Japanese firms record in M&A

ON JANUARY 5, 2018 BY NARESH SAGAREDIT

Japanese companies made a record number of mergers and acquisitions last year according to a private-sector survey.

Japan’s exports to grow this year, led by strong global demand. They also say consumer spending will moderately rise, because of an improved job market.

Ten think tanks project Japan’s gross domestic product will expand 1 to 1.3 percent in price-adjusted real terms in fiscal 2018, which starts in April.Japan’s economy began picking up in December 2012.

Tokyo-based M&A broker Recof says Japanese firms made 3,050 transactions in 2017. That’s an increase of about 400 from 2016. But the total amount of money spent was down 21 percent as many of the deals were small.

Takeda Pharmaceutical acquired US drug maker Ariad Pharmaceuticals for about 5.4 billion dollars.
Softbank Group invested about 5 billion in Chinese ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing.

Experts are of the opinion Many firms invested in start-ups to get a foot in cutting-edge technology, like artificial intelligence, investing more in foreign companies to help enter new markets.