Japonica Partners & Co. is an American multinational

private equity firm A private equity firm is an investment management company that provides financial backing and makes investments in the private equity of startup or operating companies through a variety of loosely affiliated investment strategies including lev ...

headquartered in New York, New York,

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. The company specializes in underperforming global

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and undervalued investment positions. The firm's public investments includes the largest tender-hold for

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Government Bonds in the world valued at €4 billion (approximately $4.2 billion in U.S. dollars). The firm also holds shares in and has reorganized multiple companies such as Allegheny International ($690 million), Sunbeam-Oster ($1.5 billion),

CNW Corporation The Chicago and North Western was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states befor ...

($1.6 billion), and Borden ($2.4 billion). The company is known for its control and leadership by Paul B. Kazarian, who is the company's managing director and chief executive officer.

History

The firm was founded in 1988 in Providence,

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...

by former Goldman Sachs investment banker, Paul B. Kazarian. A year later the company began its first bid for a corporation,

Chicago and North Western Transportation Company The Chicago and North Western was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states befo ...

, a railroad

holding company A holding company is a company whose primary business is holding a controlling interest in the securities of other companies. A holding company usually does not produce goods or services itself. Its purpose is to own shares of other companies ...

. The firm eventually won the bid, transformed the company's management structure and profit streams eventually selling it to

Blackstone Group Blackstone Inc. is an American alternative investment management company based in New York City. Blackstone's private equity business has been one of the largest investors in leveraged buyouts in the last three decades, while its real estate bu ...

who took the company private. One fiscal year later, the firm moved in to bid for Allegheny International–a company that held Sunbeam-Oster. Kazarian was appointed the president of the CEO of Sunbeam, a position he held for three years. During his tenure, he brought the company to record breaking profit levels but eventually was ousted by the company's board for an overaggressive management style. After his was dismissed of his duties in the company he returned to Japonica as CEO and began bidding for Borden Co. At the time the company had $180 million in assets available for bidding. The firm offered $1.27 billion to buy out the company but was ultimately out-bet by

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts KKR & Co. Inc., also known as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., is an American global investment company that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and, through its strate ...

Corporate affairs

Japonica Partners is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

company thus is not currently being traded in equity markets and stock exchanges such as the

New York Stock Exchange The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, nicknamed "The Big Board") is an American stock exchange in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed ...

and NASDAQ.

Charles & Agnes Kazarian Eternal Foundation

The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Eternal Foundation is a private operating foundation founded and controlled by the firm's CEO, Paul B. Kazarian. The foundation furthers the United Nation's

Millennium Development Goals The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 that had been established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millenn ...

: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote

gender equality Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing d ...

and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve

maternal health Maternal health is the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. In most cases, maternal health encompasses the health care dimensions of family planning, preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care in order to ens ...

, combat

HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

, and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, develop a global partnership for development. The foundation operated under the 501(c)(3) tax code of the Internal Revenue Service.

External links

Japonica Partners official website

Japonica Partners bloomberg profile

References

{{Reflist Financial services companies established in 1988 Private equity firms of the United States Companies based in Providence, Rhode Island