L Catterton Launches $315 Million Fund to Invest in Japanese Companies

L Catterton has made Japan its strategic focus. The investment fund participated by LVMH has announced the launch of a new fund exclusively for the Japanese country, endowed with 315 million dollars. The initiative aims to invest in about ten Japanese companies, both medium and small, mainly in the beauty, distribution and food sectors.

This is the first time that L Catterton has launched an investment vehicle focused on a single country outside the United States, marking a significant shift in its global strategy. The fund has been backed by both Japanese and international insurance companies and pension funds, in a context of a private equity boom in Japan favored by the weak yen and the increase in mergers and acquisitions.

The fund's new bet places Japan as a key player in the global consumer goods market. With a largely urban population, high purchasing power and a growing brand culture, the country offers attractive opportunities for funds with a focus on sustained growth, commercial repositioning or regional scalability.

L Catterton chooses Japan for its first country investment strategy outside the U.S.

With Scott Dahnke as CEO, the fund will seek companies with local identity and potential to strengthen the Asian ecosystem. The launch comes just days after L Catterton completed a partial exit from its stake in Germany's Birkenstock with proceeds of more than $941 million, €823 million.

This transaction has been interpreted as a rotational move in assets and as a sign of diversification in the face of the current macroeconomic uncertainty. In addition to the Japanese fund, L Catterton closed an $11 billion capital raising on May 28, bringing its assets to more than $37 billion.

L Catterton emerged in 2016 with the merger of U.S. investment fund Catterton and L Capital. Although the company is not wholly owned by LVMH, the French luxury conglomerate owns 40% of the company. In uncertain times, the fund seeks to consolidate positions in Asia with flexible models and local partnerships to contrast with the slowdown in other traditional economies.