News
J-Search Establishes Awa Search Fund Jointly with The Awa Bank, Ltd.
Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. (hereinafter, the Company / Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / President and Representative Director: Suguru Miyake), announces that its consolidated subsidiary, J-Search Inc. (hereinafter, J-Search / https://j-search.co.jp), has established the “Awa Search Fund No. 1.”
J-Search was established as an operating company for regionally focused search funds in collaboration with local financial institutions. The “Awa Search Fund No. 1” will be operated with investments from the Company and The Awa Bank, Ltd. J-Search aims to develop search funds in collaboration with financial institutions across the country, providing talented individuals with opportunities to thrive as business leaders in regional areas. This initiative seeks to support the growth of local SMEs, address business succession issues, and ultimately strengthen the competitiveness of Japanese companies.
Following the establishment of the Minami Kyushu Search Fund, the Hokkaido Search Fund, the Hokuriku Search Fund, and the Awa Search Fund, we aim to create regionally focused search funds in various locations throughout Japan.【Overview of Awa Search Fund No. 1】
Fund Name: Awa Search Fund No. 1 Investment Limited Partnership General Partner (GP): J-Search Inc. Limited Partners (LP): The Awa Bank, Ltd., Nihon M&A Center Holdings, Inc. Total Fund Size: Approximately 1 billion yen Investment Period: 10 years Investment Target: ・Search activity funds for individuals aiming for business succession-type M&A in SMEs ・Investment funds for business succession and M&A targeting regional SMEs primarily located in Tokushima Prefecture
Takehisa Fukunaga, President and Director of The Awa Bank, Ltd., said:
Regional SMEs are facing serious business succession challenges due to population decline, aging owners, and a lack of successors, among other factors. Our bank has consistently collaborated with Nihon M&A Center as well as our Group companies, The Awagin Consulting Company Limited and The Awagin Capital Company Limited, to provide business succession support that is rooted in the local community. This fund will connect aspiring business leaders (searchers) with companies to offer new options for business succession. Through this initiative, our Bank aims to continue contributing to the business and employment growth of our customers and bring about the realization of a prosperous local community.
Masahiko Otsuki, President of J-Search Inc, said:
We are truly honored to have established a search fund jointly with The Awa Bank, Ltd. To date, The Awa Bank, Ltd. and Nihon M&A Center Group have cooperated extensively to help SMEs and mid-sized companies address their business succession challenges. In this initiative, we will once again be working hand in hand with The Awa Bank, Ltd. to address the challenges of business succession and shortage of business leaders in regional areas with a focus on Tokushima Prefecture, support aspiring talents, and foster the creation of growth companies.
【To Aspiring Business Leaders】Recruitment of Searchers Begins
J-Search is now recruiting searchers who aspire to become future business leaders. If you are interested in managing companies in regions centered around Tokushima Prefecture, please contact us via the J-Search website. Entry & Inquiries:：https://j-search.co.jp/#contact
【J-Search Inc.】
Company name: J-Search Inc.
President: Masahiko Otsuki
Location of headquarters: 1-8-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Established in: October 2024
Capital: 100 million yen
Shareholder: 100% Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc.
【Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. (TSE Prime Market: 2127)】
Company name: Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc.
Location of headquarters: 24F TEKKO BUILDING 1-8-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Business description: Business management, etc. of the group companies
Established in: April 1991
Bases: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Okinawa, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand
（Including subsidiaries and bases of the subsidiary, Nihon M&A Center Inc.）
【Contact for inquiries】
Public relations at Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. pr@nihon-ma.co.jp
