Partner, Tokyo Phone +81-3-3213-6140 Fax +81-3-3213-6470 Add to Address Book

Izumi Akai is the co-head of S&C's Japan practice and is a member of the bar of the State of New York and Japan. Mr. Akai is a Japanese citizen and is fluent in both English and Japanese.

Mr. Akai started his career as a lawyer in 1982 at a law firm in Tokyo. He practiced in S&C's New York office from 1987 to 1992. In 1996 he rejoined S&C and has operated since then at the Firm's Tokyo office. He actively participates in the U.S. law practice of the Firm and is also available to render advice on certain matters of Japanese law. Throughout his career, Mr. Akai's practice has involved M&A, capital markets, real estate and other corporate work for a number of Japanese and non-Japanese clients. Mr. Akai has actively participated in securities offerings and listings in the United States by a number of Japanese issuers. He also has been involved in acquisitions and joint ventures in and outside Japan involving Japanese companies.

In the capital market area, Mr. Akai has an extensive experience in advising securities offerings in the United States and NYSE listings of a number of Japanese companies. His experience includes:

• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in the US$ 471 million global IPO of Seven Bank, Ltd.
• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in US$ 2.96 billion global IPO of Sony Financial Holdings Inc.
• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in US$ 242 million global IPO of Universal Studios Japan in 2007
• U.S. counsel to re-plus residential investment in its US$ 170 million global offering in 2007
• U.S. counsel to Aeon Co., Ltd. in its US$ 1.7 billion global equity offerings in 2006 and 2004
• U.S. counsel to Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. in its US$ 1.0 billion global IPO in 2006
• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in US$ 1.2 billion global equity offering of Japan Airlines Corporation in 2006
• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in Elpida Memory, Inc.’s US$ 919 million global IPO in 2004 and U$ 1.2 billion follow-on global offering in 2006
• U.S. counsel to Japan Retail Fund Investment Corporation in its four consecutive global equity offerings of US$ 424 million in 2003, US$ 437 million in 2004, US$ 450 million in 2005 and US$ 609 million in 2006
• U.S. counsel to Kenedix Realty Investment Corporation in its US$ 406.5 million global equity offering in 2006 and US$ 312 million in 2007
• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in US$ 5.2 billion global equity offering of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. in 2006
• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in US$ 4.2 billion global equity offering of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. in 2005
• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in US$ 410 million global equity offering of Monex Beans Holdings, Inc. in 2005
• U.S. counsel to the underwriters in US$ 4.3 billion global equity offering of Central Japan Railway Company as part of its privatization in 2005
• U.S. counsel to Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. in its US$ 3.3 billion global IPO in 2004
• U.S. counsel to Inpex Corporation in its US$ 3.3 billion global IPO in 2004
• other significant capital market transactions including, among many others, U.S. counsel to West Japan Railway Company in its US$ 2.4 billion privatization, U.S. counsel to Sumitomo Corporation in its US$ 950 million global equity offering, and sole U.S. counsel to the government financial institutions including Development Bank of Japan, Japan Finance Corporation of Municipal Enterprises and Japan Bank for International Cooperation in their SEC-registered global bond offerings.

In the acquisition area, Mr. Akai has actively participated in acquisitions and joint ventures in and outside Japan involving Japanese companies. Highlights of his M&A work include:

• advising Tokio Marine Holdings in its pending acquisition of Philadelphia Consolidated Holding
• advising Nippon Steel in its pending joint venture with ArcelorMittal
• advising Ain Pharmaciez Inc. in its pending acquisition of CFS Corporation
• advised Advantage Partners LLP in its US$ 2.2 billion acquisition of Tokyo Star Bank Ltd.
• advised Mitsukoshi Ltd. in its US$ 3.8 billion merger with Isetan Co., Ltd.
• advised Eisai Co., Ltd. in its US$ 3.9 billion acquisition of MGI Pharma, Inc.
• advised TIS Inc. in its US$ 1.25 billion merger with INTEC Holdings, Ltd.
• advised Daimaru, Inc. in its US$ 1.6 billion merger with Matsuzakaya Co., Ltd.
• advised Hoya Corporation in its US$ 765 million acquisition of Pentax Corporation
• advised Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc. in its US$ 533 million acquisition of Steel Technologies, Inc.
• advised Takeda in its US$ 300 million acquisition of Amgen KK
• advised Goldman Sachs in its US$ 2.6 billion acquisition of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
• advised Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group, Inc. in its US$ 29 billion merger with UFJ Holdings
• other significant mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and investments, including, among many others, Eisai Corp. of America/Morphotek, Osaka Steel Co., Ltd./Tokyo Kohtetsu Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group/SMBC Friend Securities, Inpex Corporation/Teikoku Oil Co., Ltd., and Fuji Television Network, Inc./Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc.

Mr. Akai has been recognized for his expertise by numerous publications, including:

• by an Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2008 survey (announced) as one of the most highly-acclaimed legal experts in the Asia-Pacific region in recognition of his work in Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
• by Asian Legal Business (2008) among the ALB Hot 100, its listing of legal practitioners "who have risen to prominence."
• by Asian Legal Business (2007) among the ALB Hot 100, its listing of legal practitioners "who have risen above the rest . . . who have performed outstandingly in their field."
• in M&A as a highly recommended individual in PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook/Global Counsel 3000 (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003-2004), in PLC Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions Handbook/PLC Global Counsel Mergers & Acquisitions Handbook (2008/2009, 2007/08, 2006/07, 2005, 2004-2005)
• in PLC Cross-border Capital Markets Handbook (2009, 2008)
• in The International Who's Who of Merger & Acquisition Lawyers (2001) and The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (2002)
• in Corporate/M&A as a leading individual by Chambers Global (2008, 2006, 2004-2005) and in Chambers Asia and Pacific Region (2009, 2008)
• in Banking by Euromoney’s Guide to the World's Leading Banking Lawyers (2007, 2005)
• in Banking & Finance by Chambers Global (2002-2003, 2001-2002)
• in Capital Markets by PLC Cross-border Capital Markets Handbook (2008), Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Capital Markets Lawyers (2006, 2005, 2003, 2002), The International Who's Who of Capital Markets Lawyers (2007, 2006, 2005) and The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (2007, 2006), as a highly recommended individual in PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook/Global Counsel 3000 (2008, 2002-2003, 2001-2002), as a leading individual by Chambers Global (2008, 2007, 2006, 2004-2005, 2003, 2002-2003, 2001-2002, 2000-2001) and Chambers Asia and Pacific Region (2009, 2008) 
• in Capital Markets & Corporate Finance in AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers (2006, 2005, 2003)
• in Equity Capital Markets as a highly recommended individual in PLC Global Counsel Equity Capital Markets Handbook (2004-2005), and as a highly recommended individual in PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook (2007, 2006, 2005).