Confidential Information and Privacy Policy Statement

 

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (“MHBK”) , through its business operations in Australia, is committed to abiding by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This confidential information and privacy policy statement sets out how MHBK collects, uses and discloses Confidential Information and Personal Information in accordance with our legal obligations.

  1. Key definitions

    “Confidential Information” means all non-public information provided to MHBK by or on behalf of our clients, in whatever form, regarding our counterparties that is not otherwise identified as non-confidential or becomes public information (other than by breach by MHBK).

    “Personal Information” means information or an opinion, whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an identified individual or about an individual who is reasonably identifiable.

    “Sensitive Information” includes health information and information about a person's racial or ethnic origin, political or philosophical beliefs or affiliations, trade or professional affiliations, sexual preferences or practices, or criminal record.

  2. Information collected by MHBK

    As part of its business operations, MHBK collects and handles Confidential Information about our clients and Personal Information about individuals (together comprising Business Information), including in order to provide products and services to clients, to comply with applicable laws and for the purposes of recruitment and employment. Further examples of how such information may be collected and used include to monitor financial performance, evaluate products and services, gather information for research purposes, assist clients with enquiries, protect the integrity of MHBK’s systems and data, and take steps to detect and prevent fraud and credit loss.

    Personal Information collected by MHBK generally comprises a person’s name, address, email address, date of birth, and telephone numbers. In addition, MHBK may collect:

    1. information comprising resumes, qualifications, language skills, education, emergency contact details and medical information;
    2. Personal Information relevant to the use of our products and services; and
    3. other Personal Information from related group companies.
     

    It is possible that we will collect Sensitive Information about you in the course of performing our services. We do not collect Sensitive Information unless it is provided by you or a third party.

    If we do not collect Personal Information about an individual, we may not be able to provide them with the products, services or anything else which they have requested from us.

  3. Use of your Business Information

    MHBK uses Business Information in carrying out its business operations, including for processing instructions, administering accounts (including the completion of 'know your customer' (KYC) procedures), contacting clients and providing its products and services, and for carrying out market and product analysis and marketing its products and services generally. Personnel Information is used by MHBK for recruitment, employment and other management and business related purposes.

  4. Disclosure of your Business Information

    In the course of MHBK conducting its business, undertaking obligations to our clients, and/or in dealing with potential, current and former clients and employees, MHBK may receive Business Information from or disclose it to:

    • you or persons or entities you are affiliated or dealing with (whether directly or indirectly);
    • legal and other professional advisors;
    • regulatory bodies and government agencies or as otherwise required under the law;
    • insurers, potential insurers and brokers;
    • your referee (to confirm details about you);
    • contractors or business support services providers such as software suppliers, archive providers, mailing houses, internet and internet security service providers, administrative human resource suppliers and personnel and payroll service providers;
    • other organisations who in conjunction with us provide products and services (so that they may provide their products and services to you);
    • related bodies corporate of MHBK (comprising Mizuho Financial Group Companies referred to in Section 9 below), where they protect and use the information only in accordance with this policy; or
    • auditors engaged to ensure the integrity of our operations.
  5. Offshore disclosure of Business Information

    Given the nature of MHBK's business and services, there is the potential for Business Information to be shared outside Australia, including where we, our affiliates and our contractors or business support services providers hold electronic records of your Business Information using cloud technology or by other electronic means, which may include offshore transfers.

    Your Business Information may be transferred overseas for the above purposes, including, but not limited to, Japan. It is not practicable for us to specify in advance the location of every service provider or user with whom we deal.

    MHBK complies with its legal obligations with respect to any offshore transfers, such as by taking reasonable steps to protect the privacy of your Business Information that is disclosed to overseas recipients, including contractual requirements to ensure such entities protect and maintain the privacy of your Business Information.

  6. Business Information - quality, security and access

    MHBK takes reasonable steps to ensure that Business Information it holds is accurate, complete and up-to-date. Please contact us if any of the details you have provided change or if you believe that the information we have about you is not accurate, complete or up-to-date and you wish to seek correction of the information held.

    We are committed to safeguarding and protecting Business Information and will implement and maintain appropriate measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to protect any Business Information provided to us from misuse, interference and loss, as well as from unauthorised access, modification, disclosure, interference or loss.

    We will only retain your Business Information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected or to comply with legal, regulatory or internal policy requirements. We will also take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify Business Information once we no longer need it for any purpose for which it may be retained, unless we are required to retain that information under applicable laws.

  7. Privacy enquiries, concerns or complaints

    MHBK will provide you access to your Personal Information it holds upon request to MHBK’s Privacy Officer, except in certain prescribed circumstances, such as emergency situations, specific business imperatives, law enforcement or other public interests. MHBK’s Privacy Officer will advise you if any of these circumstances apply.

    If you are concerned about a possible interference with your privacy relating to Personal Information held by MHBK, you may raise your concerns with Mizuho’s Privacy Officer. We will review your concerns carefully and endeavor to respond within 30 days of receipt of the communication.

    If you are dissatisfied with the response, you may refer the matter to the Office of the Australian Information Commission (OAIC) which is responsible for matters including the investigation of privacy complaints about private sector organizations covered by the Privacy Act.

    You can contact the OAIC by:

    1. visiting www.oaic.gov.au;
    2. forwarding an email to [email protected];
    3. telephoning 1300 363 992; or
    4. writing to OAIC at GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001.

     

  8. MHBK relationship and contact details

    Should you wish to raise an issue or contact MHBK with any queries or concerns, please contact the Privacy Officer on [email protected]. You may also send a letter addressed to the "Privacy Officer" of Mizuho Bank, Ltd, at Level 29, 60 Martin Place, Sydney, NSW. 2000, Australia. By continuing your client relationship with MHBK, you will be taken to have accepted the policies referred to in this statement.

  9. Mizuho Financial Group Companies

    For the purposes of this Privacy Policy Statement, “Mizuho Financial Group Companies” means Mizuho Financial Group Inc., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd., Mizuho Securities (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mizuho Trust and Banking Co., Ltd., Mizuho International plc., Mizuho Securities USA, Inc., Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd., Mizuho Bank (USA), Mizuho Capital Markets (UK) Ltd. and any other majority owned Subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group (“majority owned Subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group” means a company in respect of which Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. holds, either directly or indirectly, more than one half of the issued share capital of the company).

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