MBK Partners Acquires Japanese Healthcare Company for 820 Billion KRW

Last Week's Stock Purchase Agreement Execution

MBK Partners, the largest private equity firm in Korea, is reported on the 26th to have acquired the Japanese healthcare company Hitowa Holdings for 90 billion yen (approximately 819.5 billion KRW).

Kim Byung-joo, Chairman of MBK Partners [Photo by Asia Economy DB]

According to the investment banking (IB) industry, MBK Partners signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Polaris Capital Group, the owner of Hitowa Holdings, on the 22nd. As of the end of June this year, Hitowa Holdings cares for about 8,200 nursing care recipients across more than 130 facilities in Japan. In addition to nursing care, the company has expanded into various areas including house cleaning, childcare, and meal services.

In the past three years, MBK Partners has acquired six healthcare companies across Korea, China, and Japan, with acquisition amounts totaling at least 6.8 trillion KRW. Earlier this year, MBK Partners acquired management rights of the elderly care service provider Unimat (URC). In 2021, it also acquired Tsukui Holdings, Japan's largest day care service company. MBK Partners' active acquisitions of elderly care and healthcare companies, including the silver industry, are interpreted as a response to the steadily growing related market.