2025 Japan Investor Activism Hits Record High as Funds Target Undervalued Stocks
Investor activism in Japan reached record levels in 2025, making it the world's second-largest market for such campaigns. Explore how Elliott and Third Point are shaking up Tokyo's corporate world.
Global capital is aggressively circling Tokyo. In 2025, shareholder proposals and demands reached an all-time high globally, with Japan emerging as the second most targeted market after the U.S..
The Surge of 2025 Japan Investor Activism
According to Nikkei, activist funds are raking in returns in Japan that are 1.7 times the global average. This "activist paradise" has attracted heavyweights like Elliott Investment Management, which recently disclosed a significant stake in Toyota Industries. The campaign aims to unlock value in a company that has long been considered undervalued despite its ties to the Toyota Group.
- Total Japanese tender offers reached a record $68 billion as restructuring intensified.
- Third Point returned to the market with a stake in Ebara.
- U.S. private equity firm Advent re-entered Japan after a 15-year hiatus.
Why Japan, Why Now?
The momentum isn't slowing down as we head further into 2026. A combination of corporate governance reforms and the dismantling of cross-shareholdings has left many Japanese firms vulnerable to pressure. Foreign firms, including South Korean companies, are also entering the market at record clips to capitalize on these shifting dynamics.
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