Our Japan private equity team practices an investment strategy with several core attributes:

• Target strong franchises. We invest in Japanese companies which have high barriers to entry due to established brands, distribution and/or technology.

• Opportunity for China/international expansion. We invest in Japanese companies where we see excellent prospects for international growth, particularly in China.

• Partner with management. For many Japanese companies, international expansion is one of their most important strategic objectives. We work closely with management to plan and execute an international expansion strategy.