27 Feb 2023
Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced its entry into the Japanese market with the opening of its office in Tokyo. Furthermore, Investcorp has appointed Professor Heizo Takenaka in the role of Chairman of Investcorp Japan. This comes as a major advance in the firm’s global expansion which started in 2015 when Executive Chairman Mohammed Alardhi launched its strategic growth plan.
The opening of Investcorp’s Tokyo office will allow the firm to provide global alternative investment solutions in Japan, in addition to setting the grounds for Investcorp direct private equity and real estate investing in the highly attractive Japanese market.
Investcorp’s Executive Chairman Mohammed Alardhi inaugurated the office in Chiyoda-ku. The event was attended by Co-CEO Hazem Ben-Gacem, Professor Takenaka, along with a number of Investcorp’s partners from its Tokyo and other offices.
Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman, Investcorp, commented: “Following our historic achievement of surpassing $50 billion in assets under management in December 2022, the opening of an Investcorp office in Japan is the next major milestone along our road of global growth. It will strengthen our global presence and will allow us to better serve the needs of our clients in Japan. We are looking forward to further expanding our base of Japanese investors and bringing new investment capital into the region, namely from the GCC. We are excited to work with Professor Takenaka and our growing team on the ground to develop our offerings in Japan for the benefit of our clients, partners, and other stakeholders in the country.”
Hazem Ben-Gacem, Co-CEO, Investcorp, added: “We are very proud to launch our operations in Japan and to be opening an office in Tokyo. Our Asian footprint today is more prominent than ever. Increasingly, Japanese investors are seeking access to global alternative investment strategies that we are well positioned to provide given our decades of experience in Asia. We are proud to build on our existing relations with Japanese investors who currently allocate more than USD two billion dollars of AUM to our investment products”.
Professor Heizo Takenaka, Chairman of Investcorp Japan, said: “In an era of high inflation and volatile currency fluctuations, coupled with aging demographics, Japan needs to promote foreign investment by sophisticated investors to improve return on assets. Investcorp’s rich experience in global alternative investments would contribute to our wealth management industry at its inflexion point, which calls for a shift from savings to investments. Furthermore, Investcorp’s commitments to sustainable finance and community education would enhance Japan’s financial literacy.”
The Tokyo office will enable Investcorp to better respond to the growing demand in Japan for higher return investments by leveraging Investcorp’s global alternative investment expertise. Investcorp has been providing investment solutions for 40 years and already has an extensive global presence through 14 offices across the US, Europe, GCC and Asia, as well as a multi-strategy offer spanning private equity, real estate, credit, absolute return strategies, GP stakes, and infrastructure.
Professor Takenaka served as Japan’s Minister of Economic/Fiscal Policy in 2001, before adding Financial Services to his mandate in 2002 and Privatization of The Postal Services in 2004, and finally becoming Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications from 2005-2006. He is currently a Professor Emeritus at Keio University and Professor at Toyo University, while also sitting on the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum and on Investcorp’s International Advisory Board since July 2020.
The office opening in Tokyo marks Investcorp’s 14th office globally, and 5th in Asia, after openings in Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore and Beijing. The Tokyo team will join Investcorp’s wider Asia team that includes 40 professionals operating across Asia.