Bain Capital is expanding in Japan as competition intensifies among the world’s largest private-equity firms to win deals from businesses undertaking overhauls.
The U.S. company increased its Tokyo headcount by 25% last year to more than 50 people, mainly by recruiting investment professionals, and is open to hiring more, Managing Director David Gross-Loh said. Bain put more than $2 billion into Japanese transactions during 2020, including a take-private deal by nursing-home provider Nichiigakkan Co.
Carlyle Group Inc. and KKR & Co. have also been hiring in Tokyo as corporate Japan taps private equity firms to strengthen profit through measures such as divestments and management buyouts. Consumers’ changing behavior during the pandemic has only added to the pressure for companies to revamp business.
The number of Japan-related transactions involving private equity funds rose 6% last year to 153, according to research firm ACVJ, even though the pandemic stalled deal-making in the early part of 2020.
Source: BNN Bloomberg
By Takashi Nakamichi and Takako Taniguchi
