PE Japan style

This was published in the NY Times. Will speak more about it on saturday.

Japan’s Biggest Talent Agency to Go Private

July 30, 2009, 5:01 AM

Talent agency Yoshimoto Kogyo is planning to go private in a deal worth between $420 million and $525 million, Variety reported. Japan’s 97-year-old agency is said to be negotiating with a media consortium headed by former Sony chairman Nobuyuki Idei.

The group of buyers includes Nippon Television Network, TBS Holdings and Fuji Media Holdings.

As is the case with many production and talent agencies, Yoshimoto has come under pressure to cut costs and form alliances in the recession.

Yoshimoto manages nearly 800 artists as well as managing theaters and producing TV shows and films. Its sales totaled $514 million while operating profit plunged 26.4 percent year-on-year to $45.8 million
for the fiscal year ending in March.