Alternative and Foreign Direct Investment
at a glance:
Formation: July 2023
Committee Type: Open to any ACCJ member
Since July 2023, this committee merges together the activities and leadership teams of the Alternative Investment and Foreign Direct Investment Committees. This new group approaches cross-border investment, also known as foreign direct investment (FDI), especially between Japan and America, from multiple perspectives.
The formation of this group reflects the many changes to the world economy that have occurred since 2020: global geopolitics, energy markets, financial markets, economic security, technology supply chains, regional military activities, domestic American policies, and closer alignment of the USG and the GOJ.
During the last three years (perhaps for the first time in history), two distinct trends have emerged. The United States has been the largest source of foreign investment into Japan, and Japan has been the largest source of foreign investment into the United States.
goals
To promote inward and outward FDI as well as regional and global economic cooperation.
To promote greater awareness of the benefits and risks of making alternative investments.
To promote policy, legal and regulatory changes in Japan to support Japan’s desire to increase inward FDI flows from their present low level.
To provide a forum for ACCJ members to network and share information regarding cross-border investment.
ACTIVITIES
Our group covers mergers and acquisitions – both by corporations as well as by private equity firms – as well as developments in venture capital, private equity, hedge funds, managed futures, carbon markets, commodities, real estate, infrastructure investments, digital assets (cryptocurrencies, Web 3.0, etc.), intellectual property, art and historical documents, and other alternative investment strategies.
INFORMATION SHARING AND SPEAKER EVENTS
Presentations from Japanese regulators and agencies on topics ranging from ESG investing to revisions in regulations such as FEFTA changes.
Venture Capital investing in digital payment systems and digital assets including cryptocurrencies, central bank digital currencies, security tokens. Technologies involving blockchain, virtual currencies, and the “tokenization of assets.”
Emerging scientific technologies including space-related industries, FemTech, Age-Tech, biotech, human genome-related investments, and energy storage technologies.
ESG-related investing, impact investing, ethical investing, and corporate governance
Passion Investing, such as watches, jewelry, fine and popular art, photographic and video copyrights, patent rights, fine wines and whiskeys, vintage cars and other collectibles.
ADVOCACY AND IMPACT
We support advocacy efforts through the writing and submission of ACCJ Viewpoint papers on a variety of relevant topics, such as most recently, the Government of Japan’s proposed ESG disclosure policies and fair M&A guidelines.
This Committee believes in creating constructive impact through engagement with Japanese government and the business community outside the ACCJ. Toward this goal, this group hosts events that bring transparency to investor activism, corporate governance, and investment stewardship.
committee leadership
events
resources
AIC in the accj journal
On April 21, 2021, the AIC invited Tokyo-based venture capitalist Sophie Meralli for a “Venture Capital and Gender Diversity” fireside chat with our vice-chair Pieter Franken. You can read the ACCJ Journal’s interview with Meralli here: Tokyo Women in Venture Capital
Representatives from the U.S., Japan, and Australian space agencies joined the AIC on December 14, 2020, to speak about cooperation and commercialization in space-related projects. Read the ACCJ Journal’s coverage of the event here: Space Commercialization and Cooperation among the United States, Australia, and Japan
Tokyo-based entepreneur Tracey Northcott spoke to the AIC on July 1, 2021, to speak about investment opportunities in “minpaku”, short-term rentals. See the ACCJ Journal’s event coverage and interview here: How Short-term Rentals Can Bring Personal, Financial, and Cultural Rewards
The AIC’s signature annual event - the 3rd Annual ACCJ Shareholder Forum - was held as a virtual event on June 15, 2021, with 6 prominent guest speakers and over 100 attendees. Click here to read the ACCJ Journal’s extensive coverage of all the speakers and topics: Third Annual ACCJ Shareholder Forum
advocacy
Other news
During the 3rd Annual ACCJ Shareholder Forum hosted by the AIC on June 15, 2021, speakers Seth Fischer from Oasis Management and Nicholas Smith from CLSA spoke about activist investment strategies. The Wall Street Journal covered their commentary in a discussion about the Toshiba scandal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/toshiba-scandal-emboldens-foreign-investors-pushing-change-in-japan-11624970521 (subscription required)