Japanese insurer Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance is planning to acquire a 5% stake in Man Group, valued at approximately £179m, as part of a strategic partnership focused on private credit, quantitative investment strategies and institutional asset management, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The transaction marks Meiji Yasuda’s first major investment in an overseas asset manager and reportedly includes plans to allocate ¥200bn to the London-listed investment group over the next three years.
The partnership will give Meiji Yasuda access to Man Group’s investment capabilities across private assets, quantitative strategies and artificial intelligence, alongside research and advisory services through the Oxford-Man Institute.
For Man Group, the agreement supports its ambitions to expand its private credit platform and deepen relationships with institutional insurance investors globally.
Meiji Yasuda reportedly intends to acquire its holding through open-market purchases rather than newly issued shares. The investment will be subject to a three-year lock-in period, with any further purchases capped at 19.99% of Man Group’s issued share capital.
Man Group’s shares rose as much as 4.9% in early London trading following the announcement.
The agreement comes as Japanese insurers accelerate their overseas expansion and diversify investment portfolios in response to slowing domestic growth.
Earlier this year, Meiji Yasuda completed a $2.3bn acquisition of Legal & General’s US insurance operations, while other Japanese insurers, including Daiichi Life and Sumitomo Life, have also pursued international acquisitions and investment partnerships.
Man Group reported record assets under management of $270.9bn in the third quarter, supported by investor inflows and investment performance. Its shares have reportedly gained approximately 42% this year.
