Sweden's EQT launches $3.76 billion tender offer to take Japan's Kakaku.com private (updated)

Kakaku.com

12/05/2026 10:55

Deal at a 2.6% premium to Kakaku.com's Tuesday close

Transaction subject to customary regulatory approvals

Deal adds to EQT's Japan buyouts including Fujitec, CareNet, Mamezo

Updates with background, further details from paragraph 4

May 12 (Reuters) - Swedish investment firm EQT EQTAB.ST said on Tuesday it would launch a tender offer to take Japanese classifieds and marketplace platform Kakaku.com 2371.T private, valuing the company at 593.51 billion yen ($3.76 billion).

The offer values Kakaku.com at 3,000 yen per share, EQT said in a statement, representing a 2.6% premium to Tuesday's closing price.

The platform operates a portfolio of digital platforms in Japan, including price comparison site Kakaku.com, restaurant review and reservation platform Tabelog and job search service Kyujin Box.

The deal is EQT's latest Japan take-private, following Fujitec, CareNet and Mamezo, as the Swedish PE firm expands its footprint in the country's tech sector. The firm ranks among the world's largest investors in IT services.

Digital Garage and KDDI, which hold 38.1% of Kakaku.com, have agreed to sell their shares. Digital Garage will reinvest for about a 20% stake in the tender offeror group.

The Japanese company's board and a special committee unanimously backed the offer and recommended shareholders tender their shares, EQT said.

The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals.

($1 = 157.6400 yen)

 (Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Vijay Kishore)

 ((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com;))