Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

Introduction of Share-Based Compensation Plan for Employees

According to the resolution of the Board of Directors on March 26 and March 27, 2024, of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. ("SMFG", President and Group CEO: Toru Nakashima, our corporate group will hereinafter be referred to as "SMBC Group") and our subsidiary, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation ("SMBC"), SMFG hereby announce the introduction of a share-based compensation plan for employees of SMBC (the "Plan"). Please note that the details may be subject to change.

1.Objective of the introduction of the Plan

  • In addition to changes in business management and the business environment, employee values have become more diverse. In line with this change, the relationship between companies and employees is shifting from one of mutual dependence to one of choosing and being chosen.

  • Given such circumstances, we established "SMBC Group Talent Policy" in April 2023 because we need to materialize both our management strategy and the aspirations of our employees.

  • As "What SMBC Group wants employees to be" is stipulated in the SMBC Group Talent Policy, it is important that diverse employees and management take on the challenge together and further strengthen our commitment to enhancing our corporate value over the medium-to-long term in order to provide added value to our customers and society as a global solutions provider.

  • In order to realize the above, as "Employee Value Proposition" is stipulated in the SMBC Group Talent Policy, SMBC introduces the Plan as part of its human capital investment as the company needs to provide compensation linked to our corporate value f or employees' commitment and contributions, so that employees can feel the rewards of their contribution to SMBC Group.

2.Overview of the Plan

  • The Plan is an incentive scheme that establishes an ESOP trust ("the ESOP Trust") which is funded by cash contributed by SMBC (via SMFG). The common shares of SMFG acquired by the ESOP Trust will be granted to SMBC employees upon their retirement based on the number of points earned by each employee.

  • According to the rules of share-based compensation plan for employees established by SMBC's Board of Directors, the number of points granted to employees is linked to their grade and the business performance of SMFG.

  • In this system, the compensation is linked to SMFG share price over the medium-to-long-term, so that employees are incentivized to enhance the corporate value of the SMBC Group over the medium-to-long term.

The Plan will be implemented initially for some general managers in SMBC. However, we are planning to introduce the Plan to other SMBC Group companies to foster a sense of unity among SMBC Group companies or to expand the scope of the system in SMBC.

Scheme of the Plan

Beneficiary

Employees

  • SMBC shall establish the rules of share-based compensation for employees (the "Rules of the Plan").

  • SMFG shall set up an ESOP trust for SMBC employees as the beneficiary. SMFG shall entrust the trustee with the fund for acquiring the SMFG shares.

  • The trustee shall acquire from the stock market the number of the shares expected to be delivered to the employees in the future.

  • A trust administrator (who is independent of SMFG and SMFG officers) that protects the interests of the beneficiary throughout the trust period and oversees the trustee is appointed. Regarding the shares of SMFG shares in the Trust, the trust administrator will instruct the trustee to exercise voting rights, and the trustee will exercise the voting rights during the trust period based on those instructions.

  • SMBC will grant points to its employees based on the Rules of the Plan.

  • According to the points awarded, employees who meet the beneficiary requirements will receive the SMFG shares from the trustee. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Ltd., as the trustee of the Plan, will entrust(re-trust) the management of trust assets to Japan Custody Bank, Ltd.

3.Overview of the ESOP Trust

(1)Name

Stock grant trust for employees

(2)Trustor

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

(3)Trustee

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, LtdCo-Trustee: Custody Bank of Japan, Ltd

(4)Beneficiary

Employees who meet requirements as beneficiaries

(5)Trust administrator

Third party that is independent of SMFG and its officers will be appointed

(6)Voting rights

The trustee shall excise the voting during the trust period based on the trust administrator's instructions.

(7)Trust type

Money trust other than a specified cash trust for separate investment

(8)Date of Trust

Contract

May 2024planned

(9)Date to Entrust

Cash

May 2024planned

10Date to End

Trust

May 2026planned

4.Acquisition of SMFG shares by the ESOP Trustee

(1)Type of shares

Common shares

(2)Cash entrusted for the acquisition of the shares

To be decided

(3)Number of shares

To be decided

(4)Mean of the share acquisition

Acquisition from the stock market

(5)Timing of the share acquisition

May 2024 (planned)

End of Document

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Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. published this content on 27 March 2024 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 27 March 2024 07:10:05 UTC.