Details

Founded date

Feb 1, 2000

Operating Status

Active

Investor Type

PE

Mizuho Capital Partners Co., Ltd. (MHCP) specializes in private equity investments and proprietary deals. As its name suggests, MHCP is an affiliate of the Mizuho Financial Group, one of Japan's top three financial service groups.

Their company was founded in 2000 by the Group in response to calls for more diverse financing offerings geared toward the country's small and medium–sized businesses. Japan, a country known for its ingenious and diligent people, has over one million family–owned businesses, many of which have high growth potential in terms of skills, knowledge, and technology. However, especially after the economic collapse of the 1990s, many of these SMEs now face issues including generational transition, divestment, or other circumstances where a change in ownership is required.

In light of these circumstances, in 2000, MHCP became the first among Japanese banking group companies to set up an entity specialized in MBOs. Since then, MHCP has been involved in four MBO funds (collectively called "MCP Funds"), which in total amount to 80 billion yen. Throughout the 2000s, where the Japanese economy in general remained sluggish, MCP Funds performed consistently well. In addition, MHCP was also first among Japanese banking group companies to set up a mezzanine fund (in 2005), and is now successfully managing three of these funds.

MCP Funds have always reserved the right to independent decision–making. Each of the Funds invests only in companies that it judges worthwhile from the perspective of financial returns for its limited partners. MCP Funds take a long–term view on value creation, focusing on company growth via new market entry or new product lines without relying on such quick-fix solutions as arbitrary cost-cutting. Their policy goal is to enhance enterprise value for investees and to lead them to exit through an initial public offering (IPO). In fact, more than half of their investee companies have achieved IPOs—the best track record in the country.