KPS Capital Partners Establishes KPS Asia to Expand Global Industrial Investment Platform

NEW YORK and TOKYO – KPS Capital Partners, LP (“KPS”), a leading global investor in manufacturing and industrial companies, today announced the establishment of KPS Asia, significantly expanding its global investment platform. As part of this initiative, KPS has appointed Ryujiro Ishikawa as President of KPS Asia and will open a Tokyo office to oversee its investment activities throughout the Asian region.

The launch of KPS Asia marks a significant milestone in KPS’s long-term global growth strategy and reflects the firm’s conviction that Japan and the broader Asian market represent one of the most attractive opportunities for industrial investment and transformation in the world today.

KPS has built strong relationships across Asia for over 20 years, including with multiple institutional investors who have committed over $4 billion to KPS funds since 2004. KPS has also developed long-standing relationships with many leading manufacturing and industrial companies in the region through its investments, partnerships, and strategic transactions.

“We see an extremely significant opportunity in Asia, particularly in Japan,” said Michael Psaros, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of KPS. “The combination of world-class manufacturing, technological leadership, and the increasing appetite of companies to pursue transformative transactions creates a highly attractive environment for our investment strategy. We are convinced that now is the time to establish a permanent presence in the region and make long-term investments to partner with management teams to build stronger, more competitive companies.”

“Ryujiro is the ideal leader for this initiative. We have worked closely with Ryujiro for 30 years and have always considered him to be close to our team, so we are delighted to formally welcome him to KPS. He not only possesses a deep understanding of our culture, investment philosophy, and operating approach, but also unparalleled credibility and relationships across the Japanese industrial sector. Furthermore, he was one of the first Japanese executives to recognize the potential of KPS’s investment strategy and played a critical role in introducing us to the Japanese institutional investor community.”

Mr. Ishikawa joins KPS after a distinguished 43-year career at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Corporation. He held senior management positions at both companies overseeing global industrial businesses and business transformations, including President Special Appointment, Senior Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and President & CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America. Throughout his career, he has invested in industrial companies in Japan, North America, Latin America, and Europe, both as a strategic and financial investor. His experience spans a wide range of sectors, including mining, steel, aerospace, automotive parts, power generation, and industrial infrastructure.

While at Mitsubishi Corporation, Mr. Ishikawa led the company’s financial services business as General Manager of the Asset Management Business Division, developing it into a multi-asset class investment platform with over $24 billion in assets under management, making it one of the largest investment platforms owned by a non-financial institution. Subsequently, he established the “Investment & Business Development Group” at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, driving investments in defense, low-carbon power generation, and climate change technologies.

“KPS possesses a unique strength to succeed in Japan and across Asia,” said Mr. Ishikawa. “KPS’s approach to investing in the industrial sector, with its focus on operational improvement, long-term growth, and partnership with management, aligns with what Japanese companies value. KPS has repeatedly succeeded with similar models globally, including building a leading industrial investment platform in Europe. I am confident that its experience will provide a compelling roadmap for what can be achieved in Japan.”

The launch of KPS Asia follows the successful expansion of KPS’s business in Europe. Since opening its Frankfurt office in 2010, KPS has become one of the most active investors in manufacturing and industrial companies in the European region. KPS sees many of the factors that have enabled it to generate attractive investment opportunities in Europe, such as corporate carve-outs, portfolio rationalizations, and take-private transactions of public companies involving transformations, becoming increasingly prevalent in Japan today.

“Our experience in helping industrial companies navigate transformations, create growth opportunities, and enhance competitiveness is highly relevant in the Japanese market today,” added Mr. Psaros. “We aim to establish a strong foothold in Asia and become a trusted partner for companies, employees, and stakeholders throughout the region.”

Established over 35 years ago, KPS is one of the world’s leading private equity firms specializing in manufacturing and industrial companies, with approximately $18.6 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM). Approximately 70% of KPS’s investments involve the acquisition of non-core divisions from global corporations. Many sellers retain a minority equity interest alongside KPS, reflecting confidence in KPS’s operationally focused approach to value creation. KPS has a proven track record of successful transactions with leading manufacturing and industrial companies throughout Japan and the Asia Pacific region. Over the years, KPS has completed strategic transactions with companies such as Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Nagano Keiki Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., further strengthening its relationships throughout the region.

In addition to the establishment of KPS Asia, KPS maintains offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, London, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam.

About KPS Capital Partners

KPS is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of investment funds with approximately $18.6 billion of AUM (as of March 31, 2026). For over 30 years, KPS has been dedicated to achieving significant capital appreciation by making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse range of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer goods, healthcare & luxury items, automotive parts, capital equipment, and general manufacturing. KPS creates value for its investors by working constructively with talented management teams to improve the businesses of its portfolio companies, generating investment returns by structurally improving the strategic position, competitiveness, and profitability of its portfolio companies, rather than relying solely on financial leverage. KPS portfolio companies currently generate approximately $25.5 billion in annual revenue, operate 277 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries, and employ approximately 62,000 employees directly and through joint ventures worldwide (as of March 31, 2026). For more information on KPS’s investment strategy and portfolio companies, please visit www.kpsfund.com.