MBK Partners Puts Japanese Jewelry Brand Tasaki Up for Sale; Alleged Myanmar Ties Could Limit Potential Bidders

Sale enters second round with several private equity firms approached as potential buyers; deal valued at over $500 million.

MBK Partners, a North Asia-focused private equity firm, has placed Japanese jewelry brand Tasaki up for sale, with a potential total deal value exceeding $500 million.
The sale process is being managed by investment bank Daiwa Securities and is currently in its second round; multiple private equity firms have been approached as prospective buyers.
Tasaki, founded in 1954 and based in Kobe, is a renowned creator of pearl jewelry with over 100 retail stores across Japan, Asia, and Europe.
In 2017, the brand was privatized by MBK in a ¥31.5 billion ($209.5 million) buyout, an action taken to facilitate quicker decision-making and promote expansion outside Japan.
The sale is challenging due to allegations of Tasaki's business ties with Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (MPE) - a fact that has caused concerns among possible bidders, especially after the United States imposed sanctions on MPE in 2021 for their support to the junta.