties that OFAC may impose with respect to the other potential violations that remain unsettled, will have a material impact on our reputation, financial condition or results of operations, or on the prices of our securities.

We are aware of initiatives by U.S. states and U.S. institutional investors, such as pension funds, to adopt laws, regulations or policies prohibiting transactions with or investment in, or requiring divestment from, entities engaged in certain business with Iran and other Restricted Targets. It is possible that such laws and initiatives may result in our inability to enter into transactions with those entities that are subject to such prohibitions or to retain or acquire such entities as customers or investors in our securities.

In recent years, the U.S. government implemented a number of sanctions targetingnon-U.S. persons for activities undertaken outside the United States (“secondary sanctions”) that involve specific sanctions targets or certain activities including, among other things, certain transactions related to Iran’s energy, petrochemical, shipping or shipbuilding sectors. Pursuant to the July 14, 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”) agreed to by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany and Iran, with the European Union, on January 16, 2016 (“Implementation Day”), the United States lifted U.S. nuclear-related secondary sanctions targeting Iran. Even after Implementation Day, certain secondary sanctions remained in effect, including those targeting significant transactions involving Iranian or Iran-related Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (“SDNs”). However, on May 8,in 2018, President Trump announced that he was terminating the United States’States terminated its participation in the JCPOA. At November 5, 2018, following the conclusion of certain “wind-down” periods, all U.S. sanctions (both primary and secondary) that had been waived or lifted under the JCPOA have been re-imposed and that all nuclear-related secondary sanctions authorities targeting Iran would be reinstated after specified wind down periods.are fully effective. In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, SMBC intends to provide certain services, including settlement services in connection with customers’ trade transactions between Japan and Iran, to the extent that such activities are not targeted by remainingU.S. secondary sanctions. For more details of relevant laws and regulations, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Regulations in the United States—Laws Prohibiting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.”

In addition, the U.S. government and authorities in other countries have enacted a series of Ukraine-related sanctions, including those under the U.S. Ukraine-Related Sanctions Regulations, the U.S. Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 and “sectoral” sanctions on the financial, energy and defense sectors of the Russian economy.

The laws, regulations and sanctions referenced above or similar legislative or regulatory developments in the U.S., Japan or other jurisdictions where applicable, may further limit our business operations. If we were determined to have engaged in activities targeted by certain U.S. statutes, Executive Orders or regulations, we

Our business operations are exposed to risks of natural disasters, terrorism, pandemics and other calamities.

Our business operations are subject to the risks of natural disasters, terrorism, pandemics, blackouts, geopolitical incidents and other calamities, any of which could impair our business operations. Despite our preparation of operation manuals and other backup measures and procedures, such calamities could cause us to suspend operations and could adversely affect our businesses, financial condition and results of operations. Large-scale natural disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 and any subsequent collateral events, may adversely affect economic conditions in general, the financial conditions of our corporate and individual customers and stock market prices, or cause other negative effects, any or all of which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations owing to, for example, an associated increase in the amount of credit-related costs or an increase in losses related to our holdings of securities.

Our risk management policies and procedures may not adequately address unidentified or unanticipated risks.

We are exposed to a variety of operational, legal and regulatory risks throughout our organization. Management of these risks requires, among other things, policies and procedures to properly record and verify large numbers of transactions and events. However, these policies and procedures may not be fully effective or sufficient. We have devoted significant resources to strengthening our risk management policies and procedures and expect to continue doing so in the future. Nevertheless, particularly in light of the continuing evolution of our operations and expansion into new areas, our policies and procedures designed to identify, monitor and manage risks may not be fully effective. Some of our methods of managing risks are based upon our use of observed historical market behavior and thus may not accurately predict future risks. Violations of laws including the Japanese antitrust and fair trade laws by us or by SMBC may result in administrative sanctions. Furthermore, investigations, administrative actions or litigation could commence in relation to violations, which may involve costs and may result in deterioration of our reputation.

Our business could be adversely affected by litigation and regulatory proceedings globally.

We conduct business in many locations in and outside of Japan. We face the risk of litigation and regulatory proceedings in connection with our operations. For example, if we engage in activities targeted by certain U.S. sanctions, this could result in the imposition of monetary penalties or other restrictions by the U.S. government against us. Lawsuits and regulatory actions may result in penalties or settlements of very large indeterminate amounts or limit our operations, and costs to defend either could be substantial. Moreover, SMBC and one of its subsidiaries contribute to financial benchmarks such as the Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate (“TIBOR”) and the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) for certain specific currencies. These benchmarks are widely referenced in jurisdictions in which we operate and do not operate. We face or may face some investigations, litigation and regulatory proceedings, and an adverse regulatory decision, judgment or ruling, including in jurisdictions we do not operate in, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Damage to our reputation may have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Maintaining our reputation is vital to our ability to attract and maintain customers, investors and employees. Our reputation could be damaged through a variety of circumstances, including, among others, fraud or other

investigations of us or our directors, officers or employees, or actual or rumored litigation or regulatory proceedings, or media coverage of the same, may have a material adverse effect on our reputation and could negatively affect the prices of our securities. Actions by the financial services industry generally or by certain members in the industry can also adversely affect customers’ confidence on the financial services industry. Such reputational harm could also lead to a decreased customer base, reduced revenues and higher operating costs.

Our failure to establish, maintain and apply adequate internal controls over financial reporting could negatively impact investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.

In order to operate as a global financial institution, it is essential for us to have effective internal controls, corporate compliance functions, and accounting systems to manage our assets and operations.

As a New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)-listed company and a registrant with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under section 404 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our management is required to assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and disclose whether such internal controls are effective. Our independent registered public accounting firm has to conduct an audit to evaluate and then render an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (“FIEA”) also requires companies listed on a Japanese stock exchange, such as us, to file, together with their annual securities reports required by the FIEA, audited internal control reports assessing the effectiveness of their internal controls over financial reporting.

We have established internal controls over financial reporting, as well as rules for evaluating those controls, in order to provide reasonable assurance of the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements. However, these controls may not prevent or detect errors. Any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods is subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. To the extent any issues are identified through the foregoing processes, there can be no assurance that we will be able to resolve them in a timely manner or at all. If this occurs, our reputation may be damaged, which could lead to a decline in investor confidence in us.

Other Risks

It may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our directors or senior management, or to enforce against us or those persons judgments obtained in U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws.

We are a joint stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Japan. Almost all of our directors and senior management reside outside the United States. Many of our assets and the assets of these persons are located in Japan and elsewhere outside the United States. It may not be possible, therefore, for U.S. investors to affecteffect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons or to enforce, against us or these persons, judgments obtained in U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal or state securities laws. We believe that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Japan, in original actions or in actions to enforce judgments of U.S. courts, of claims predicated solely upon the U.S. federal or state securities laws mainly because the Civil Execution Act of Japan requires Japanese courts to deny requests for the enforcement of judgments of foreign courts if foreign judgments fail to satisfy the requirements prescribed by the Civil Execution Act, including requirements that: