Neuberger to form joint venture with SMBC
28 APR, 2026
By Joanna Piwko from RankiaPro Europe
Neuberger Berman East Asia Limited, the Japan-based arm of Neuberger Berman, has agreed with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) to establish a joint venture that will act as a managing partner in Japan.
The venture will create and manage private debt funds focused on Japan, primarily investing in senior loans for leveraged buyouts (LBOs). It will offer an alternative to traditional bank lending and provide both domestic and international investors with efficient access to Japan’s private debt market.
This first-of-its-kind initiative in Japan combines SMBC’s strong deal origination, credit expertise, and leadership in LBO financing with Neuberger’s long-standing experience in private markets, direct lending capabilities, and global private equity network.
Ryo Ohira of Neuberger Berman said a more diverse lender base will strengthen capital provision and better align financing with companies’ growth strategies. Yasuyuki Fujita added that the partnership will bring best practices from the U.S. while building a fully integrated investment platform in Japan, from origination to portfolio management.
Neuberger’s private debt platform, launched in 2013, manages $25 billion and has invested over $29 billion across more than 250 companies, with very low default and loss rates.
