Russia has seized local assets of Japan Tobacco, risking a reduction in dividend income to Japan's Ministry of Finance—JT's largest shareholder—which expected JPY103.5bn (≈USD655m) from the company in the fiscal year to March. The dividend, while only about 0.1% of Japan's annual tax revenue and only partly linked to Russian operations, accounts for roughly 44% of projected dividend receipts for a fund supporting industrial and innovation projects. Japan Tobacco said it is still assessing the im

Russia has seized local assets of Japan Tobacco, risking a reduction in dividend income to Japan's Ministry of Finance—JT's largest shareholder—which expected JPY103.5bn (≈USD655m) from the company in the fiscal year to March. The dividend, while only about 0.1% of Japan's annual tax revenue and only partly linked to Russian operations, accounts for roughly 44% of projected dividend receipts for a fund supporting industrial and innovation projects. Japan Tobacco said it is still assessing the impact; its Russia-related assets stood at about JPY1.5tln (≈USD9.5bn) as of Sept. 30. The seizure increases fiscal and funding pressure on Prime Minister TAKAICHI as she advances a costly investment and spending agenda.