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December 22, 2024
 

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Takako Taniguchi
Yokohama-based Fuji Soft held a board meeting on Friday and decided to stick with KKR’s tender for its shares despite receiving a higher bid from Bain Capital.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 20, 2024
Fuji Soft sticks with KKR despite higher takeover offer from Bain
The special committee advising Fuji Soft said it would be difficult for Bain to take the company private, according to a statement.
Toyota's plan to buy back shares from major banks and insurers is part of a broader push to unwind strategic shareholdings with financial partners.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 23, 2024
Toyota to buy back stock worth $5.2 billion from banks and insurers
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Tokio Marine Holdings and MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings are tendering shares at an 11% discount.
Blackstone's private equity fund says Japanese individual investors are highly interested in alternatives and their understanding of the asset class is deepening.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 23, 2024
Blackstone Japan fund exceeds $1B as investors warm up to private equity
As inflation takes hold in the country, investors are exploring more alternative assets on government encouragement to invest more of their cash.
Tsuyoshi Maruki, president of Strategic Capital, speaks online on Thursday after three of six candidates proposed by the firm for Daidoh's board positions secured a seat.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 28, 2024
Activist fund in Japan wins Daidoh board seats in rare victory
Daidoh's stock has more than tripled since activist fund Strategic Capital built a stake in the firm in November 2022.
Shareholders queue to enter a venue for SoftBank Group's annual general meeting in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Friday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 26, 2024
Activist investing booms in Japan amid corporate governance reforms
International hedge funds and home-grown investors have turned the country into the world’s second-largest market for activists.
Carlyle will probably announce another two or three transactions in Japan this year, the fund's co-head of the Japan buyout advisory team says.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 11, 2024
Carlyle sets sights on 300 Japanese businesses as PE deals boom
Carlyle, which has been operating in Japan since 2000, has made more than 40 private equity investments locally.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group will sell their Toyota shareholdings over an extended period of time lasting a few years, sources said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 7, 2024
Two of Japan's top banks to divest ¥1.3 trillion in Toyota shareholdings
Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui will sell in stages and take advantage of Toyota’s plan to buy back its own shares.
Global investment firms are increasingly seeing hidden value in Japanese companies that own properties that could be sold.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 20, 2024
Bain Capital to boost Japan real estate team as prospects grow
The firm is interested in opportunities around hospitality, data centers and residential properties, among others.
Pending the offer’s success, I’rom Group will be delisted and Blackstone will own 55% of the company.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 13, 2024
Blackstone to take Japan drug trial firm private in management buyout
A tender offer will be made to acquire I’rom Group shares at ¥2,800 per share — a roughly 50% premium to Monday’s closing price of ¥1,873.
Activist investor Oasis Management says shares in Kao have the potential to rise by more than 70% from recent levels.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 4, 2024
Kao shares jump as activist investor Oasis calls for improved performance
Kao has "significantly underperformed” its competitors in sales growth, margins, return on equity and stock performance, Oasis said in a statement.
Christian Sinding, chief executive officer of EQT, in Tokyo in September
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 28, 2023
Private equity giant EQT buys stake in Japanese startup HRBrain
The purchase marks a rare attempt by a global private equity giant to boost returns through young enterprises in the Asian country.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 15, 2023
Japan’s Tsuruha weighs sale after proxy battle with Oasis
The company is working with an adviser on the potential transaction and has reached out to some private equity firms to gauge their interest.
Blackstone's headquarters in New York
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 6, 2023
Blackstone sees most Asia deal activity in Japan and India in 2024
The world’s largest alternative asset manager expects India and Japan to be its most active markets in Asia next year based on capital allocation.
Blackstone is working on more acquisitions in Japan with several bids out and properties like hotels and data centers in the pipeline.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 14, 2023
Blackstone eyes more Japan property after selling $4.5 billion
Real estate investments in Japan have been rosy compared to other countries, where rising costs have squeezed finances and workers have shunned offices.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 22, 2023
Elevator-maker showcases growing shareholder activism in Japan
Fujitec shareholders rejected a raft of proposals from ousted chairman Takakazu Uchiyama to overhaul the board during Wednesday's annual shareholders meeting, a Fujitec spokesperson said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 3, 2023
Seven & I says strategy will work in latest missive to ValueAct
Debate between Seven & I and activist fund ValueAct Capital Management is likely to continue through May 25, when Seven & I is scheduled to hold its annual general meeting.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 23, 2022
Daiwa chief expects more BOJ tweaks in pivot to policy tightening
Japan's 40-year high inflation and signs of distortions in the bond market mean it's a good time to start normalizing policy, Daiwa Securities Group CEO Seiji Nakata said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 30, 2022
Nomura looks to tap equities and wealth for ¥138.6 billion revenue boost
Japan's biggest brokerage is seeking new revenue streams as rising global interest rates and market volatility slow key pillars of its business, from brokerage fees to stock underwriting.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 11, 2022
Bain goes on Japan buying spree with $40 billion in investments
The U.S. firm is on a buying spree, sealing a multi-billion dollar deal last month to acquire Hitachi's metals unit, while it is involved in a bidding war for Toshiba.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 9, 2022
Fortress close to buying Japan’s Sogo & Seibu for over $1.4 billion
Discussions are in their final stage and an announcement could come as soon as Thursday, sources have said.
Record 78% of people in Japan feel anxious, government survey finds
The public opinion survey on people's lives, conducted by the Cabinet Office, found that 28.1% of respondents think that their standard of living is at a lower-middle level among the general public — the highest percentage to give that response in 35 years.
Police raided suspect's home to arrest him after fatal Kitakyushu stabbing
Broken window glass is seen at Masanori Hirabaru's house in Kitakyushu's Kokuraminami Ward.
Taiwan lawmakers brawl over bills that would 'damage democracy'
Lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party and opposition party Kuomintang brawl in parliament in Taipei on Friday.
Ride-hailing restrictions to be eased during 2025 Osaka Expo
A venue for the 2025 Osaka Expo in the city of Osaka
Foxconn's interest in Nissan said to be on hold amid Honda merger talks
Foxconn’s pause in its pursuit of Nissan is the latest development in the unexpected emergence of two suitors for the ailing Japanese carmaker.
Japanese officials inspect Yokota Air Base over PFAS concerns
The Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo in September 2019. An inspection of the base by Japanese government officials on Friday came amid public pressure to investigate suspected links between the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam by the U.S. base and contamination of soil and groundwater in western Tokyo.
Crime numbers rise in Japan for second straight year
A police officer stands in front of the residence of a man alleged to have stabbed two junior high school students in Kitakyushu.
A year of Oscar wins and a quiet push for diversity
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Evil Does Not Exist,” released in Japanese theaters in April, sharply dramatizes the clash between rural and urban values. The film won five awards at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, including the second-place Silver Lion prize.
Curiosity didn’t kill the meme: Why cats still rule Japanese YouTube
A screen shot from YouTube user @lagelda shows the simplicity of going viral in Japan in 2024: A cat dancing to EDM in front of a green screen.
With rare Asia carrier deployment, France seeks greater interoperability
The flight deck of the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during a stop at Changi Naval Base in Singapore in May 2019

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