Paul Hastings, a leading global law firm, announced on February 28, 2013 that it advised AEON Co., Ltd., the holding company of AEON Group, a leading retail company in Japan, on its buyout of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.’s 50% equity interest in Warner Mycal Corporation (“Warner Mycal”).
Warner Mycal is one of Japan’s largest movie theater operators which currently operates 60 multi-screen cinema complexes throughout Japan.
Paul Hastings’ Tokyo M&A team advised on a number of other Japan cross-border M&A transactions in 2012 including advising ABC-Mart, Inc. on its acquisition of NASDAQ-listed LaCrosse Footwear, Inc., advising MISUMI Group Inc. on its acquisition in the U.S. of two die components makers, namely Dayton Progress Corporation and Anchor Lamina America Inc., and advising Japanese amusement ride company Sansei Yusoki Co., Ltd. on its acquisition of a stake in U.S. headquartered S&S Worldwide, Inc.
The Paul Hastings team was led by Tokyo-based partner Toshiyuki Arai and Chicago-based partner Christopher Sheaffer with support from Kota Kikuchi, Yuji Nakano and Achika Iwanaga.
