Philip Blythe

Professional Background

• Partner for 20 years in PwC Japan, where he established their Transaction Services and PMI businesses
• Recognized as one of the most experienced practitioners in cross-border M&A in the Japanese market place, and speaks frequently on the subject of success in cross-border M&A
• Focus on managing cultural differences in cross-border M&A and helping clients bridge the language and cultural gap for foreign investors in Japan and for Japanese investors globally
• Philip holds an MA from Cambridge, University UK, and is a UK chartered accountant
• He is fluent in both English and Japanese

M&A Skills & Expertise

• 30+ years of professional experience, with 28 being in Japan. During that time he formed the M&A practice, and the PMI practice at PwC, and a member of their global leadership team, before becoming independent.
• A leading figure and experienced advisor in the Japanese cross-border M&A market; recognizes the particular hurdles faced in cross-border M&A; creator of a compact methodology for exerting control and de-risking investments in cross border investments
• Trained Intercultural Advisor supporting clients in cross cultural, organization and people issues; leads cultural workshops for both clients and their targets enabling them to break stereotypes and begin to smoothly work together
• Lives by his mission to support his clients success in cross-border M&A through doing the right deal, paying the right price and managing the investment, through realizing synergies, reducing risk through effective governance, managing people across cultures, and leadership
• Experience in a wide range of industries with particular emphasis on chemical, pharmaceuticals, and automotive, but all with one common feature . .being cross-border

Project Highlights

• Advised a Japanese Mining company buying a German rare earth metals business
• Advised a Japanese Materials business buying a European HQ global business, with a HQ migration to the US following the deal
• Advised a Japanese trading house acquiring an automotive distributor in Panama
• Advised a Japanese speciality chemical company is a carve-out deal across eight countries in which it had no previous presence, centered on Germany
• Undertook key person interviews and retention planning for a Japanese acquisition in Denmark and USA
• Advised a Japanese generic pharma company’s US market entry
• Advised a Japanese automotive OEM in its divestment of its electric vehicle battery business
• Supported a Chinese former State-owned company in acquiring a business from a major Japanese electronics company including a complex manufacturing carve-out
• Advised a Japanese autoparts maker on the acquisition and integration of a global business 50% larger than itself, including carve-outs in 10 different countries
• Assisted in the business separations of the Japan business as part of global divestures of four separate transactions of Major Pharmaceutical companies
• Advised and led the Integration Management Office for a major global investment bank entering into a joint venture in Japan, by way of business carve-outs from each party
• Undertook a feasibility study for the simultaneous merger of 27 commercial vehicle dealers with a Japanese OEM