Japanese companies have a dramatically different culture than Western, European or US companies, and Dentsu is one of Japan’s more traditional companies, at the same time home to Japanese creative talent.
To bridge this gap in cultures, Dentsu acquired the French/UK company Aegis Group plc on 5 July 2012, creating Dentsu Aegis Network. Dentsu has used Dentsu Aegis Network as a bridge head for many acquisitions in Europe and the Mediterranean are, bridging cultural differences.
Gleam Futures: “We manage digital-first talent”
Gleam Futures describe their business as “we develop, monetize & protect” digital-first talent, e.g. YouTube stars.
Established: 2010
Employees: 37
Talents: 40
Combined subscriber base: approx. 60 million
Revenues: UK Pounds 4.35 million (Fiscal Year ending Dec 2016
On April 20, 2015 Dentsu announced another investment in its quest to strengthen its global footprint and to strengthen capabilities in mobile and digital: Dentsu acquires Israeli digital performance agency abaGada Internet Ltd..
abaGada Internet Ltd. – performance marketing: “Building your online marketing strategy to deliver outstanding results”
abaGada Internet Ltd. was founded by current CEO, Eval Chen, in May 2010 in Tel Aviv, Israel, and employs about 22 people.
Revenues were about UKL 3.5 million in the year ended December 2014.
abaGada performs search engine marketing (SEM) to increase customers’ website traffic, analysis of customer and user behavior.
Dentsu plans to rebrand and integrate abaGada into Dentsu’s iProspect brand.
abaGada as Dentsu’s technology hub in Israel
Many large global corporations have operations in Israel to link into Israeli’s legendary innovative strengths. Israel’s technology strength and attraction for Japanese corporations was recently visualized at a series of events in Tokyo, e.g. The Israeli Venture Fund meeting in Tokyo on March 4, 2014.
With the acquisition of abaGada, Densu now also has an antenna into Israel’s innovations.
Dentsu and Dentsu-Aegis
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
On March 11, 2015 Dentsu announced another investment in its quest to strengthen its global footprint and to strengthen capabilities in mobile and digital: Dentsu acquires 80% of Greek leading independent digital agency Mindworks, and plans to integrate Mindworks into Dentsu’s Isobar and iProspect networks.
Dentsu has also acquired options to acquire the remaining 20% of Mindworks by 2017.
Mindworks – “the fastest growing digital agency in Greece”
Mindworks was founded in 2003, acquired by Atcom in 2009, and became an independent company again in January 2015.
As a division of Atcom, in the financial year ending December 2014, Mindworks had revenues of EURO 7.3 million. Mindworks has about 60 employees.
Mindworks – to be renamed Isobar-iProspect Advertising Services SA
Mindworks will be renamed Isobar-iProspect Advertising Services SA, and will be integrated into Dentsu’s global Isobar and iProspect brands, representing Isobar’s and iProspect’s entry into Greece’s markets.
Dentsu and Dentsu-Aegis
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
On March 4, 2014 Dentsu announced further European investments in its quest to strengthen its global footprint: Dentsu acquires French mobile marketing agency Lesmobilizers SAS.
Lesmobilizers SAS – Mobile Applications Creators
Lesmobilizers SAS are a dedicated agency in design and development of mobile applications. The company was founded in March 2010 in Paris, France, and employees about 10 people.
In the year ending December 2012, gross profits were about EURO 0.8 million.
Dentsu and Dentsu-Aegis
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
On February 28, 2014 Dentsu announced further European investments in its quest to strengthen its global footprint: Dentsu acquires German performance and search agency explido and integrates explido into Dentsu’s iProspect business and brand.
explido GmbH & Co KG – Agentur für digitales Marketing und Vertrieb
explido GmbH & Co KG offers digital marketing services, was founded in October 2002 in Augsburg, Germany, and employs about 135 people.
explido achieved about EURO 11.7 million gross profits annually.
Dentsu and Dentsu-Aegis
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
On January 20, 2014 Dentsu announced further European investments in its quest to strengthen its global footprint: Dentsu acquires Poland’s social media agency Socializer
Socializer SA
Socializer SA was founded in Warsaw, Poland, in March 2011, earned gross profits of UKL 1.7 million in the financial year ended December 2012, and employs about 130 people.
Socializer provider advertising and communications services using Social Media (SNS).
Dentsu and Dentsu-Aegis
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
Dentsu further expands the global footprint in Spain
On September 20, 2013 Dentsu announced further European investments this year in its quest to strengthen its global footprint:
acquisition of 51% of Ymedia SL via Aegis Media Iberia, full 100% acquisition expected by 2019
acquisition of 31.8% of Wink TTD SL via Aegis Media Iberia, full 100% acquisition expected by 2019
Ymedia SL
Ymedia SL is a full-service media agency, founded in December 2006 and based in Madrid, Spain, employing about 50 people.
Gross profits in the year ending Dec 2012 were about UKL 8.8 million.
Wink TTD SL – “Transforming through Digital”
Wink TTD SL: a communication agency for digital transformation.
Gabriel Saenz de Buruaga (former worldwide CEO for Havas Digital) and Alejandro Esteves (former Managing Director of Aegis Media, Spain) founded Wink TTD SL in November 2011 in Madrid, Spain, employing about 40 people.
Gross profits in the year ending Dec 2012 were about UKL 5.1 million.
Wink TTD SL has the following six founding principles:
Fast fish eat slow fish
Sector exclusivity
Best talent in the market
Senior talent dedication to clients
We charge for what we do
Dentsu and Dentsu-Aegis
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
Dentsu further expands the global footprint in Europe
Social, content and digital marketing empowerment based in Italy
On July 30, 2013 Dentsu announced another European investment this year in its quest to strengthen its global footprint: the acquisition of a 70% majority share in the Italian Simple Agency via Aegis Media Italia, a of subsidiary Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd.
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
On May 23, 2013 Dentsu announced another European acquisition within the single month of May 2013 in its quest to strengthen its global footprint: the acquisition of the leading Dutch social media agency Social Embassy BV via its European subsidiary Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd.
Social Embassy BV
Social Embassy BV is The Netherlands’ largest social media agency, based in Amsterdam. The company was founded in 2008 by Steven Jongeneel and co-founder Niels van der Velden, and focuses on strategy & insights, content & community management, creative, brand engagement and advertising.
The company employed about 30 people when Dentsu acquired it.
Dentsu and Dentsu-Aegis
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
On May 14, 2013 Dentsu announced the acquisition of the Romanian digital advertising agency Kinecto via its subsidiary Dentsu-Aegis, based in London. Following the acquisition, the company was renamed Kinecto Isobar.
Kinecto
Kinecto International SRL is one of the most important digital advertising agencies in Romania, and was founded in 2002 by Dr Radu Ionesco and has about 10 employees.
The company focuses on online and social media campaigns, CRM programs, creative and production services for websites and micro websites, email marketing and search engine marketing
Before acquisition by Dentsu-Aegis, the company was part of the Tempo Creative Group.
Dentsu and Dentsu-Aegis
Dentsu dominates Japan’s advertising space, and is a very very strong force in Japan’s media industry sector, through control and management of major advertising channels with an overwhelming market share in Japan, and has been working hard to leverage its creative power and strength in Japan into a larger global footprint.
Dentsu’s challenge to grow global footprint while managing cultural differences
On Thursday, July 5th, 2012, Dentsu announced the acquisition of Aegis Group plc, a UK company with French roots, centered on media advertising media buying.
Dentsu’s need to globalize
Driving this acquisition was Dentsu’s need to globalize, to create the necessary global footprint to compete with Publicis, WPP, Omnicom, Interpublic, Havas on one hand, and with newcomers Google and Facebook.
Dentsu Aegis Network created to overcome cultural issues
To overcome the important cultural issues of Japan-focused Dentsu, the “Dentsu Aegis Network” was created which combines seven major global brands:
Nikkei won the race. Axel Springer withdrew. £ 94 million made the difference.
by Gerhard Fasol
On July 23, 2015 at 15:13 (3:13 pm) British Summer Time, Pearson and Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation announced the sale of the Financial Times Newspaper to Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation for £ 844 million (approx. US$ 1.3 billion) – sending shock waves around the global news industry.
FT: £ 94 million made the difference.
The Financial Times reported that Germany’s Axel Springer Verlag had offered £ 750 million in cash, but within the last 5 weeks Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation (Nikkei) quickly closed the acquisition with a 12% higher cash offer of £ 844 million, while Axel Springer withdrew. So it seems that in the end £ 94 million made the difference.
As a privately held company, Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation can act faster, and has far less constraints than the publicly traded Axel Springer Corporation.
Clearly in the best case, this acquisition will help Nikkei Inc to globalize and to bring Japan’s financial news and scoops via Financial Times to Western audiences, and vice-versa, and help both to learn from each other to speed up and expand the transition from paper to new digital business models.
Cultural issues and language issues: for effective cooperation, Financial Times leaders will need to learn Japanese and/or Nihon Keizai Shinbun leaders will need to learn much more English….
Writing news is an intensely intellectual activity. There will be interactions between Nikkei’s almost 100% Japanese reporters and Financial Times’ much more diverse creators. Given that almost zero of Financial Times’s staff speak any Japanese, and that knowledge of English language by Nikkei’s creators and editors is extremely limited, these interactions will be necessarily very limited, and will need intense efforts to expand. As you know, learning Japanese for Western people, and learning English for Japanese people is extremely difficult, especially at the level of writing compelling news to short deadlines and for some of the world’s most clever and demanding audiences – who are always able to defect to a Bloomberg terminal or to a news startup – or from this autumn to Apple-News.
Success of this acquisition is possible and could bring great benefits, but is by no means guaranteed.
Much has been written about editorial independence, separation of content creation vs advertising, and differences in editorial style and aggressive reporting between Financial Times’ aggressive London style vs Nikkei’s more obedient Tokyo style. Surely both can learn from each other!
Note also that the acquisition is subject to “regulatory approval”, and this may well impose conditions on the acquisition.
Another issues of course is, who did NOT acquire the Financial Times: Bloomberg seems to have not been involved, and Axel Springer seems to have withdrawn.
It has been reported, that Pearson is currently also in the process of selling Pearson’s shares in the iconic Economist Group. Following the Financial Times acquisition by Nikkei which has been conducted low profile, we can expect much more participation in a potential Economist sale.
Pearson only owns 50% of The Economist, the remainder is owned by Families (Cadbury, Rothschild, Schroder, Agnelli and others) and Economist staff and former staff.
The Economist is governed by:
Trustees:
Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone
Lord O’Donnell
Tim Clark
Bryan Sanderson
Board of Directors of 12 people
Therefore The Economist’s government structure enables The Economist’s independence, and acquiring Pearson’s 50% will not allow control of The Economist in the way acquiring 100% of Financial Times does.
How big is Nikkei? 6 times larger circulation than Financial Times! Larger than New York Times + Wall Street Journal combined!
Nihon Keizai Shinbun (Nikkei) has substantially larger distribution than Wall Street Journal, New York Times or Financial Times
Japan’s media sector is very very large, and so is Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation.
Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation is best known in the west for the NIKKEI index, however this is only a very small part of Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation. At the core of Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation (Nikkei Inc) is the Nihon Keizai Shinbun (= Japan Economics Newspaper, Nikkei), which appears twice daily, and in terms of circulation is very much larger than New York Times, Wall Street Journal or Financial Times:
Circulation
Nikkei: 2.77 million (morning) + 1.39 million (evening) + 0.43 million (digital) = 4.59 million
WSJ: 1.463 million (paper) + 0.734 million (digital) = 2.2 million
NYT: 0.868 million (paper) + 0.91 million (digital) = 1.8 million
FT: .225 million (paper) + .504 million (digital) = 0.73 million
Thus, Nikkei’s circulation is larger than WSJ + NYT combined, or more than 6 times larger than Financial Times’.
However, Nikkei is clearly behind in the transition from paper to digital.
Financial Times, 1/4 the size of the Nikkei Corporation in terms of sales
The Financial Times was founded on January 9, 1888.
Financial Times Group sales have increased from around £ 400 million (approx. US$ 620 million) in 2010 to around £ 450 million (approx. US$ 700 million) in FY 2013.
Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation (株式会社日本経済新聞社, Nikkei Inc.) was founded on August 11, 1911, but goes back to the newspaper ChuugaiBukkaShinpou (中外物価新報) which started on January 27, 1889, almost exactly one year after the Financial Times was founded.
Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation has the Nihon Keizai Shinbun (日本経済新聞) as its core, but owns and operates a very large number of other publishing and media businesses, including also a 31.46% holding in Televi Tokyo Holdings, one of Japan’s major TV based media groups.
Consolidated revenues: YEN 300.6 billion (US$ 2.4 billion) (FY2014)
Operating income: YEN 16.7 billion (US$ 0.135 billion) (FY2014)
Net income: YEN 10.26 billion (US$ 0.08 billion) (FY2014)
Employees: 7319 (Dec 31, 2014)
You need to understand Japan’s huge media industry sector?
Read our report on Japan’s Media (approx. 200 pages, pdf file)
Japanese companies’ strategy to overcome cultural post-merger problems: European subsidiaries acquire
Heraeus Kulzer acquires EGS, expanding both Mitsui Chemicals’ foot print in Europe and global market penetration for Mitsui Chemicals’ dental supplies business
Japanese companies are well known to have substantial difficulties with post merger integration as a consequence of massive cultural differences which need to be overcome for successful acquisitions. One way to mitigate these difficulties is for Japanese companies to acquire a substantial European company, make this acquisition a success, and then acquire additional companies via this first successfully integrated subsidiary. One example for this path is Dentsu with its Aegis acquisition, see: Dentsu acquires Aegis. Subsequently, Aegis acquires a string of companies all over Europe for Dentsu.
Mitsui Chemicals follows a similar strategy by first acquiring Heraeus Kulzer, which then again acquires the CAD/CAM specialist Enhanced Geometry Solutions, EGS Srl.
Enhanced Geometry Solutions, EGS Srl, makes 3D scanners, CAD software, and digital tools for scanning, modeling, designing workflow in dental laboratories.
While EU investment in Japan is steady, Japanese direct investments in Europe are rapidly increasing by about EURO 10 billion per year, and amount to about EURO 160 billion in total, almost twice as high as European investments in Japan.
So, the reality is that Europe is about twice as attractive for Japanese direct investments than in the opposite direction.
Japan-EU investment stock
Foreign direct investment (FDI) stock between EU and Japan
Japan-EU investment flow
Foreign direct investment (FDI) flow between EU and Japan
Japan to Europe M&A register: listing of Japanese investments in and acquisitions of European companies
2023
Nippon Express Holdings KK (NIPPON EXPRESSホルディングス株式会社) acquires the Austrian logistics group Cargo-Partner Group Holding AG for up to around EURO 1400 million (approx US$ 1.5 billion). Details: https://eu-japan.com/2023/05/nippon-express-cargo-partner/
NEC to acquire Denmark’s largest IT company KMD Holding ApS for about 8 billion Danish Kroner (approx. US$ 1.2 billion). Announced 27 December 2018, to close at the end of February 2019. More details here.
Yusen Logistics places Transfreight Automotive Logistics Europe, located in Burnaston, Derby, UK, into voluntary liquidation on 12 July 2019 to shut down the UK part of company while expanding in other areas in Europe. Transfreight Automotive Logistics Europe main business is TOYOTA’s Burnaston plant.
World’s largest air-conditioning equipment maker Daikin acquires Austrian AHT Cooling systems for €881m (approx. US$ 1.01 billion, 114.5 billion YEN) Announced Monday 26 November 2018. More details here.
Nidec acquires CIMA S.p.A. (Italy)
Nidec acquires MS-Graessner GmbH & CO KG (Germany)
2017
Dentsu acquires 90% controlling stake of Gleam Futures using Dentsu Aegis Network as a cultural bridge. Announced 20 June 2017. More details here.
Hitachi Chemical acquires ISOLTE from private equity fund HQ Equita. Announced on 27 April 2017. More details here
Sanofi acquires SSP (エスエス製薬株式会社). Transaction on 1 Jan 2017. More details here
Japanese joint venture (Kansai Electric Power, trading company Sojitz, Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & FInance) invest €300m in Irish wind power plantsdetails here
Yusen Logistics acquires Transfreight Europe from Mitsui & Co Ltd
Nidec acquires Emerson Electric Co.’s motor and electric power generation business in France
Nidec acquires LGB Elettropompe S.R.L. (Italy)
Nidec acquires Secop Group (Germany)
Nidec acquires driveXpert GmbH (Germany)
2016
SoftBank acquires ARM Holdings for £24.0 billion (US$ 31.4 billion). The acquisition closed on 5 September 2016. Details here.
Asahi Group Holdings acquire five east European beer brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev for €7.3 billion.Details here.
Asahi Group Holdings acquires Peroni Nastro Azurro, Grolsch and Meantime for €2550 million. Detail here.
Nidec acquires E.C.E. S.R.L. (Italy)
Nidec acquires ANA IMEP SA (Romania)
2015
Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd opens £82 million train factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, UK. Details and analysis here.
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company to acquire UK insurance company Amlin for 2.5 billion pounds (approx. US$ 3.85 billion or ¥642 billion). Details here.
Nihon Keizai Shinbun Corporation (株式会社日本経済新聞社, Nikkei Inc.) acquires Financial Times for £ 844 million (approx. US$ 1.3 billion), £ 94 million more than Axel Springer’s offer of £ 750 million. Details here.
SoftBank acquires an additional 22.7% of Finnish game maker Supercelldetails here.
Canon announces tender offer for all outstanding shares of Swedish surveillance leader Axis AB. Canon‘s offer amounts to approximately SEK 23.6 billion (US$ 2.8 billion). For details.
Sosei Group acquires Heptares Therapeutics Ltd for up to US$ 400 million. Details here.
Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Holdings Inc (損保ジャパン日本興亜ホールディングス株式会社) acquires 7.8% in the French reinsurer Scor SE and plans to increase investment stake to 15%. Details here.
LINE Corporation acquires Bristol, UK based streaming music service MixRadio from Microsoft.Details here.
Hitachi and Finmeccanica agree for Hitachi to acquire the rail manufacturer AnsaldoBreda SpA and 40% of the signaling and rail system company Ansaldo STS SpA. Hitachi is expected to acquire the remaining 60% of Ansaldo STS SpA in a tender offer. Total estimated acquisition costs are about € 2 billion (US$ 2.2 billon). Details here.
NTT Communications to acquire German data center operator e-shelter facility services GmbH for approximately YEN 100 billion (US$ 840 million). Details here.
Nikon launches offer to acquire Scottish retina imaging company Optos plc for approximately UKL 250.48 million (US$ 387 million). Details here.
Nippon Life Insurance (日本生命保険相互会社) partners with AXA Group and invests a 1% stake in AXA for approx. US$ 0.62 billion.Details here.
Brother Industries to acquire Domino Printing Sciences plc for UKL 1.03 billion (= US$ 1.5 billion)Details here.
Diesel engine maker Yanmar to partner with and acquire 70% of generator maker Himoinsadetails here.
Nidec acquires Italian power generator manufacturer Motortecnica s.r.l.details here.
Nidec acquires German automotive pump manufacturer Geräte- und Pumpenbau GmbH Dr. Eugen Schmidtdetails here.
Recruit acquires London based EdTech venture Quipper for US$ 39 milliondetails here.
Dentsu acquires Israeli digital performance marketing agency abaGagadetails here.
Dentsu acquires Mindworks – “the fastest growing digital agency in Greece”read for details.
Toray acquires 55% of Italian fiber manufacturer Delta-Tech SpA including Delta-Preg SpARead the details.
Nidec acquires Arisa SA in Spain
Nidec acquires EMG Elettromeccanica SRL (Italy)
2014
Rakuten acquires Viber Media (incorporated in Cyprus, development based in Israel, CEO Marco Talmon) US$ 900 million
Rakuten Marketing acquires Brighton (UK) based marketing attribution specialist DC Storm. We estimate that Rakuten Marketing paid on the order of US$ 100 million for this acquisition. Details here.
Dentsu Aegis acquires Socializer Group (Poland, social media services, apps and media development)more here.
SONY to acquire CSC Media Group (UK) for UKL 107 million, announced June 26, 2014.
Toshiba acquires and additional 10% of NuGeneration Ltd from GDF Suez, making NuGeneration a joint-venture between Toshiba (60%) and GDF Suez (40%). NuGeneration is a nuclear power company planning a 3.4 GigaWatt nuclear power plant in Cumbria (UK).
Panasonic invests in Spanish car parts maker Ficosa to jointly develop self-driving car technology. Panasonic invests approximately US$ 275 million for an approximately 50% stake (September 26, 2014). For details click here.
JFE Engineering acquires boiler, biomass and waste-to-energy plant maker Standardkessel Power Systems Holding GmbH for approximately YEN 10 billion (US$ 87 million). For details click here.
Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (HZI AG) acquires AXPO Kompogas Engineering AG (Komeng). AXPO Kompogas Engineering AG (Komeng) is an EPC planning and constructing dry fermentation plants which produce biogas and compost from biological waste using the Kompogas process. Read details here.
Hitachi acquires Valcom S.r.l.. Valcom S.r.l. is an Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) company based in Milano (Italy). Read more details here.
Lixil and Development Bank of Japan acquire Grohe AG (Germany) (bathroom fittings maker) from TPG Capital and Credit Suisse EURO 3.06 Billion (US$ 4.2 Billion), for details read here.
Yaskawa Electric Corporation acquires The Switch Engineering Oy, manufacturer of generators and power converters for wind turbines and other applications. Details here.
Dentsu acquires German performance and search agency explidodetails here.
Dentsu acquires French mobile advertising agency Lesmobilizers SAS.read more here.
Video surveillance specialist Milestone Systems A/S acquired by Canonread more here
2013
ORIX Corporation acquires 90.00001% of Robeco Groep NV (which was a subsidiary of Rabobank) EURO 1.94 Billion (US$ 2.6 Billion). Rabobank retains 10% of shares, and receives EURO 150 million shares in ORIX. Robeco Groep NV manages EURO 189 Billion in assets.
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd acquires Lucozade and Ribena from GlaxoSmithKline plc (UK) UKL 1.35 Billion Pounds (US$ 2.2 Billion), completion Dec 2013
Dentsu Aegis Media Italy acquires a 70% stake in Simple Agency (Italian digital marketing agency)more here.
Toshiba acquires 50% of NuGeneration Ltd from Iberdrola for UKL 85 million (US$ 146 million). NuGeneration is a nuclear power company planning a 3.4 GigaWatt nuclear power plant in Cumbria (UK).
Minebea KK acquires Cerobear GmbH (June 30, 2013):Minebea KK (TSE Code: 6479) (ミネベア株式会社) acquires the German ball bearing manufacturer Cerobear GmbH via Minebea’s fully owned US subsidiary New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc. (NHBB). Cerobear GmbH was founded in 1989 as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer-Instituts für Produktionstechnologie IPT.
Minebea KK acquires APB Service GmbH (May 6, 2013):Minebea KK (TSE Code: 6479) (ミネベア株式会社) acquires the assets of the Austrian company APB Service GmbH, based in Ebensee, Austria, via Minebea’s subsidiary myonic GmbH.
Panasonic acquires Aupeo to stream audio into internet connected cars.For details click.
Integralis AG renamed NTT Com Security AG NTT Communications had acquired 78.4% of Integralis AG in a tender offer in October 2009. Details here.
NTT DATA completes the acquisition of itelligence AG (“We make the most of SAP solutions!”). Total acquisition price is on the order of € 150 million. itelligence AG becomes a 100% subsidiary of NTT DATA, forming NTT DATA Business Solutions. Itelligence AG itself acquires a number of SAP solution providers, and expands successfully. Details here.
NTT Docomo acquires Austrian e-commerce and m-commerce trading solutions platform provider fine trade gmbh for “several tens of millions of Euros”. Read details here.
NTT Communications acquires 91.2% of Collaboration-as-a-Service company Arkadin at a valuation of approximately US$ 463 million. Read details here.
Hitachi Consulting acquires Celerant Consulting (announced January 2, 2013), founded as Cambridge Management Consulting Limited.Read details here.
Japan’s giant advertising group Dentsu acquires Romania’s digital agency Kinecto. Details here.
Dentsu acquires Dutch SNS advertising firm Social Embassy BV.more here.
Dentsu invests in Spanish full-service media agency Ymedia SL.more here.
Dentsu invests in Spanish digital agency Wink TTD SLmore here.
Mitsui Chemicals acquires dental materials specialist Heraeus Kulzer GmbH for € 450 milliondetails here
2012
Dentsu acquires Aegis Group plc US$ 4.3 Billion. Creating “dentsu AEGIS network”. For details read our blog: “Dentsu acquires Aegis“
Toyota Tsusho Corporation invests in CFA SA US$ 2.2 Billion
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) announces UKL 267 million additional investments at the Swindon manufacturing site. Total investment by Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) at the Swindon site estimated to be UKL 1.5 billion.
Hitachi “Inspire the next” opens European Rail Research Centre (ERRC) in London. Read details.
Hitachi acquires The Railway Engineering Company (TRE) for UKL 25.5 million, announced on December 20, 2012. For more details read here
Hitachi acquires Horizon Nuclear Power from Germany’s RWE and EON AG for UKL 696 million (US$ 1.2 billion). Horizon Nuclear Power is a nuclear power company planning to build nuclear power plants with up to 6 reactors delivering 5.4 GigaWatt nuclear power at two locations: Wylfa Newydd (in Wales) and Oldbury in UK. Details here.
Rakuten acquires French e-publishing tool maker Aquafadas via KOBODetails here.
Rakuten acquires Barcelona based internet video-on-demand service Wuaki.tvDetails here.
Rakuten acquires Beauvais (France) based logistics specialist Alpha-Direct-Services (ADS)Details here.
Nidec acquires Italian industrial motor maker Ansaldo Sistemi Industriali S.p.ADetails here.
2011
NTT Docomo increases investment in net mobile AG by up to € 28.4 million, for net mobile AG to acquire the German bank Bankverein Werther AG. Details here.
Takeda Pharmaceutical acquires Nycomed International Management GmbH (Switzerland) EURO 10 Billion (US$ 14 Billion)
Landis & Gyr AG Special Purpose Vehicle (Toshiba (60%) and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) (40%)) acquires Landis & Gyr AG (Switzerland) US$ 2.3 Billion. For details see here.
SONY Corporation acquires outstanding 50% of SONY Ericsson Mobile Communications (UK) US$ 1.5 Billion. As a result SONY Corporation owns 100% of SONY Ericsson Mobile Communications, which is renamed SONY Mobile Communications
Lixil acquires Permasteelisa (Italy) for €573 million.
Dentsu acquires Steak Group (UK, digital media group) US$ xx million.
Dentsu acquires Adjug (UK, advertising exchange) US$ xx million.
Itochu acquires Kwik-Fit UKL 637 million (US$ 1.04 billion), including settlement of UKL 457 million in debt, from the French Private Equity company PAI Partners
NTT Data acquires 100% of Value Team SpA for about € 250 million from Value Partners. Details here.
Rakuten acquires 80% of German e-commerce platform TradoriaDetails here
Rakuten acquires Jersey based UK e-commerce portal Play.com for UKL 25 million (US$ 40 million). Details here.
DAIWA Securities Capital Markets invests in KBC Bonds and Equity Derivatives (Belgium) US$ 1 Billion
SONY divests “Sony Barcelona Tec” to Spanish car parts maker Ficosa International SA and infrastructure company Comsa Emte SL, announced on September 7, 2010. “Sony Barcelona Tec” was manufacturing SONY LCD TVs for the European market. For details click here.
Hitachi Zosen acquires AE&E Inova Holding AG, renamed to Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (abbreviated: HZI AG). AE&E Inova Holding AG developed from a department of the Gesellschaft der Ludwig von Roll’schen Eisenwerke for thermal waste treatment. Hitachi Zosen Inova AG is focused on: “Waste is our energy!” Read details here.
Rakuten acquires French ecommerce portal site PriceMinister.com for €200 million (approx. US$ 250 million). Details here.
Nidec acquires home appliance business of ACC Corporation (Italy)
2009
NTT Communications acquired 78.4% of Integralis AG for € 59.1 million to offer managed security services. Details here.
NTT Docomo acquires 79.59% of Germany’s net mobile AG for € 38.9 million. Read details.
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd acquires Orangina Schweppes Group YEN 300 Billion (US$ 3 Billion)
Suzuki Motors acquires Volkswagen (VW) shares for EURO 770 million as part of a Volkswagen-Suzuki alliance. This alliance ran into management difficulties, and Suzuki is asking for this alliance to be dissolved. The dispute came into public view via a blog posting in Japanese language by Suzuki CEO, Mr Osamu Suzuki.
Minebea KK acquires myonic Holding GmbH (March 5, 2009):Minebea KK (TSE Code: 6479) (ミネベア株式会社) acquires myonic Holding GmbH, based in Leutkirch, Germany.
Square Enix acquires Eidos Interactive for £84.3 millionRead details.
NTT Data acquires 72.9% of outstanding shares of Cirquent GmbH. Cirquent resulted from BMW’s IT department, and thus BMW is now NTT Data’s largest customer in Europe. Details here.
TDK acquires passive electronics component maker EPCOS for YEN 200 Billion (approx. US$ 1.859 billion) (July 31, 2008)Details here.
Suzuki Metal Industry Co Ltd acquires Swedish valve spring wire maker Garphyttan Wire for SEK 800 million.Details here.
2007
Sumitomo Chemical acquires Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) for US$ 285 million. Read details here.
Olympus UK Acquisitions Ltd acquires Gyrus Group plc US$ 2.2 Billion
Tokyo Marin Invest (Bermuda) invests in Kiln plc US$ 0.9 Billion
NTT DATA enters into business partnership with itelligence AG “We make the most of SAP solutions!”Details here.
Yagi Tsusho acquires the UK apparel company Mackintosh.More here.
Yamaha acquires Austrian piano maker BösendorferMore here.
Four-Side.com Ltd invests in iTouch plc (UK) US$ 0.3 Billion
Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation (AKF) of Osaka, Japan, acquires the Dorlastan fibers business of Lanxess Corporation. Lanxess Dorlastan fibers business includes production sites at Dormagen (Germany), and in Bushy Park (South Carolina, USA). Read more details.
2004
Investor Group invests in DFS Furniture plc US$ 0.7 Billion
Mitsubishi Securities invests in Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc US$ 0.54 Billion
2003
Nomura International plc invests in Center Parks NV Holiday (Netherlands) US$ 0.5 Billion
Shin-Etsu Chemical invests in Clariant Cellulose Ethers Division (Switzerland) US$ 0.27 Billion
Nikko Principal Invest invests in UK Healthcare Properties US$ 0.4 Billion
Terumo Corp. invests in Vascutek Ltd (Centerpulse AG) US$ 170 million
Matsushita Electric (Panasonic) invests in Vossloh Elektro GmbH US$ 160 million
2001
Grand Hotels Acquisition Company 1 invests in Le Meridien Hotels US$ 2.7 Billion
Bede Acquisition Co Ltd invests in Bass plc Pubs US$ 0.9 Billion
Nissan Motor acquires 15% of Renault SA (France) (nonvoting shares) for EURO 1.4 billion, as a consequence of the Renault-Nissan Alliance which started on March 27, 1999.
Asahi Glass invests in Glaverbel SA (Belgium) US$ 0.3 Billion
2000
NTT Docomo invests in KPN Mobile NV (Netherlands) US$ 3.6 Billion
NTT Docomo invests in a 20% share of Hutchinson 3G UK Holdings, July 2000 UKL 1.2 billion (= US$ 1.8 Billion), sold for UKL 120 million (US$ 180 million) in May 2004.
Prestige Acquisitions invests in Powel Duffryn plc US$ 0.75 Billion
Toyota Automatic Loomworks invests in BT Industries AB (Sweden) US$ 1.2 Billion
Takata acquires Petri AG.Takata (producer of airbags, safety belts and children’s seats) acquires the German airbag producer Petri AG, headquartered in Aschaffenburg.
Mitsui & Co Ltd (70%) and Fujitrans (30%) establish Transfreight Automotive Logistics Europe.
Location: Lancashire (UK).
Business: distribution and logistics of automotive parts for Toyota
1999
Japan Tobacco (JT) invests in RJ Reynolds International US$ 7.8 Billion
NEC invests in NEC Packard Bell Europe BV US$ 0.45 Billion
1998
Future Rentals plc invests in Thorn plc US$ 1.6 Billion
Tudor Street Acquisitions plc invests in Inn Partnership (Grenalis) US$ 0.6 Billion
Nikko Europe plc invests in Roadchef plc US$ 0.3 Billion
Matsushita Electric (Panasonic) invests in PolyGram NV (Netherlands) US$ 0.8 Billion
Shin-Etsu invests in Rovin NV (Netherlands) US$ 0.3 Billion
Glaverbel SA invests in PPG Industries European Glass (Belgium) US$ 0.3 Billion
1997
Grand Pub Ltd (Nomura) invests in Inntrepreneur, Spring Inns US$ 2 Billion
Grand Bookmaking Company invests in William Hill US$ 1.1 Billion
ICL (Fujitsu) invests in BG plc Telecommunications US$ 260 million
1996
Toray Industries invests in Rhone-Poulenc Films US$ 160 million
Toyota invests in Amer Group (Finland) US$ 180 million
1994
Suzuki invests in Heron Suzuki US$ 60 million
Nomura Securities invests in VUB Kupon (Slovakia) US$ 70 million
Toray Industries invests in Alcanatara (Enichem SpA) US$ 120 million
ELCO Corporation (Kyocera) invests in Shekem Ltd (Israel) US$ 50 million
Itochu acquires UK tyre retailer Stapletons
1993
C Itoh invests in North Sea Hudson, Hutton, North West Fields US$ 100 million
Nissan Europe invests in Nissan Motor Iberica US$ 60 million
1992
ICL (Fujitsu) acquires Technology plc US$ 80 million
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) starts producing Honda Accord in Swindon
1991
ICL (Fujitsu) acquires Nokia Data US$ 0.4 Billion
San East UK plc acquires DAKS Simpson Group plc US$ 0.2 Billion
Yamanouchi (today Astellas after merger with Fujisawa) acquires the pharmaceutical division of Royal Gist Brocades
1990
Fujitsu acquires ICL (International Computers Ltd.) US$ 1.4 Billion
1989
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) starts production at the engine plant
Toyota Manufacturing UK established in December 1989. Manufacturing planting Burnaston, Derbyshire, completes first Carina car on December 16, 1992.
1988
Seibu Season Group acquires IHC (Intercontinental Hotels Corporation) US$ 2.3 Billion (Seibu Season Group divests IHC in March 1998 to the UK Brewery group Bass).
1987
…
1986
…
1985
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) established
1984
Nissan begins building car plant in Sunderland
1983
…
1982
…
1981
Nissan announces plans to build a car plant in UK
1980
…
1979
…
1978
…
1977
…
1976
…
1975
…
1974
Mitsui & Co Ltd establishes Subaru Benelux
1973
SONY establishes Barcelona Technology Center (SONY Barcelona TEC) in January 1973. In August 2010 SONY-Barcelona-TEC had about 1100 employees and was manufacturing LCD TVs for the European market. The site area is about 206,000 square meters, is located at Viladecavalls near Barcelona and can be seen here on Google Maps. In 2010, SONY sold the Barcelona TEC to the Spanish Companies Ficosa and Comsa Emte SL, read details here.
