Houlihan Lokey Advises Japan Growth Investments Alliance
Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Hosoya Corp. (Hosoya), a portfolio company of Japan Growth Investments Alliance Inc. (JGIA), has been acquired by Hurxley Corp. (TSE:7561; Hurxley). The transaction was completed on 13 December 2024.
Founded in 1907 and headquartered in Chiba, Japan, Hosoya is a manufacturer of Chinese chilled processed foods. The company’s product range includes high-quality dumplings known as the “Zeitaku” series, comprising “Zeitaku shumai,” “Zeitaku gyoza,” and “Zeitaku harumaki,” which are sold at supermarkets across the Kantō region of Japan. “Zeitaku shumai” holds the number one market share in the domestic chilled shumai market, while “Zeitaku gyoza” ranks number one in the chilled gyoza market in the Kantō region.* Backed by the strength of its products, the company has garnered widespread support across a broad range of age groups, driven by a high rate of repeat purchases.
Founded in 2016, JGIA is a private equity firm focused on Japanese companies with significant growth potential. JGIA is composed of a diverse range of professionals, including investment bankers, consultants, business managers, IT engineers, lawyers, and accountants, and has its own team of consultants. In collaboration with strategic partners such as Japan Tobacco Inc., a leading diversified tobacco company, and Hakuhodo Inc., one of Japan’s foremost advertising agencies, JGIA draws upon the expertise, knowledge, and human resources of partner companies to provide practical and useful hands-on support, including business consulting and the dispatch of human resources, to support the growth of portfolio companies.
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, Hurxley and its subsidiaries engage in a comprehensive range of food-related activities, from production, processing, and logistics to consumption, and are actively involved in diversified mergers and acquisitions within the food industry sector.
In the field of processed foods, Hurxley produces and sells side dishes, frozen foods, and confectioneries, which are distributed to supermarkets and convenience stores.
Through this transaction, Hurxley seeks to establish a firm position in the steadily growing prepared foods market while generating synergies with Hosoya through the mutual utilization of manufacturing facilities and distribution channels. This collaboration will enable both parties to meet customer demands more effectively.
Houlihan Lokey served as the sole financial advisor to JGIA and assisted in initiating, structuring, and negotiating the transaction on its behalf.
*2023 Nikkei POS data.
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