Eurazeo Global Investor Japan
Eurazeo Global Investor is a global investment firm with over €37 billion (approximately ¥6 trillion) in assets under management across a broad range of asset classes, including private equity, private debt, growth and venture capital, infrastructure, and real estate.
We are pleased to announce that Eurazeo Global Investor has established its Tokyo office as part of its long-term strategy to expand its presence in Japan’s private markets. The new office will serve as a regional hub for investor relations, deal sourcing, and portfolio management, reinforcing the firm’s local capabilities in capital deployment and value creation across the region.
About Eurazeo Global Investor
Eurazeo Global Investor is a global investment firm with over €37 billion (approximately ¥6 trillion) in assets under management across a broad range of asset classes, including private equity, private debt, growth and venture capital, infrastructure, and real estate. Leveraging its long-term capital base, deep sector expertise, and strong commitment to sustainable value creation, the firm partners with companies to support the achievement of their strategic objectives. For more information, please visit Eurazeo’s official website.
Strategic Vision for Japan
Q1: What are Eurazeo's strategic objectives and the specific value propositions in the Japanese market?
Ken: As one of Europe’s leading alternative investment firms, our core value proposition lies in bridging Japan and Europe through a distinctively European lens. With over 50 years of investment experience, Eurazeo was originally established as the family office of its founder, the Lazard family. While our roots are in private equity, we have since evolved into a multi-strategy platform encompassing venture capital, private debt, and real assets such as real estate and infrastructure.
Q2: How long has Eurazeo been strategizing its expansion into Japan, and what factors influenced the timing of this initiative?
Ken: We began exploring the Japanese market just before the COVID-19 pandemic, around 2019. At the time, our initial plan was to hire locally in 2019 or 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the initiative was postponed for nearly two years. We revisited the idea in late 2023 and officially launched our Tokyo office in April 2024.
Q3: In what ways do you anticipate Eurazeo's presence in Tokyo will enhance relationships with existing and potential Japanese investors?
Ken: Even before opening our Tokyo office, we had Japanese clients we serviced through our offices in Paris, London, and other international locations. That said, Japan is a unique and nuanced market. Having a local presence and understanding the business culture on the ground are critical to building trust. One of our clients recently told us that being able to meet face-to-face in our Tokyo office has significantly increased their comfort level with our brand and offerings.
Why Tokyo?
Q4: What were the primary reasons for selecting Tokyo as the location for your Japanese headquarters?
Ken: Tokyo is not only Japan’s capital but also one of the world’s largest financial hubs. Most of our Japanese institutional clients — including banks, insurance companies, and pension funds — have their core operations based here. From a talent perspective, Tokyo also offers the deepest pool of experienced professionals in the financial industry. These were the two main drivers behind our decision.
Q5: You compared Tokyo to other cities in Japan - how about overseas cities like Singapore, Hong Kong?
Ken: For many global asset managers, Hong Kong and Singapore are often top choices — particularly Singapore today. Eurazeo already has a presence in Singapore, and we view Japan as even more aligned with our European identity and strategy. Historically, Tokyo has been more neutral and receptive to our distinct positioning, which is rooted in a continental European heritage.
Setup Experience and Local Support
Q6: What challenges did you encounter during the setup process in Tokyo, and how did you address them?
Ken: The main challenge we faced was the language barrier — certain parts of the incorporation and setup process still required Japanese-language documentation and communication. While the differences in business practices were manageable, being able to operate primarily in English was essential for us, especially for our France-based team.
Q7: How have FinCity.Tokyo and Visual Alpha supported your establishment in Tokyo, and which aspects of their assistance did you find most beneficial?
Ken: We received incredibly detailed and thoughtful support, which made a huge difference. In fact, I believe Tokyo — through FinCity.Tokyo and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government — offers one of the best support programs in the world for overseas entrants, no kidding. I shared this with colleagues in London and New York who are now considering setting up operations in other countries. While systems in places like some South American or Middle East countries might seem easier due to English availability, they often lack the same level of follow-up and local guidance. Tokyo's combination of a solid institutional investors’ base and soft-touch local support is truly impressive.
Q8: Reflecting on the establishment process, what insights or recommendations would you offer to other companies considering expansion into Tokyo?
Ken: I’ve already shared our experience with others (laughs). For companies looking to enter with a small team, the current support program by FinCity.Tokyo is genuinely one of the best globally. It helps you navigate Tokyo’s subsidy schemes, which can last up to three years. For smaller players, those three years may serve as a market testing phase. If traction isn’t achieved, they may reconsider. But for firms like Eurazeo, we see long-term growth potential in Japan.