European buyout house EQT has hired Tetsuro Onitsuka (pictured) as head of EQT private equity and Masahiko Kato as head of EQT Infrastructure in the newly-established Japan office. The pair will build the team with both local and relocated EQT employees as well as enhancing the advisor network and will also be responsible for deal sourcing in the country.
Onitsuka joined EQT from Japan Post Investment where he was managing director. He was also previously head of Japan at TPG.
Masahiko was deputy general manager in Mitsubishi Corp’s private equity and infrastructure division.
Thomas von Koch, Partner and Chairperson of EQT Asia Pacific, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Tetsuro and Masahiko to lead EQT’s operations in Japan. The country offers a wide range of compelling opportunities in EQT’s core sectors and we are confident that our industrial heritage, thematic investment strategy and expert capabilities within technology and ESG will create value for Japanese companies.”
EQT hit an $800m hard cap final close for its third mid-market fund investing in the Asian market in 2018.
It opened its first Australian office last year with the relocation of Ken Wong from the Singapore office to head EQT Australia and New Zealand.
Copyright © 2021 AltAssets
