Investment in Nine States 5, a Region-Specific Fund Providing Risk Money Mainly in Kyushu

DBJ has invested in Nine States 5, a regional investment fund managed by Fukuoka Capital Partners Co. (head office: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture), its investment contributing to the establishment of the fund.

Established with investments from The Bank of Fukuoka and other leaders in the Kyushu business community, FCP contributes to the development of the Kyushu economy by providing risk money to local companies for endeavors in areas including business succession, restructuring, real estate and non-performing loans. The Nine States series was launched in 2006 and is the firm's core fund.

This is the fifth fund in the Nine States series. Investments focus on providing risk money, such as equity and mezzanine finance, for use in the revitalization and business succession efforts of small and medium-sized companies in the region; making strategic investments in community-based industries; and co-investing with other, mainly Kyushu-based, funds specializing in regional development.

For this project, the DBJ Special Investment Operations program was used to support a client's efforts to revitalize its local economy and strengthen the competitiveness of local enterprises.