Guess again. The New Economy Republicans who control the republic are through and through into owning the new economy.
Investment vehicle for both the Bush and bin Laden clans, Carlyle Group is positioning itself to be a largely unregulated holding company of the global economy. It is an equity-driven juggernaut offering 30-40% returns for the well-connected. American oligopoly and oligarchy for all.
------------------------ http://www.thecarlylegroup.com/funds.htm#japan
Japan Recognizing an enormous opportunity in the Japanese market, Carlyle established an office in Tokyo in 2000 with the help of Koji Nagao, a Managing Director with primary responsibility for Japanese investor relations, and Kazuo Higashi, a founding member of the Japanese venture team. As in the U.S., Europe and Asia, Carlyle has established separate buyout and venture groups in Japan. The buyout group is led by Kensuke Shizunaga, former general partner of Schroder Ventures K.K., and Haruyasu Asakura, an experienced buyout professional formerly with Apax Globis Partners. In addition, Hitoshi Hasegawa, former managing director at SOFTBANK, joined Kazuo Higashi in overseeing the Japanese venture team. These groups will focus on four key sectors: telecommunications and media, technology, manufacturing and consumer goods.
The Japanese market is an enormous, mature economy?the second largest in the world?contributing $4.4 trillion or 14.5% to the world’s GDP. We believe private equity opportunities in the Japanese market are promising. The Japanese economy has experienced a prolonged economic downturn, with the Nikkei average down 70% from its 1989 peak, creating an incentive for Japanese companies to restructure, spin off assets and seek outside equity capital. In addition, the market is experiencing a period of increasing regulatory and industry reforms, and there is a greater acceptance of foreign investors than in the past. At present, few private equity and venture capital funds are active in Japan, despite the fact that investment is expected to rise dramatically and projected to reach $17 billion over the next three years.
Carlyle has established a Japan Advisory Board consisting of leading senior Japanese and international executives in industry, government, banking and consulting. The plan is to build a team of 25 investment professionals with Japanese and international principal investment expertise and significant experience in mergers and acquisitions and structured finance.
The team will adopt a strategy and philosophy consistent with the overall Carlyle family. They will focus on adding value to large companies by working with management and, like Carlyle Europe Partners, working with family-owned, middle market companies to resolve succession and capital restructuring issues and open opportunities for expansion. ------------------------------
Charles Jannuzi