Swedish investment fund EQT announced that it will acquire Kakaku.com through a tender offer and pursue a take-private transaction valued at approximately ¥590 billion. Digital Garage, the largest shareholder, supports the proposal, which is reportedly aimed at increasing the speed of management decision-making and investing in AI.
Amid the takeover battle for Kakaku.com, European fund EQT announced that it will launch a tender offer for the company at ¥3,000 per share. The tender offer is valued at approximately ¥590 billion, and EQT has indicated a policy of seeking to maximize corporate value by taking the company private.
It became clear that Digital Garage, Kakaku.com's largest shareholder with a stake of more than 20%, supports EQT's proposal. The transaction is reportedly intended to accelerate management decision-making and promote investment in advanced technologies such as generative AI through taking the company private.
The move is intended to reorganize the business portfolio and strengthen the growth strategy centered on the price-comparison and review site Kakaku.com and the popular service Tabelog, both operated by the company. Business growth, including through the use of AI, is expected to accelerate.