Reuters) – State-backed lender Development Bank of Japan launched on Tuesday a 150 billion yen ($1.56 billion) fund to invest in domestic companies.
The fund, which could double in size, is aimed at boosting the competitiveness of Japanese industries, the bank said in a statement, without specifying any sectors.
Private equity firms including KKR & Co LP, Bain Capital and Carlyle Group have urged Japan to cut the role of state-backed funds, saying such money could squeeze out opportunities for private capital and delay restructuring for troubled companies.
The largest state-backed funds — Innovation Network Corporation of Japan and Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan — have the capacity to raise up to $37 billion to inject money into Japanese companies.
