News

Equity Participation in Sakakibara Co., Ltd.

— Supporting the Next Stage of Growth for a Core Regional Manufacturing Infrastructure Company

Spr. 1, 2026

We are pleased to announce that Mitsui & Co., Principal Investments Ltd. (“MCPI”, Head Office: Chiyoda ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Nobuyuki Goto) has made a capital investment in Sakakibara Co., Ltd. (“Sakakibara”, Head Office: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Hidehiko Sugiyama) through an investment limited partnership managed by MCPI. This investment is intended to support Sakakibara’s business succession and to promote the company’s further growth.
Founded in 1935, Sakakibara is a specialized trading company focusing on non ferrous metals. It supplies copper alloy products, aluminum, stainless steel, and other materials to manufacturers across a wide range of industries, including automobiles, air conditioning equipment, gas appliances, and housing equipment. Sakakibara builds on long standing customer relationships to deliver a stable supply of materials, while also supporting quality and cost needs. Its in house processing capabilities further help customers shorten lead times and reduce procurement costs. Through these capabilities, it has become an essential part of the manufacturing supply chain in its region—functioning as an indispensable “manufacturing infrastructure” for local industries.
Business succession has become an increasingly urgent challenge for many small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan. MCPI values Sakakibara’s long standing customer relationships, procurement network, and supply capabilities as key foundations of regional manufacturing in Japan. By building on these strengths and bringing in the Mitsui & Co. Group’s wider network, industry knowledge, hands on management expertise, and M&A support, MCPI aims to help Sakakibara turn its business succession into a new chapter of growth—what we call a “second founding.”

Through this investment, MCPI will serve as a long term partner to Sakakibara, helping carry forward the founding family’s legacy and creating new pillars of growth on the strong foundation they established. In collaboration with Mitsui & Co. and its group companies, MCPI will support Sakakibara’s sustainable development through initiatives such as:

1. Expanding the customer base and strengthening the supply chain.
2. Carrying forward the founding family’s management knowhow and reinforcing the management structure.
3. Promoting growth strategies, including the evaluation and execution of M&A opportunities.

To implement these initiatives, MCPI plans to appoint Board members and provide hands on, on site support to help enhance Sakakibara’s corporate value.

MCPI is committed to supporting small and medium sized enterprises that play vital roles in regional economies, ensuring that they continue to thrive despite the challenges associated with business succession. By combining the comprehensive capabilities of the Mitsui & Co. Group with MCPI’s management improvement knowhow, we will provide flexible succession solutions aligned with the vision of owner managers.

Business owners facing challenges related to business succession, companies considering capital strategies for future growth, and M&A advisors seeking partnership opportunities are invited to contact us. We are ready to offer optimal solutions that respect unique company’s history and help build a strong future together.

For further information, please contact:

Nakamura
Phone: +81-80-6285-5055
E-mail: Hiron.Nakamura@mitsui.com

Kitamura
Phone: +81-80-5162-1530
E-mail: Mit.Kitamura@mitsui.com

Takemasa
Phone: +81-90-8437-5103
E-mail: T.Takemasa@mitsui.com

Mitsui & Co., Principal Investments Ltd.