Digital Holdings, Inc. - Tender Offer by Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc.

He has handled more than 200 M&A deals for listed and private companies, both in Japan and overseas, by utilizing his practical experience obtained in the United States, which has allowed him to establish a strong reputation in the fields of business revitalization, bankruptcy, and litigation. He also deals with a wide variety of projects, which range from startup acquisitions to tender offer deals. In the field of disputes, he mainly deals with large and complex proceedings, and also has experience in international arbitration and mediation. Since he counts a large number of listed companies and universities as his clients and also serves as an outside director/auditor of various listed companies, he has been heavily involved in businesses run by manufacturers and retailers, as well as those in the healthcare industry and real estate industry, and those related to IT, human resources, and the operation of universities. He has accumulated a wealth of legal knowledge and experience and advises clients on a wide range of legal topics, including corporate law, commercial law, personnel and labor law, intellectual property, and antitrust.

Nobuaki’s practice mainly focuses on M&A and general corporate matters. Since returning from a secondment to the corporate strategy division of a Japanese listed company and advanced studies in the U.S., he has been involved in a wide range of deals involving Japanese companies and domestic and foreign private equity funds. He provides clear, timely legal advice based on a deep understanding of the client’s business and the specifics of a given case, utilizing the experience he gained assisting with management decisions while on secondment. He plays a leading role in every case he handles, and provides professional guidance throughout the process.

He has extensive experience handling difficult, complex deals, particularly those involving listed companies, including integrations, capital and business alliances, dissolution of parent-subsidiary relationships through TOBs, and spin-off and carve-out transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. His particular strength is handling difficult, high-pressure cases involving conflicts of interest, including hostile takeovers, white-knighting, shareholder activism, and other battles for control of management.

In recent years, he has developed an ESG practice for listed companies, including ESG due diligence in M&A, establishment of human rights policies, implementation of human rights due diligence as part of corporate governance, and dealing with environmental activists and human rights NGOs, while remaining mindful of investor relations.