Investcorp opens Japan office

Heizo Takenaka (pictured), a professor emeritus at Keio University and a professor at Toyo University in Japan, has been appointed chairman of Investcorp Japan. Takenaka has held several senior roles in the Japanese government, including minister for economic and fiscal policy and minister for financial services.

He also led government efforts to privatise Japan Post, the largest public enterprise in the country in the mid-2000s, which resulted in the establishment of groups like Japan Post Insurance and Japan Post Bank. Takenaka returned to academia in 2006, and the privatisation was finalised the following year.

"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," Takenaka said in a statement.

"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."

It is Investcorp's fifth office in Asia, following Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore, and Beijing. The Tokyo team will join Investcorp's wider Asia team, which includes 40 professionals who operate across the region.

Headquartered in Bahrain, Investcrop is one of the Middle East's largest alternatives investors, active across private equity, real estate, credit, absolute return strategies, GP stakes, and infrastructure. Assets under management (AUM) rose from USD 35bn in 2021 to USD 50bn as of December 2022.

Japanese investors currently account for about USD 2bn of AUM. Investcrop observed that this investor base is increasingly seeking access to global alternative investment strategies with experience in Asia.

"[T]he opening of an Investcorp office in Japan is the next major milestone along our road of global growth," Executive Chairman Mohammed Alardhi added.

"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 [Gulf Cooperation Council]."

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