The present invention relates to a new metal complex of the formula (1) wherein: M is a group 4-6 metal R1 means is a substituent comprising a heteroatom of group 15, through which R1 is bonded to the imine carbon atom; R2-R5 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted C1-10 alkyl group, an optionally substituted C1-10 alkoxy group, an optionally substituted C6-20 aryl group, an optionally substituted C6-20 aryloxy group, an optionally substituted C7-20 aralkyl group, an optionally substituted C7-20 aralkyloxy group, a silyl group substituted with optionally substituted C1-20 hydrocarbon group(s), a C1-20 hydrocarbon-substituted amino group or the adjacent R2-R5 may be linked to each other to form a ring; R6-R9 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted C1-10 alkyl group, an optionally substituted C1-10 alkoxy group, an optionally substituted C6-20 aryl group, an optionally substituted C6-20 aryloxy group, an optionally substituted C7-20 aralkyl group, an optionally substituted C7-20 aralkyloxy group, a silyl group substituted with optionally substituted C1-20 hydrocarbon group(s), a C1-20 hydrocarbon-substituted amino group or the adjacent R6-R9 may be linked to each other to form a ring; L is an optional neutral Lewis basic ligand, and j is an integer denoting the number of neutral ligands L; and X Is an anionic ligand, and r is an integer denoting the number of anionic ligands X.