Japan’s tycoon families seek buyouts to evade investor pressure

The growing trend in Japan of founding families attempting to take companies private to prevent mergers or to support their expansion strategies is illustrated by Akio Toyoda's $42 billion plan for Toyota Industries, the largest such effort so far. The Ito family faced a failed bid to stop a takeover offer for Seven & I Holdings, while Fuji Soft's founders tried unsuccessfully to buy out the company alongside Bain Capital. Meanwhile, the Uehara family acquired Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings below its book value, drawing criticism from activists who questioned the valuation, though Snow Peak's founding family recently took the firm private in 2024 to push through an expansion strategy.