Japanese firms have spent more than 6 trillion yen, or 80 billion dollars, to acquire overseas companies this year as the value of the yen has been unprecedentedly strong against other currencies.

Merger and acquisition broker RECOF says 449 overseas acquisitions and equity investments were made this year, as of late December. The number is up 22 percent compared to the figure for the same period of last year.

The total amount of the investments, 6.25 trillion yen, is up 71 percent on the year.

Many Japanese companies have apparently tried to make inroads into emerging markets through the acquisition of local firms, taking advantage of the record-high yen.
Some firms accelerated purchases of natural resource companies to secure fuel for power generation, following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Takeda Pharmaceutical made the highest-priced acquisition this year when it purchased a Swiss drug firm for about 13 billion dollars.

RECOF President Yoshimitsu Onji says more overseas firms will offer themselves to Japanese companies in 2012, resulting in an increase in M&A if the credit crisis in Europe continues.

Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/politics.html

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