General Concept of Risk Management

We classify our risk exposures according to the various kinds of risk, including credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk and operational risk, and manage each type of risk according to its characteristics. In addition to managing each type of risk individually, we have established a risk management structure to identify and evaluate overall risk and, where necessary, to devise appropriate responses to keep risk within limits that are managerially acceptable in both qualitative and quantitative terms. In line with the basic policies relating to overall risk management laid down by MHFG, companies within the group identify risk broadly and take a proactive and sophisticated approach to risk management, including methodologies for operations that involve exposures to multiple categories of risk such as settlement and trust businesses.

We endeavor to obtain a clear grasp of the group's overall risk exposure and have implemented measures to keep such risks within the group's financial base in accordance with the risk capital allocation framework. More specifically, we allocate risk capital to our principal banking subsidiaries, including their respective subsidiaries, and other core group companies to control risk within the limits set for each company. We also control risk within managerially acceptable limits by working to ensure that the overall risk we hold on a consolidated basis does not exceed shareholders' equity and other measures of financial strength. To ensure the ongoing financial health of MHFG, our principal banking subsidiaries and other core group companies, we regularly monitor the manner in which risk capital is being used in order to obtain a proper grasp of the risk profile within this framework. Reports are also submitted to the board of directors and other committees of each company. Risk capital is allocated to MHCB, MHBK, MHTB and MHSC by risk category, and is further allocated within their respective business units based on established frameworks.

Allocation of Risk Capital

• *1Including risk exposures of subsidiaries of the core group companies.
• *2Allocated to MHSC by MHCB with the approval of MHFG.

• Closeup

(As of Jun 26, 2012)