Capabilities by Region: Japan

Greenhill has considerable advisory experience in Japan. Our Managing Directors and professionals have advised clients on transactions involving many of the leading companies in the region and have access to a network of corporate relationships throughout Japan.

Greenhill established its presence in Japan in 2008 with the opening of a Tokyo office.

For more information on Greenhill’s advisory practice in Japan and our capabilities in the region, please contact Managing Director Hiroto Yamada in our Tokyo office.

Below we highlight a few of the transactions on which we have advised in this region:

Recent Transactions

01-Jun-23
$90.4 million
Canada flag
Target: 

PCAS Canada Inc.

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
DIC Corporation

Advised DIC Corporation, a Japanese specialty chemical company, on the acquisition of PCAS Canada Inc., a contract manufacturer of high-quality photoresist polymers, from PCAS SA, a French manufacturer of complex molecules for Life Sciences and Specialty Chemicals markets which is a majority-owned subsidiary of SK Capital-backed Seqens

28-Dec-22
Pending
Undisclosed
Japan flag
Target: 

Eisai Distribution Co., Ltd.

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Yasuda Logistics Corporation

Advising Eisai, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, on the sale of Eisai Distribution, a 100% shares holding logistic subsidiary, to Yasuda Logistics Corporation, a Japanese logistic company conducting total logistic services such as Warehousing, Transportation, delivery and forwarding, and Port transportation business, etc.

29-Nov-22
Undisclosed
Japan flag
Target: 

Staff Brain Co., Ltd. And Technobrain Co., Ltd.

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
World Co., LTD.

World Co., LTD. ("World"), a regional staffing company in Japan, acquired Brain Group (Staff Brain Co., Ltd. and Technobrain Co., Ltd.), regional staffing companies in Japan

24-Nov-22
Pending
Undisclosed
Target: 

Kyowa Kirin International’s established medicines business

Germany flag
Acquiror: 
Grünenthal

Advising Kyowa Kirin International, a subsidiary of Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd, a Japanese global specialty pharma company, on a collaboration agreement with Grünenthal GmbH, a global, science-based, privately-owned pharmaceutical company

07-Dec-21
$153 million
Japan flag
Target: 

Japan Medical Dynamic Marketing

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Mitsui Chemicals

Advising Mitsui Chemicals,  one of the largest Japanese chemical companies, on the acquisition of a 30% stake in Japan Medical Dynamic Marketing, a leading orthopedic medical device manufacturer in Japan, held by NGK SPARK PLUG

10-Nov-21
Undisclosed
United States flag
Target: 

Bell's Brewery

Japan, Australia flags
Acquiror: 
Lion / Kirin

Advised Lion, one of Australasia’s leading beverage companies and a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Kirin Holdings, on the acquisition of Bell’s Brewery, a leading US independent craft brewery

05-Apr-21
Undisclosed
United States flag
Target: 

Equity investment in NuScale Power LLC

Acquiror: 
Various investors from Japan (led by JGC Holdings Corporation and IHI Corporation), South Korea (Doosan Heavy Industries) and the US (Sargent & Lundy)

Advised Fluor Corporation, a global engineering, procurement and construction company and the majority investor in NuScale, a leading developer of small modular reactor nuclear technology, on the equity capital raise for NuScale

20-Nov-20
$1.6 billion
Japan flag
Target: 

Kenedix

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing

Advising Kenedix, one of the largest Japanese independent real estate asset managers, on its acquisition by Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing, one of the largest Japanese leasing companies

03-Aug-20
$335 million
United States flag
Target: 

Range Resources Terryville Assets

U.S.A., Japan flags
Acquiror: 
Castleton Resources, LLC

Advised Castleton Resources, a Houston, TX based, privately held oil and gas operator, on its acquisition of Range Resources’ Terryville Assets. As part of the transaction, Castleton Resources will change its name to “TG Natural Resources LLC” by late March 2021. Range Resources (NYSE: RRC) is a Fort Worth, TX based E&P company with primary operations in the Marcellus Shale formation.

09-Jun-20
$1.02 billion
Japan flag
Target: 

LIXIL VIVA

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Arcland Sakamoto

Advising Arcland Sakamoto, a leading owner and operator of large home centers, on the acquisition of LIXIL VIVA, a leading owner and operator of large home centers and a listed subsidiary of LIXIL Group, a leading Japanese manufacturer of building and housing materials

18-Mar-20
$NA
Japan flag
Target: 

Centrifuge and processing equipment business of Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.

Germany flag
Acquiror: 
Eppendorf AG

Advised Eppendorf AG, a leading family-owned life science company, on the acquisition of the centrifuge and processing equipment business of KKR-owned Koki Holdings Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of power tools and centrifuge and processing equipment 

19-Dec-19
$13.5 million
U.S.A., Japan flags
Target: 

Nitta Casings and Nitta Casings Canada

Spain flag
Acquiror: 
Viscofan

Advised Viscofan (BME:VIS), the #1 producer of artificial casings for the meat industry worldwide (>30% market share), on the acquisition of Nitta Casings and Nitta Casings Canada (“NCI” and “NCCI”) one of the leading brands in the production of collagen casings in North America, from Nitta Gelatin (TSE:4977)  

19-Nov-19
$NA
United States flag
Target: 

New Belgium Brewing

Japan, Australia flags
Acquiror: 
Lion / Kirin

Advised Lion, one of Australasia’s leading beverage companies and a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Kirin Holdings, on the acquisition of New Belgium Brewing, a leading US independent craft brewery

23-Aug-19
$NA
United Kingdom flag
Target: 

TT International

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

Advised TT International, a leading independent asset management firm focused on managing high alpha, high conviction active management strategies for institutional investors, on its sale to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

26-Apr-19
$200 million
Japan, Australia flags
Target: 

Lion's Specialty Cheese division

Canada flag
Acquiror: 
Saputo Inc.

Advised Lion, an Australian subsidiary of Kirin and one of Australasia’s leading food and beverage companies, on the sale of its Specialty Cheese division to Saputo, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world  

22-Mar-19
$NA
Australia flag
Target: 

Four Pillars Gin

Japan, Australia flags
Acquiror: 
Lion Beer Australia

Advised Lion, an Australian subsidiary of Kirin, on its acquisition of a strategic stake in Four Pillars Gin, Australia’s leading craft gin distillery

25-Dec-18
$184 million
Japan flag
Target: 

Hitachi's Automotive Lithium-Ion Battery Business

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
INCJ, Maxell Holdings

Advised Hitachi, a leading global industrial conglomerate, on the sale of its LiB business including Hitachi Vehicle Energy

01-Nov-18
$NA
Japan flag
Target: 

Long-term lithium hydroxide offtake agreement with Mitsui & Co.

Australia flag
Acquiror: 
Kidman Resources Limited

Advised Kidman Resources Limited, an ASX-listed hard rock lithium mining company with a 50% interest in the West Australian Mt. Holland lithium project, on a lithium hydroxide offtake agreement with Mitsui & Co., a leading global marketing and trading conglomerate based in Japan. The agreement is for an initial term of two years, plus two 2-year term extension options

21-Aug-18
$171 million
Japan flag
Target: 

Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd.

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
ADEKA Corporation

Advised ADEKA Corporation, a global chemical manufacturer, on the acquisition of 51% stake of Nihon Nohyaku via the combination of the Tender Offer and Capital Injection

08-Aug-18
$538 million
Australia flag
Target: 

Suncorp Group Limited’s Australian Life Insurance Business

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
TAL

Advised TAL, Australia’s largest and leading insurance business that is 100% owned by Dai-ichi Life of Japan, on the acquisition of Suncorp Group Limited’s Australian Life Insurance business

25-Jul-18
$145 million
United States flag
Target: 

Park Electrochemical (Electronics Business)

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
AGC Inc.

Advised Park Electrochemical, a leading high-performance electronics materials manufacturer, on the sale of its Electronics Business to AGC Inc.

28-Jun-18
$146 million
United States flag
Target: 

35% of Sabine Oil & Gas’ interest in oil and gas properties in East Texas

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Osaka Gas

Advised Osaka Gas, a Japanese utility, on the acquisition of 35% of Sabine Oil & Gas’s interest in oil and gas properties located primarily in Harrison and Panola Counties, Texas

27-Mar-18
$1.6 billion
Japan flag
Target: 

Yakult

France flag
Acquiror: 
Danone

Advised Danone, a leading global food & beverage company, on renewing its strategic partnership with Yakult, a global leader in probiotic beverages, as well as the sale of part of its stake in Yakult

26-Mar-18
$NA
Australia flag
Target: 

Remedy Kombucha

Japan, Australia flags
Acquiror: 
Lion Dairy & Drinks

Advised Lion, an Australian subsidiary of Kirin, on its acquisition of a strategic stake in Remedy Kombucha, Australia’s leading producer and distributer of kombucha beverages

14-Jul-17
$775 million
Australia flag
Target: 

Programmed Maintenance Services Limited

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
PERSOL HOLDINGS CO LTD.

Advised PERSOL HOLDINGS, one of Japan’s largest HR service companies, on its acquisition of ASX-listed Programmed Maintenance Services, a leading Australian and New Zealand based provider of staffing and maintenance services

22-Feb-17
$533 million
Japan, Australia flags
Target: 

Lion’s stake in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company

Canada flag
Acquiror: 
Saputo Inc.

Advised Lion (an Australian subsidiary of Kirin), on the sale of its strategic stake in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory to Canadian-based Saputo, under its all cash takeover offer

14-Nov-16
$NA
Japan, Australia flags
Target: 

Lion’s Australian Premium Wine Business – Fine Wine Partners

Australia flag
Acquiror: 
Accolade Wines

Advised Lion, a leading Australasian food and beverage company wholly owned by Japanese conglomerate Kirin, on the sale of its Australian wine business Fine Wine Partners to Accolade Wines, a portfolio company of CHAMP Private Equity

28-Oct-15
$NA
United Kingdom flag
Target: 

DataLase Ltd

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Sato Holdings Corporation

Advised Sato Holdings Corporation, a leading global provider of Auto-ID solutions, on its acquisition of a significant minority stake in DataLase Ltd,  a UK-based provider of materials for laser coding and marking of products and packaging 

02-Mar-15
$107 million
Japan, Australia flags
Target: 

Lion's Everyday Cheese Business

Australia flag
Acquiror: 
Warrnambool Cheese & Butter

Advised Lion, a leading Australasian food and beverage company wholly owned by Japanese conglomerate Kirin, on the sale of its Everyday Cheese business to Warrnambool Cheese & Butter, a listed Australian dairy company controlled by the Canadian dairy player Saputo

22-Jan-15
$NA
Japan flag
Target: 

Hitachi Appliances, Inc.

United States flag
Acquiror: 
Johnson Controls

Advised Hitachi, LTD / Hitachi Appliances, Inc, a leading global industrial conglomerate focused on information and telecommunications systems, power systems and social systems, on their formation of a global HVAC joint venture with Johnson Controls

14-Jan-15
$309 million
Australia flag
Target: 

Chandler Macleod Group Limited

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Recruit Holdings Co.,Ltd

Advised Recruit Holdings Co.,Ltd, the leading global staffing services company in Japan, on the acquisition of Chandler Macleod Group Limited, a major general recruitment company   

14-Jan-15
$55 million
Australia flag
Target: 

Peoplebank Holdings PTY LTD

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Recruit Holdings Co.,Ltd

Advised Recruit Holdings Co.,Ltd, the leading global staffing services company in Japan, on the acquisition of Peoplebank Holdings PTY LTD, Australasia’s leading IT&T recruitment company

19-Dec-14
$NA
United States flag
Target: 

NYK Ports LLC

Australia flag
Acquiror: 
Macquarie Infrastructure Partners

Advised NYK Ports LLC, a leading port operating and stevedoring company, on the sale of a 49% stake to Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, a leading Australian infrastructure fund

21-Nov-14
$203 million
Japan flag
Target: 

Tipness Limited

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Nippon Television Holdings

Advised Nippon Television Holdings, a media and content company engaged in production and broadcasting primarily in Japan, on the acquisition of Tipness Limited, the fourth largest fitness club company in Japan,  from Suntory Holdings and Marubeni Corporation

04-Dec-13
$850 million
Russia flag
Target: 

Megapolis Distribution

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Japan Tobacco Inc

Advised Japan Tobacco Inc in connection with the acquisition of a minority stake in Megapolis Distribution B.V., Russia’s leading tobacco distributor

09-Sep-13
$2.1 billion
United Kingdom flag
Target: 

Lucozade & Ribena brands (owned by GSK)

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd

Advised GlaxoSmithKline, the UK listed international pharmaceutical and consumer company, on the sale of its nutritional drinks brands Lucozade and Ribena to Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd

04-Sep-13
$NA
Japan flag
Target: 

Aztec (subsidiary of Dentsu Inc.)

United States flag
Acquiror: 
IRI

Advised Dentsu Inc., Asia’s largest advertising agency, on the sale of its retail data analytics subsidiary Aztec, to IRI, a global market research company

26-Apr-13
$NA
Japan flag
Target: 

Yakult Honsha

France flag
Acquiror: 
Danone

Advised Danone, a world leading food company, on its business and capital alliance with Yakult Honsha, the largest probiotic dairy product manufacturer in Japan

21-Dec-12
$NA
Japan flag
Target: 

Sanyo DI Solution

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Advantage Partners

Advised Advantage Partners, a leading private equity fund in Japan, on the acquisition of 100% stake in Sanyo DI Solution, the digital still camera OEM business in SANYO Electric, a group company of Panasonic

07-Dec-12
$43 million
New Zealand flag
Target: 

Champion Flour Limited

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Nisshin Seifun Group Inc.

Advised Goodman Fielder, a leading Australian listed food company, on the sale of its New Zealand flour milling business, Champion Flour, to Nisshin Seifun Group Inc.

24-Aug-12
$674 million
Japan flag
Target: 

ITX (Mobile Phone Retailing Business)

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Japan Industrial Partners

Advised Japan Industrial Partners, a leading private equity firm in Japan, on the acquisition of mobile phone retailing business from ITX, a mobile phones marketer and distributor in Japan

12-Jul-12
$5.0 billion
United Kingdom flag
Target: 

Aegis Group plc

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Dentsu Inc.

Advised Aegis Group plc, a leading global media and digital communications agency, on its sale to Dentsu Inc., the leading advertising group in Asia

18-Jun-12
$386 million
Australia flag
Target: 

Little World Beverages

Australia, Japan flags
Acquiror: 
Lion / Kirin

Advised Lion on the acquisition of Little World Beverages, Australia’s largest listed brewer and one of the country’s leading players in the Craft beer segment

30-Dec-11
$410 million
U.S.A., U.K. flags
Target: 

Advantage Resourcing America, Inc. & Advantage Resourcing Europe B.V.

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Recruit Co. Ltd

Advised Recruit Co. Ltd, a leading staffing and publishing company in Japan, on the acquisition of all outstanding shares of Advantage Resourcing America, Inc. & Advantage Resourcing Europe B.V, wholly owned by investment vehicles affiliated with Cerberus Capital Management L.P.

26-Oct-11
$2.2 billion
U.S.A., Japan flags
Target: 

PGM Holdings K.K. (majority owned by Lone Star Funds)

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Heiwa Corporation

Advised Heiwa Corporation, a leading provider of pachinko amusement machines, on the tender offer to acquire 80.5% of PGM Holdings K.K., one of the largest golf club owners and operators in Japan, including 64.2% Lone Star Funds’ holding

08-Aug-11
$11.0 billion
Australia flag
Target: 

Coal and Allied Industries Limited

Australia, Japan flags
Acquiror: 
Rio Tinto Limited / Mitsubishi Corporation

Advised Coal and Allied Industries Limited, an Australian based coal mining company, in relation to an acquisition proposal from Rio Tinto Limited and Mitsubishi Corporation to acquire all the outstanding shares in the company not already held by Rio Tinto and Mitsubishi

30-Jun-11
$609 million
Japan flag
Target: 

Diabetes-related patent estate and royalty stream of Astellas Pharma subsidiary, Prosidion

United States flag
Acquiror: 
Royalty Pharma

Advised Royalty Pharma, a leading acquiror of biopharmaceutical royalty interests, on the acquisition of the DPP-IV patent estate and associated royalty stream of Astellas Pharma subsidiary, Prosidion

01-Mar-11
$128 million
Australia flag
Target: 

Tyndall Investments

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Nikko Asset Management

Advised Suncorp, on the sale of its investment management business, Tyndall Investments, in Australia and New Zealand to Nikko Asset Management, a leading Asian mutual funds management company

29-Dec-10
$1.8 billion
Australia flag
Target: 

TOWER Australia Group Limited

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited

Advised TOWER Australia Group Limited, the largest mono-line life insurance company in Australia, in relation to the offer from The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited to acquire all of the shares in TOWER that it does not already own by way of a scheme of arrangement

01-Dec-10
$NA
United States flag
Target: 

Planar Solutions, LLC

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
FUJIFILM Corporation

Advised Wacker Chemie AG on the sale of Wacker Chemical Corporation’s 50% equity stake in Planar Solutions LLC, a dedicated CMP slurry manufacturer, to its JV partner, FUJIFILM Corporation

18-Jun-10
$361.1 million
Japan flag
Target: 

USEN Corporation

United States flag
Acquiror: 
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

Advised USEN Corporation, a diversified media company, on the sale of Intelligence Ltd., its 100% owned human resources staffing subsidiary

01-Jun-10
$109 million
United States flag
Target: 

AT&T Japan (an AT&T Inc. company)

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Internet Initiative Japan

Advised AT&T Inc., a premier communications holding company, on its sale of the domestic network outsourcing business of AT&T Japan, its Japanese enterprise unit, to Internet Initiative Japan, one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers

31-Mar-10
$3.3 billion
Japan flag
Target: 

EMOBILE Ltd.

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
eAccess Ltd.

Advised the Independent Committee of eAccess Ltd., Japan's largest DSL wholesaler, on its business combination through a share exchange with EMOBILE, Ltd., the leading mobile data communications provider in Japan

18-May-09
$114 million
United Kingdom flag
Target: 

Close Brothers Corporate Finance Holdings Ltd.

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe Ltd.

Advised Close Brothers Group plc, an independent financial services group, on the sale of its corporate finance subsidiary to Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe Ltd.

23-Apr-09
$5.7 billion
Australia flag
Target: 

Lion Nathan

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Kirin Holdings

Advised Lion Nathan, a leading brewery in Australia, on the sale of its remaining 54% stake to Kirin Holdings, a leading beverage company in Japan

02-Oct-07
$4.6 billion
Japan flag
Target: 

Nikko Cordial Corporation

United States flag
Acquiror: 
Citigroup, Inc.

Advised Nikko Cordial, one of Japan’s largest securities firms, on its share exchange with Citigroup Inc., which resulted in Citigroup’s acquisition of the remaining 32% of Nikko Cordial that it did not already own

15-Dec-06
$19.1 billion
United Kingdom flag
Target: 

Gallaher Group plc

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Japan Tobacco Inc.

Advised Gallaher Group plc, the world’s fifth largest tobacco company, on a recommended cash offer from Japan Tobacco Inc

09-Sep-05
$1.0 billion
United States flag
Target: 

7-Eleven, Inc.

Japan flag
Acquiror: 
Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd

Advised the special committee of 7-Eleven, Inc. in connection with its evaluation of an unsolicited tender offer commenced by Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd

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