Speaker Biographies
Keynotes
Nobuyuki Idei
Founder & CEO, Representative Director
Quantum Leaps Corporation
Nobuyuki Idei is founder and CEO of Quantum Leaps Corporation, a management consultancy company he established in September 2006. Quantum Leaps aims to enhance Japan’s competitiveness in the 21st century by supporting corporate transformation and nurturing technology-driven venture companies.
Idei is also chairman of the Advisory Board of Sony Corporation. For more than a decade, Idei was a member of top management at Sony, as president and representative director from 1995 to 1999, president and CEO from 1999 to 2000, and chairman and Group CEO from 2000 to 2005. He was chief corporate advisor from 2005 to 2007.
Idei currently serves as director of Accenture (since February 2006), Baidu (since June 2007) and Freebit Co., Ltd. (since June 2007).
Idei graduated from Waseda University with a B.A. in political science and economics and entered Sony Corporation in 1960. After two overseas stints in Switzerland, he went to France to establish Sony France. Upon returning to Japan, Idei served as deputy senior general manager of the Video Group and senior general manager of the Home Video Group before he was appointed director in 1989 and managing director in 1994.
Tetsutaro Muraki
President & CEO
Tokyo AIM, Inc.
Mr. Tetsutaro Muraki is President and CEO of TOKYO AIM, Inc., a joint venture between the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Prior to his appointment at TOKYO AIM, Muraki held various positions within the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Before joining the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Muraki was a Managing Director of the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan (“IRCJ”), the Japanese government backed vehicle created to assist ailing Japanese companies, and was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Kanebo Cosmetics.
Muraki started his career in investment banking with Swiss Bank Corporation (“SBC”) in Tokyo and spent time in SBC London in 1993. Later he headed SBC’s Japan Desk in Zurich HQ from 1994.
In 1996, Muraki joined the World Bank Group in Washington DC where he worked on financial sector restructuring and investment projects in Asia. After the Asian financial crisis, Muraki relocated to Seoul, Korea to advise the government of Korea through financial sector restructuring operation along with Chaebol restructuring, privatization of nationalized banks, and establishment of KAMCO.
Muraki holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science from Sophia University in Tokyo and Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, MA.
Haruyasu Asakura
COO
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan
Mr. Haruyasu Asakura is Chief Operating Officer of Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), a private equity investing company created by public-private partnership. He assumed the current position in July 2009. Previously, he was Managing Director of the Carlyle Group, where he served in Japan Growth Capital team (team head) and Japan Buyout team. Prior to that, he played a key role to launch the Japanese operation of Apax Partners. He began his career with Mitsubishi Corporation, where he led various projects including marketing operation, business development, and investment in technology and telecommunication sectors. He received MBA from Harvard University and BSEE from Keio University.
Senior Industry Professionals
Philip M. Bilden
Managing Director
HarbourVest Partners (Asia) Limited
Philip Bilden joined HarbourVest in Boston in 1991 and relocated to Hong Kong in 1996 to establish the Firm's Asian subsidiary. He manages HarbourVest Partners (Asia) Limited which supports HarbourVest's investment and client service activities in the Asia Pacific region and other emerging markets. Philip serves on the advisory boards of several international private equity partnerships, including funds managed by Archer Capital, Bain Capital Asia, Brait Capital Partners, Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine Partners (CHAMP), KKR Asia, Olympus Capital, Pacific Equity Partners, TPG Asia, and Unitas Capital. He also serves on the advisory council for the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA).
He received a BS in Foreign Service (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University in 1986 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1991. Philip serves on the Asia Pacific Advisory Board of Harvard Business School.
Tetsuya Hamabe
Director, Industrial Finance Division
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Education
1987
L.L.B, University of Tokyo
1995-1996
Overseas Education, Graduate School of Agricultural and Natural Resources,
Michigan State University
Experience
1987
Joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)
2004-2006
Director, Distribution and Logistics Systems Policy Office, Commerce and
Information Policy Bureau, METI
2006-2008
Director, Distribution and Logistics Policy Division, Commerce and Information
Policy Bureau, METI
2008-Present
Director, Industrial Finance Division, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau,
METI
Thank you for your cooperation in considering to formulate Japanese Economic and Industrial Policies. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of the Japanese Government has implemented policy measures to promote investment in Japanese companies by investors in Japan and overseas. As one aspect of this, METI has introduced tax exemption measures when foreign investors invest in Japanese companies through private equity and venture capital funds in Japan and overseas (from FY2009), and corporate bonds (from FY2010). In order to vitalize Japanese economy and industry, METI is considering to create a comfortable environment for Japanese and foreign investors to invest in Japanese companies, moreover.
Richard Folsom
Representative Partner
Advantage Partners, LLP
Richard Folsom founded Advantage Partners, LLP in Tokyo in 1992 with Taisuke Sasanuma. Between 1992 and 1997, they started and managed two new businesses, one a Value-Added Tax (VAT) reclaim service for corporations and the other an insurance brokerage and risk management business formed to sell new insurance products in the Japanese market as deregulation changed the dynamics of the industry. This company, Advantage Risk Management went public in Japan in December 2006.
In 1997, Richard and Taisuke established the first buyout fund in Japan, and Richard has since focused his time on the development of this private equity investment practice. They raised a second fund in 2000, a third in 2003, and most recently a fourth fund. Through the funds, Advantage has made 29 acquisitions and buyouts, of which they have successfully exited 14 and partially exited 3. Recent investments include the acquisitions of GST AutoLeather (Auto leather product manufacturer), Komeda (Franchised coffee shop) and CommunityOne (Condominium management and repairing services) as well as the public-to-private management buyout of Tokyo Star Bank (Retail Bank).
Before founding Advantage Partners, Richard’s previous experience was in management consulting with Bain & Company. He received his undergraduate degree in Japanese and Economics from Brigham Young University, and received an MBA degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Tatsuo Kawasaki
Partner
Unison Capital, Inc.
Tatsuo Kawasaki joined Unison Capital in 1999. He has been an active member of the Investment Committee and played a major role in marketing Unison Capital to investors for UCP I and UCP II. He co-led investments in UCOM, Drug Eleven, Kiriu and Orient Credit and currently focuses his investment efforts in High Technology Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Financial Services, and Outsourcing Businesses sectors. Prior to Unison Capital, he worked at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo in its Investment Banking Division, McKinsey in Tokyo and San Francisco, and Next Card.
Hideya Sadanaga
Deputy General Manager - Credit & Alternative Investment Dept
Nippon Life Insurance Company
Mr. Sadanaga has been with Nippon Life Insurance Company since 1990 and has lead the ramping up of its private equity fund investment program since 1999. The aggregate amount currently committed/invested by Nippon Life in private equity funds is over $2Bil. He is currently Deputy General Manager for the Credit & Alternative Investment Dept., where he continues to oversee the Nippon Life domestic and global private equity program as well as other investment areas such as hedge funds and credit funds, with assets under management of over $5Bil.
Mr. Sadanaga graduated from the University of Tokyo Law Faculty in 1990 and the University of Michigan LL.M Program in 1999 and is a Chartered Member of the Security Analysts Association of Japan. He has also passed the New York State Bar Exam.
Takaomi Tomioka
Managing Director
The Carlyle Group
Takaomi Tomioka is a Managing Director focused on Japanese buyout opportunities in the consumer / retail and healthcare sectors. He is mostly dealing with companies which require global business expansion and building up globally integrated management platform. He is based in Tokyo.
Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr. Tomioka worked at General Electric Capital Corporation from 1998 to 2003. While at GE, he served as Director, Representative at GE Equity Japan, a private equity arm of GE, and Manager for business development. While at GE Equity Japan, Mr. Tomioka was responsible for the investment and management of portfolio companies, also serving as either a board member or board advisor. Through GE Equity, he gained experience with a completed investment cycle from deal origination to exit. Mr. Tomioka served at the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan from 1985 to 1998, including nine years of corporate financing both in the U.S. and Japan.
Mr. Tomioka received his B.A. in law at Waseda University and his M.B.A. at New York University.
Jun Tsusaka
Managing Director
TPG Capital
Jun Tsusaka is Partner and Global Investment Review Committee Member at TPG Capital and Managing Director and Head of TPG Capital - Japan. TPG, founded in 1992, manages one of the world’s leading private investment firms TPG Capital with approximately $50 billion of assets under management. Portfolio companies in which it has significant ownership operate in more than 135 countries. TPG Capital has more than 150 professionals in its 15 offices globally with Tokyo being one of the firm’s six offices in Asia-Pacific.
Prior to joining TPG, Jun was Founder and Partner of a $180mm private equity fund, was Managing Partner of the Stenbeck Group Family Office and held various senior positions at Goldman Sachs New York. Jun also served as Chief Executive Officer of GAB Robins Group, a global insurance loss adjudication firm and as Senior Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Millicom International Cellular S.A., a global wireless telecom operator. Jun serves on the Boards of Directors at Tomy Company and the Harvard Club of Japan.
Jun graduated with Distinction from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration following a B.A. degree, cum laude, in economics and East Asian Studies from Harvard University. Now he serves on the board of directors of Harvard Club of Japan.
Masa Yoshizawa
Representative Director & Partner
The Longreach Group
Together with his partners Mark Chiba and Yasuyuki Miyoshi, Masa established Longreach in late 2003. At Longreach, he had key origination and execution roles in the acquisition of 100% of OCC Corporation. Masa has been also closely involved in the post-investment management of portfolio companies including CYBIRD Holdings Co, Ltd through his active participation in board meetings and executive committee meetings. Masa’s lead responsibilities at Longreach include the firm’s investment strategy, relationship driven origination and execution in the industrial technology sector, and building the firm’s operational, administrative and IT infrastructure.
Before founding Longreach, Masa was Managing Director and Head of Technology Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, where he focused on advising large Japanese technology conglomerates on execution of major carve-outs of non-core businesses in the semiconductor, computer and other industrial technology related areas. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Masa spent seven years at Robertson, Stephens & Company as Managing Director and Head of the Tokyo office where he established its start up operations in Tokyo including investment banking, equity sales and asset management business.
Masa holds a Bachelor of Laws from Hokkaido University and was Valedictorian of his class of 1984.
Markus Ableitinger
Director, Head Asia Investment Management
Capital Dynamics
Markus is a Director and heads the Investment Management Asia team at Capital Dynamics. He has over 12 years of private equity direct and fund of funds investment experience. Prior to joining Capital Dynamics he was a senior manager at RMF’s private equity division and held various senior positions at INVESCO CEAM, Clif-ford Chance Puender in Moscow and OMV AG and GRT Price Waterhouse in Vienna. Markus holds a degree in Business Economics from the University Innsbruck, and wrote his master’s thesis at St. Gallen Graduate School of Business Administration.
Michael Chae
Director
PineBridge Investments, Tokyo
Mr. Chae has 11 years of investment experience in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan. Mr. Chae joined PineBridge Investments (formerly known as AIG Investments) as a Director in May 2008 and is responsible for sourcing, due diligence, and monitoring of private equity fund and direct investments. Prior to joining PineBridge, Mr. Chae was a Director in Nikko Citi's Fixed Income Group focusing on mezzanine investments. Prior to that, Mr. Chae was a Director with Deutsche Asset Management's Asia-Pacific Private Equity Group focusing on both direct and fund of funds investments. While in Asia, Mr. Chae has also held positions as a Manager in Shinsei Bank's Private Equity Group in Tokyo and as a Principal in Credit Suisse First Boston's Private Equity Group in Hong Kong. Mr. Chae began his career in investment banking and leverage finance with Chase Manhattan Bank. Mr. Chae graduated with honors from the University of Rochester with a B.A. in Economics and Japanese. He is fluent in Japanese and Korean.
Masahiko Ishida
General Manager, Fund Investment Group
Development Bank of Japan Inc.
Mr. Ishida is currently in charge of development and management of a multifarious portfolio of private equity partnership investment. Since joining DBJ in 1983, he has developed a diverse background in areas such as pre-IPO investment in China, M&A advisory, LBO finance, and project finance in Asia (when he was seconded to the International Finance Corporation).
As a policy-based government financial institution, DBJ originally started PE investment (in 2002) only in Japan, but has been gradually expanding its commercial based investment program both in Japan and abroad since its corporatization in October 2008 as the first step towards its privatization.
Mr. Ishida holds a Bachelor’s in Law from the University of Tokyo and a Master’s of Science from London Business School.
Motoya Kitamura
Associate Director & Senior Vice President
Macquarie Funds Group
Motoya has moved to be based in Macquarie Funds Group’s Tokyo office this April, following his 2.5 years of tenure in the Hong Kong office. He is the key member of the Group's Funds of PE Funds team in Asia Pacific region, and leads its fund commitments, co-investments, fundraising and client exploration activities in Japan. Motoya serves in the Advisory Boards of Advent Japan and J-STAR. He is also a Director at Association of Certified Turnaround Professionals in Japan (ACTP).
Prior to joining Macquarie in 2007, Motoya was based in Tokyo as a fund investment professional for Alternative Investment Capital (2005-2007), where he was involved in the due diligence and monitoring of private equity funds on global basis. Motoya participated in the private equity market initially as a research consultant for Mitsubishi Research Institute (1997-2004). Prior to joining Mitsubishi Research Institute, Motoya was a staff writer for Japanese business magazines and news services.
Motoya is also widely recognized in the Japanese media as a commentator on the Japanese buyout market and has published several books and numerous reports, articles and internet columns on the private equity industry.
Motoya has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the Osaka University of Foreign Studies (currently Osaka University) and a Master of Arts in International Economics and International Relations from The Johns Hopkins University. Motoya is native in Japanese.
Kazushige Kobayashi
President & CEO
Alternative Investment Capital Ltd
Kazushige Kobayashi is President & CEO of Alternative Investment Capital Ltd (“AIC”), an investment advisory firm in private equity investments, established in October 2002 by Mitsubishi Corporation and Daido Life Insurance Company.
He has been engaged in private equity related business for 20 years for Mitsubishi Corporation in Tokyo and in London. In 2000, Mitsubishi established the first private equity fund of funds (“FoF”) in Japan (“MCC-PCG International Private Equity Fund”).
Since 2002, he has built up business at AIC and its asset under management has grown to approx US$ 3 billion. AIC manages 4 fund of funds (“AIC Japan I” (FoF which invests in Japanese and Asian funds, vintage 2002), “AIC Japan II” (2006), “AIC-PCG Global Private Equity Fund I” (FoF which invests in US and European funds, 2004), “AIC-PCG Global Private Equity Fund II” (2007)) and provides both of discretionary investment management services and non-discretionary advisory services to its clients.
Mr. Kobayashi received his Bachelor degree of economics form Hitotsubashi University in 1984.
Toru Masuda
Associate General Manager - Private Equity Investment
Sumitomo Trust & Banking Co.
Speaker bio coming soon
Hiroko Oda
Manager, Investment Department
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co Ltd
Hiroko Oda is Manager of Investment Dept.
She joined Sumitomo Marine & Fire Insurance Co.,Ltd. (presently Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co.,Ltd.) in 1991. She was in charge of personal financing (home loan) for first three years, and was in charge of financing assessment for companies from 1994 to 2000.She proceeded to Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co., Ltd. from 2000 to 2004 and was in charge of Equity research as a Japanese stock analyst for food, medical, healthcare, chemistry sector (including general chemistry, hi-tech material).
She returned to Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co.,Ltd. in June 2005, and has been in charge of investment to a domestic PE fund.
She established a co-investment buyout fund in September 2005 and has been one of the deal investors for the fund.
Hiroko Oda graduated from Keio University, Science and Technology in 1991.
She is a charter member of the Security Analysts Association of Japan(CMA) and CIIA(Certified International Investment Analyst).
Togo Okonogi
Manager, Investment Department
Nipponkoa Insurance Co., Ltd.
Togo Okonogi is a Manager of Investment Department in Nipponkoa Insurance Co.,Ltd.
He has been engaged in private equity business for 5 years from 2005.
He joined Nipponkoa Insurance in 1984 and had a variety of experience, such as sales, Overseas sovereign loan, Asset allocation ,etc.
He was temporarily transferred to The Export-Import Bank of Japan (now, Japan bank for international cooperation) working on overseas investment and research section from 1990 to 1992.
He received a B.A.in law from Keio University in Tokyo,Japan.
Tomoki Abe
Partner
Nippon Mirai Capital
Tomoki Abe is a partner of Nippon Mirai Capital, a 2002 founded Mid-Cap Turnaround Fund based in Japan. Since 1997, Abe spent 13 years in Buyout Investments in Japan, the US, and the UK. In the UK, he was one of the founding members of Nikko Principal Investments London, a principal finance arm of Nikko Securities Group. Then in 1999, Abe moved to NY to work with CVC, a LBO team within Citi Group working on various cross border deals.
After joining Nippon Mirai Capital in 2004, Abe carried out several MBO/LBO and Turnaround investments and is currently focusing on numerous sector restructuring and integration opportunities within Japan.
B.A. in Economics, Keio University Member, Japanese Association of Turnaround Professionals Member, the Security Analysts Association of Japan.
Yasushi Ando
CEO & COO
New Horizon Capital
Yasushi Ando is one of the best-known investment managers in the private equity fund industry in Japan. As a founding Managing Partner of Phoenix Capital, he has made Phoenix one of the best private equity funds in Japan in terms of its size and performance. He also serves on the board of Housetec and previously served on the boards of the companies including Tokyu Construction, Seiki-Tokyu Ind., TEAC Corp., Gold-Pak, and Mitsubishi Motors. He is well-known for his unique approach in improving company performance.
Before founding Phoenix Capital, Mr. Ando served as Chief Manager of the Investment Banking Division at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, where he took a leading role in promoting the bank’s international investment banking business. He also has ten years of international commercial banking business experience, as well as five years’ experience in trading.
Mr. Ando holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Akhil Awasthi
Managing Partner
Tata Capital Growth Fund
Akhil has over 12 years of private equity experience in India, and about 20 years of experience in financial services spanning asset management and corporate banking.
Akhil was one of the founding members of Baring Private Equity Partners, a leading Indian private equity fund and was involved in all stages of the PE lifecycle, from creating an investment proposition, fund raising, investment and divestment. While at Baring, Akhil completed over 15 transactions and 10 exits delivering attractive returns to investors. He served on the Board of Directors of various portfolio companies and was also a Member/ Chairman of Compensation / Audit Committees.
Prior to Baring, Akhil was a founding member of India's first private sector mutual fund ITI Pioneer AMC (Now Franklin Templeton) where he was responsible for researching and analyzing the pharmaceutical, software and automobile sectors.
Akhil began his career in 1990 in corporate banking with ANZ Grindlays Bank.
Akhil has completed the Advanced Management Program from the Harvard Business School, has a Post Graduate qualification in Management from University of Delhi, and is a qualified Mechanical Engineer. Akhil is actively involved with Indian Venture Capital Association, TiE and the HBS Alumni Association.
Joseph W. Ferrigno III
Managing Partner
Asia Mezzanine Capital Group
Joseph Ferrigno is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Asia Mezzanine Capital Group, an independent specialist hybrid debt/equity capital direct investment fund management firm established in 2004 and based in Hong Kong. The Group manages the Asia Strategic Capital Fund, L.P., in which New York Life Insurance Company, Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, the ORIX Corporation and other international institutional investors are limited partners. He is a member of the Advisory Board of MIR Investment Management of Sydney.
Ferrigno has been a pioneer in investment management and banking in the Asia region since his arrival in Hong Kong in 1984 with Lehman Brothers Khun Loeb. He is involved principally with private equity and mezzanine direct investment fund management and with the development and financing of infrastructure, energy, telecom and Internet projects and businesses. He also served in Hong Kong with the Bechtel Group and Prudential Financial of the United States; and earlier in New York and London with the Chase Manhattan Bank and Bankers Trust Company.
In 1996, Ferrigno led the launch and was involved in the management of the first mezzanine capital fund in Asia, the US$246 million Asian Infrastructure Mezzanine Capital Fund, which was sponsored by Prudential Financial, in which the Asian Development Bank is a Core Investor, until 2003. He was Chairman of its Investment Committee. In 1990, he initiated the establishment of the US$780 million Asian Infrastructure Fund, the first of its kind, sponsored by Peregrine Capital, the ADB, the IFC, Frank Russell & Co. and the Soros Group.
Ferrigno is a graduate of the Wharton School and is the Founding President of the Wharton Club of Hong Kong. He is a member of the Hong Kong Forum (associated with the Council on Foreign Relations in New York), the Hong Kong Club, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the Shek O Country Club, the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club.
Tomotaka Goji
Managing Partner
The University of Tokyo Edge Capital
Tommy Goji is Managing Partner at UTEC. Since he joined UTEC as a founding partner in 2004, he has involved himself in several significant lead investments with his proactive directorship for the portfolios: Tella Inc. (category: immunology), Advanced Softmaterials Inc. (polymer chemistry), Cirius Technologies Inc. (location based services), Morpho Inc. (digital image processing for mobile applications), Wood Plastic Technology Inc. (recycling & new material), Metacast Inc. (utilization of meta-data of digital videos), and popIn Inc. (web 2.0 search tools), five of these start-ups were launched with UTEC’s engagements. Prior to UTEC, he was an official of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), where he drafted “The Limited Partnership Act for Venture Capital Investment” as well as VC-related accounting principles, which were enforced in Japan in 1998. Most of the current Japanese VC funds are based on the enactment. He also drafted “The Copyright Management Business Act” at the Cultural Agency in 2000 and “The Trust Business Act” at the Financial Agency in 2003. Mr. Goji is a graduate of the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law, and earned his M.B.A. and certificate of Public Management from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He is also a director of the Japan Stanford Association.
David Gross-Loh
Managing Director
Bain Capital
Experience:
Mr. Gross-Loh joined Bain Capital in 2000 and is a Managing Director.
Previously, Mr. Gross-Loh was a consultant with Bain & Company.
Education:
Mr. Gross-Loh received an MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker
Scholar and a BS from the Wharton School
Ryosuke Iinuma
Managing Partner
Ant Capital Partners
Since he started his career in 1994 with a position in Computer Business Division of Mitsubishi Corp., he was in charge of market development in Japan for foreign software vendors and distributors. He joined antfactory Japan (now Ant Capital) in 2001, and played a key role in the acquisition of Wit Capital Japan. In the portfolio of Catalyzer series of funds, he was involved with investment and hands-on support in the area of corporate management and business strategy for CAA, Checker Motors, Golf Partner and Miyano Machinery, etc. He is the Managing Partner of Private Equity Investment Group. He graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Business Commerce.
Soichi Kariyazono
Partner
Globis Capital Partners & Co.
Mr. Soichi Kariyazono is a founding Partner of Apax Globis Japan Fund and Globis Fund III. He joined Globis Corporation in 1996 and was fund manager of the firm's first venture capital fund, Globis Incubation Fund. Prior to joining Globis, he worked for the Management Consulting Division of Sanwa Research Institute Corporation where he was involved in strategic development and implementation support of mid-sized Japanese businesses.
Mr. Kariyazono received a BA in Law from Keio University in Japan and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business.
Expertise: Web media and solution, Enterprise application, IT enhanced service
Authored: "The Case-Method Approach to Strategic Entrepreneurship"(Nikkei BP Press), "MBA Business Plan" (Diamond Press)and "Advice to Entrepreneurs from a Venture Capitalist" (Society for Tax Management).
Shinichi Kato
Executive Vice President
Head of Leveraged Finance
Credit Agricole CIB, Tokyo Branch
Since 2007, he is Executive Director and head of Leveraged Finance in Credit Agricole CIB Tokyo, responsible for originating various LBO/MBO deals as well as Telecom Finance transactions in Japan. He has over 15 years of debt arrangement experience at various financial institutions with his career at Mitsui Bank (now SMBC), Credit Lyonnais, and GE Commercial Finance prior to join Credit Agricole. Also, he has variety of structured lending expertise including project & export finance, real estate financing, asset based lending and leveraged finance in Japan. He holds a BS in Social Studies from Hitotsubashi University in Japan and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business in the US.
Megumi Kiyozuka
Managing Director
CLSA Capital Partners Japan KK
Mr. Kiyozuka has been leading the above investment activities and currently serving as a board member of 4 portfolio companies including subsidiaries.
Prior to joining CLSA, he was a Director at The Carlyle Group for 5 years focusing on Japanese buyout opportunities in consumer, healthcare, and chemical sectors and contributed to the successful turnaround of a leading vital sign and blood pressure monitor company, Colin Medical Technology.
Prior to that, he worked for the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi for 16 years and accumulated over 10 years of experience in M&A and syndicate loans in Japan and South East Asia.
Mr. Kiyozuka received a B.A. in economics from Shiga University and an M.B.A. from Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley.
Anthony Miller
CEO
Pacific Alliance Japan Limited
Anthony Miller has worked in the investment banking and institutional direct investment industry for over 20 years. He joined Pacific Alliance Group as Chief Executive of Pacific Alliance Japan Limited in June 2009 and is a Partner of Pacific Alliance Group.
Prior to that, Mr. Miller was a Partner of alternative asset manager Ramius LLC, where he was in charge of their business in Asia and Japan. Previously he was a Managing Director and the head of the Hong Kong office for The Carlyle Group. Mr. Miller was on both the Board of Directors of Carlyle Asia Investment Advisors, Ltd. and the investment committee of The Carlyle Asia Fund. While at Carlyle, Mr. Miller started Carlyle's operations in Hong Kong and Seoul and pursued and monitored Carlyle’s investments throughout Asia.
Previously Mr. Miller was a Managing Director and Head of Corporate Finance for Bear Stearns Asia, and he was a Managing Director in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group of Bear Stearns New York.
Mr. Miller is currently a member of the Boards of Directors of Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund Limited (AIM listed) and Secured Capital Japan (Tokyo Stock Exchange listed). He has previously been on the Boards of Directors of Fruehauf Trailer Corp.; Plywood Panels Inc.; Research Oil Co.; Taiwan Broadband Corp. and The Ecko-Glaco Company and a trustee of The East Harlem Tutorial Program.
Mr. Miller graduated with honors in Economics and Urban Studies from Brown University and with distinction from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business.
Masao Nakagawa
Sr. Director
Nippon Mirai Capital Co., Ltd.
Jointed Nippon Mirai Capital in February 2008. Previously, joined the Industrial Bank of Japan in 1982. In charge of syndication and private equity at HK branch (1994-2000). Executive officer in charge of corporate finance at the Tokyo Star Bank, Director at Shinginko Tokyo, MD in charge of private equity investment to China at ORIX Corp., LLB Kyoto University, MBA University of Texas at Austin, MPA Kennedy of School of Government Harvard University, CFA/CMA.
Chikara Okada
Representative Director
Citigroup Venture Capital International (CVCI) Japan
Chikara has been with CVCI since 2003 in its Hong Kong and Tokyo offices. Prior to CVCI, he was with Broadview International where he was based in its Silicon Valley office as a Vice President in its TMT mergers and acquisitions practice. Previously, he has held positions with JP Morgan & Co and Coopers & Lybrand as a technology consultant. He has investment experience in a variety of industries including aftermarket auto parts and real estate development. Currently, he serves on the board of Asia Broadcast Satellite, a fixed satellite service (FSS) operator with coverage over Asia, Middle East, Russia and Africa. He graduated with an AB from the University of California, Berkeley.
Sunie Oue
Partner
M&A TAX, Transaction Advisory Group
KPMG Tax Corporation
Sunie Oue is a partner of Transaction Advisory Group of KPMG Tax Corporation. She has provided tax advisory services primarily in the area of M&A related transactions from the Japanese tax perspective since she joined KPMG Tax in Tokyo in 1990. She transferred to KPMG New York in 1998 where she gained extensive experience in the area of U.S. taxation. Completed her four-year-assignment in the US in June, 2002, Sunie has been actively involved in numerous projects for Private Equity (PE) Funds including a large number of Real Estate Funds, which involves many cross-border transactions originating both from Japan and from overseas, taking advantage of her trilingual language skills (Japanese, English and Korean).
Sunie is also has provided tax advisory services to both Japanese and overseas institutional investors on their strategic investments in global PE and Real Estate Funds .
Sunie is a certified tax accountant of Japan.
Kazunori Ozaki
Chairman & CEO
Ant Capital Partners Co., Ltd.
Kazunori Ozaki started his business career at Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) before joining Japan Associated Finance (now JAFCO). While serving on the board of JAFCO, he held positions as Head of International Investment Division and Head of Management Buy-Out (MBO) Investment Division, focusing on domestic MBOs since 1998. In 1999, he joined GE Capital as Senior Vice President to set up an investment division for private equity in Japan. In 2001, antfactory Japan, now Ant Capital Partners, invited him to start its private equity investment business. He has been a director of Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA) since 2004 and a director of the Japan Private Equity Association since 2005. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Sophia University.
Ashok Roy
Managing Director
Daiwa Quantum Capital
Co-founder and Partner of indiaSTAR, $100m growth capital fund focused on India. Senior Advisor to Wasserstein & Co. Previously Partner at Sycamore Ventures, a $320m US / Asia growth capital fund. Prior to that executive officer at Intelligroup, a $180m revenue NASDAQ listed IT services company.
BS, Indian Institute of Technology. MBA, Wharton School , fluent in Japanese.
Ayumi Sakurai
Co-Representative Partner
Valiant Partners
Ayumi Sakurai is Co-Representative Partner of Valiant Partners that was founded in April 2006 by four professionals including himself. Valiant currently manages its first 17.5 billion yen fund, and it has made three buyout investments (Taxi operator, Dispensing pharmacy chains, and Non-destructive testing service provider) to date.
Before establishing Valiant, Ayumi spent 7 and half years at MKS Partners, one of the pioneer private equity firms in Japan, where he engaged in various buyout investments and made Partner in 2000. Two other founders of Valiant Partners were his colleagues at MKS.
Ayumi started his career in 1988 at a Japanese cosmetics manufacturer, Shiseido Co. Ltd., where he experienced various responsibilities such as domestic sales & marketing, M&A, and general management of an affiliated company (he stationed in Paris for two years as Vice President of a perfume manufacturing subsidiary).
Ayumi earned an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and a BA.
Economics from Keio University.
Koji Sasayama
Managing Director
Mezzanine Corporation
Koji Sasayama started his career with The Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan (currently Shinsei Bank) and was engaged in cross-border M&A advisory services in late 1980’s. While on assignment in New York and Chicago in 1990’s, he became involved in LBO/MBO and other acquisition financing transactions as well as limited partnership investments in private equity funds. Upon returning to Japan in 1999, Koji joined the Industrial Bank of Japan (currently Mizuho Corporate Bank) and pioneered leveraged finance business in Japan, providing one-stop arrangement on numerous deals until joining Mezzanine Corporation as its Managing Partner in 2006. Koji received his BA in economics from Keio University and his MBA from Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. He jointly published “M&A Finance,” the first book in Japan related to acquisition financing. Mezzanine Corporation manages the first independent and full-fledged mezzanine fund in Japan with JPY68.7bn commitment.
Yoshiyuki Shibusawa
Director
JAFCO Co., Ltd.
Yoshiyuki Shibusawa is a director of JAFCO Co., Ltd., where he is in charge of Investment Management Departments I, II, and III as well as the Kansai branch. He is in regular contact with top executives at over 500 unlisted companies, providing strategic advice and making investment decisions. Prior to being appointed a director in June 2007, he was involved in investment management operations at the Hiroshima branch, the M&A division, and as the manager of Investment Management Department II.
Mr. Shibusawa joined JAFCO in 1992 after receiving a BA in Economics from Waseda University’s School of Political Science and Economics.
JAFCO Co., Ltd. is an investment management company investing in unlisted enterprises under the business philosophy ‘Value Creation through Private Equity’. Established in 1973, JAFCO has invested in over 3,500 unlisted companies both in Japan and overseas, and over 850 investees have listed their shares. Currently, JAFCO has 45 funds under management with commitment capital of approximately 520 billion yen. The newest fund, the 147.5 billion yen JAFCO Super V3 Series, counts a large number of financial institutions, business corporations and pension funds among its investors.
Soichi Sam Takata
Deputy Head of Private Equity
Tokio Marine Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Mr. Takata has been with the Tokio Marine Asset Management Co., Ltd. since the creation of the Private Equity Department in December 2002. Before that, Mr. Takata was at Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (“Tokio Marine”) working in their alternative investment team from 1997 to 1998, and again from 2001 onwards, managing a global portfolio of private equity, hedge funds and other alternative assets.
In between, Mr. Takata spent three years at Tokio Marine Capital Co., Ltd., Tokio Marine’s private equity investment arm, working on management buyout and development capital transactions in Japan. During this period, he also spent time at private equity houses in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
Prior to that, Mr. Takata spent over two years on secondment to The Export-Import Bank of Japan (now, Japan Bank for International Cooperation) working on project finance transactions around the world.
Mr. Takata began his career at the International Investment Department of Tokio Marine overseeing an international portfolio of managed assets.
Mr. Takata has a B.A. in Economics from Harvard College.
Kosei Terami
Deputy Representative
IFC Tokyo Office
Kosei Terami is Deputy Representative at the International Finance Corporation (IFC)'s Tokyo Office with a focus of business development of investment projects in emerging markets. Before returning to Japan in early 2010, he was Investment Officer at IFC's Private Equity and Investment Funds Department in Washington DC. He also worked at the United Nations Development Program in Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Sumitomo Bank (currently Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation) in Japan and the United States. He holds an MBA from Yale School of Management and Bachelor of Law from Kyoto University.
Jon-Paul Toppino
President & CIO
SCJ Investment Management
In 1993, Mr. Toppino joined Secured Capital Corp which was founded by the principals, and now serves as Representative Director and Chief Investment Officer of SCJ. Prior to 1998, Mr. Toppino was responsible for Secured Capital Corp’s US debt advisory business in the US and oversaw over USD2bn in transactions. He was also actively involved in Secured Capital Corp’s US and European acquisitions of NPL and real estate portfolios including the acquisition of more than USD1bn in NPL and real properties in the US and France. Since relocating to Japan in 1998, Mr. Toppino has been responsible for building SCJ’s hard asset business including both acquisitions and asset management. Under Mr. Toppino and the rest of the SCJ team, SCJ has acquired interests with a value in excess of 1.2 trillion yen ($12 billion). Under Mr. Toppino, SCJ Investment Management commenced its discretionary funds management business in 2003. SCJIM currently manages seven (7) real estate and real estate related debt funds with total initial equity of approximately $2.5 billion.
Tom Whitson
Partner & Head of Transaction Services
KPMG FAS Co Ltd
Tom Whitson is a partner in KPMG's Transaction Services practice. He has spent more than 20 years as a KPMG partner in Japan and has provided financial advisory, strategic planning and transactions-related professional services on some of KPMG's most interesting M&A transactions during that period.
His sector experience has included transactions in the Consumer Products, Healthcare, Information and Communications, Financial Services, and other service sectors.
He is responsible for KPMG`s Private Equity line of business in the KPMG FAS Transaction services functions.
He graduated from the University of Illinois and qualified as a CPA in Illinois. His early career included work at KPMG offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seoul and New York. He is a Comptroller and Councillor of the Japan American Society. He is currently President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.
Joe Zhou
Founder & Managing Partner
Keytone Ventures
Joe Zhou is a Founder and Managing Partner at Keytone Ventures.
Joe is one of the most experienced VCs in China. Joe began his venture capital career in late 1999 with Softbank China Venture Capital as Head of Beijing Office. He was a Partner at SAIF (Softbank Asia Infrastructure Fund) from 2001 to 2006. He was a Founding Managing Partner at KPCB China when Kleiner Perkins raised its China fund in early 2007. In early 2008 he founded Keytone Ventures. He was named Top Ten Venture Capitalists by CVCF in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He was named VC of the Year in 2005 by TopCapital.
Joe focuses on identifying market opportunities in TMT, Cleantech and consumer service sectors. He works closely with the management teams of Redbaby, Borqs, Zhongte and Analogix. Previously, he was significantly involved with many well known investments such as Shanda ("SNDA"), Acorn ("ATV"), ATA (“ATAI”), Alchip, Unionpay Merchant and Yasi. He currently serves as an independent director for Acorn (“ATV”).
Joe returned to China from the US in 1995 as Vice President of UTStarcom China. He was responsible for managing investments for UTStarcom and its major shareholder Softbank. Prior to that, he spent six years in New Jersey working at AT&T Bell Labs and at a Bell Lab spin-off, Lepton Inc. From 1982 to 1987, he spent 5 years teaching at Beijing University of Technology.
Joe holds a MSEE from New Jersey Institute of Technology and a BSEE from Beijing University of Technology.
