Japan M&A deals hit record high, fueled by private equity

Market watchers see activity staying high in 2025 on reform push

20250108N US private equity

Private equity firms have become more prominent bidders for Japanese companies. (Source photos by Reuters and AP)

HARUKI KITAGAWA and TAKASHI OKU

TOKYO -- Last year was the busiest year for Japan-related mergers and acquisitions in data going back to 1985, thanks partly to private equity funds snapping up businesses being shed by companies increasingly focused on capital efficiency.

The number of announced M&A deals involving a Japanese buyer or seller jumped 17% from 2023 to 4,700, according to Tokyo-based Recof Data.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.