Morgan Stanley’s Japan M&A Venture Sees Weak Yen Spurring Deals

Japan’s No. 1 adviser on mergers and acquisitions is expecting deals to pick up, fueled by the yen’s historic plunge and the reopening of borders as the pandemic wanes.

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., which reclaimed the top spot after seven years, has roughly 20% more advisory deals in its pipeline compared with the previous year, said Kensaku Bessho, chief executive officer of investment banking at the joint venture between Japan’s biggest bank and the Wall Street giant. Bessho cited the interest in buying the country’s assets at a bargain and the continued desire for Japanese acquirers ...