News
J-Search Establishes Minami Kyushu Search Fund and Hokkaido Search Fund
Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. (hereinafter, the Company / Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / President and Representative Director: Suguru Miyake), announces that its consolidated subsidiary, J-Search Inc.
(hereinafter, J-Search / https://j-search.co.jp)
, has established the “Minami Kyushu Search Fund No. 1,” and the “Hokkaido Search Fund No. 1.”
J-Search was established in October 2024 as an operating company for regionally focused search funds in collaboration with local financial institutions.
The “Minami Kyushu Search Fund No. 1” will be operated with investments from the Company, Higo Bank, Kagoshima Bank, and Miyazaki Bank, while the “Hokkaido Search Fund No. 1” will be operated with investments from the Company and North Pacific Bank.
J-Search aims to develop search funds in collaboration with financial institutions across the country, providing talented individuals with opportunities to thrive as business leaders in regional areas. This initiative seeks to support the growth of local SMEs, address business succession issues, and ultimately strengthen the competitiveness of Japanese companies.
Beginning with the establishment of these two funds, we aim to create regionally focused search funds in various locations throughout Japan.
J-Search structure
【Overview of Minami Kyushu Search Fund No. 1】
Fund Name: Minami Kyushu Search Fund No. 1 Investment Limited Partnership
Fund Formation Date: April 2025
General Partner (GP): J-Search Inc.
Limited Partners (LP): Higo Bank, Kagoshima Bank, Miyazaki Bank, Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc.
Total Fund Size: Approximately 1 billion yen
Investment Period: 10 years
Investment Target: Search activity funds for individuals aiming for business succession-type M&A in SMEs, with a focus on Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki Prefectures.
【Overview of Hokkaido Search Fund No. 1】
Fund Name: Hokkaido Search Fund No. 1 Investment Limited Partnership
Fund Formation Date: April 2025
General Partner (GP): J-Search Inc.
Limited Partners (LP): North Pacific Bank, Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc.
Total Fund Size: Approximately 1 billion yen
Investment Period: 10 years
Investment Target: Search activity funds for individuals aiming for business succession-type M&A in SMEs, with a focus on Hokkaido.
Yoshihisa Kasahara, President of Higo Bank, said:
Currently, regional SMEs are facing challenges related to business succession due to the aging of management and the lack of successors. In response to this situation, our bank is committed to providing full support for the continuity of valuable local businesses and the maintenance of employment. This fund offers a matching function between potential successors (searchers) and companies without successors, which has not been available at our bank until now. We have decided to invest in this fund, as it is expected to become a powerful tool for supporting business succession in regional companies. Moving forward, we will continue to work diligently to solve our customers’ challenges for a prosperous future in the region.
Akihisa Koriyama, President of Kagoshima Bank, said:
Regional SMEs are facing challenges related to business succession, such as a lack of successors and management talent, in a society experiencing population decline. Our bank has recognized the know-how of companies as a regional resource and has facilitated connections between businesses as a regional financial institution. This fund is regionally focused and aims to connect searchers who are committed to revitalizing the economy of southern Kyushu with local companies. We have decided to invest in this fund with the expectation that it will contribute to the sustainable economic development of the region. Moving forward, we will continue to thoroughly address regional challenges under the concept of our medium-term management plan: “Connecting, Dialogue, and Problem-Solving No. 1,” and contribute to the development of the local community.
Koji Sugita, President of Miyazaki Bank, said:
Our bank recognizes that the issue of business succession due to the lack of successors is an urgent challenge in rural areas facing a declining birthrate and an aging population. In response, we established the Business Succession and M&A Support Office in 2014 to contribute to the sustainable growth of the regional economy. We expect that this fund will provide a new option for business succession by connecting aspiring business leaders (searchers) with local companies in southern Kyushu.
Hironobu Tsuyama, President of North Pacific Bank, said:
Supporting the key industries of Hokkaido, which are facing population decline and aging, is an important mission for our bank. This fund is not only intended to connect companies facing challenges in business succession with the next generation of leaders but is also expected to serve as a tool for developing potential business leaders (searchers) who will drive the growth of companies and the regional economy. Through collaboration with this fund, our bank aims to contribute to the sustainable growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in Hokkaido and the development of the local economy, realizing our management philosophy of “exploring the future of Hokkaido.”
Masahiko Otsuki, President of J-Search, said:
We are honored and feel a sense of responsibility to collaborate with four banks in two regions, Kyushu and Hokkaido. Under the respective philosophies of each region, we aim to make locally rooted investments and achieve success, thereby realizing J-Search’s goals of “regional rejuvenation” and “resolving the successor issue.” Moving forward, we will extend our efforts to various regions across the country.
About J-Search Inc.
Company name: J-Search Inc.
President: Masahiko Otsuki
Head office: TEKKO BUILDING 1-8-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 100-0005
Established: October 2024
Capital: 100 million yen
Shareholder: 100% Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc.
About Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc.
Company name: Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. (Stock code: 2127 on TSE Prime Market)
President: Suguru Miyake
Head office: 24F TEKKO BUILDING 1-8-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 100-0005
Primary business: Management of consolidated subsidiaries and affiliated companies
Established: April 1991
Office locations in Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Hiroshima, Okinawa
Office locations outside Japan: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
(Locations include those in which its subsidiaries operate)
Media inquiries: Send emails to the public relations department at pr@nihon-ma.co.jp at Nihon M&A Center Inc.
