As a consolidated business group of Mitsui USA, Financial Markets is active in a variety of investment and trading activities which leverage the combined strengths of Mitsui & Co., Ltd.’s broad business experience and global relationships. These activities include:

• Principal Investments
• Proprietary Commodities Trading (Energy and Precious Metals)

Principal Investments

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. is a globally active principal investor having deployed over US$4.5 billion in direct equity investments over the past three years in companies involved in natural resources, general manufacturing, distribution, as well as business and consumer services. Investment focus ranges from early stage venture to established, growth companies with significant cash flow.

The Mitsui USA Financial Markets group opportunistically seeks control equity investments in privately and publicly held companies that typically take the form of management buyouts and growth equity investments. These investments are made in partnership with management or other financial and strategic investors. Targeted areas include, among others, outsourced business services for healthcare, finance, and automotive industries.

The group’s venture capital operations are conducted through a wholly owned subsidiary, Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners, Inc. (“MCVP”) (www.mitsuivp.com). MCVP currently manages a $200MM fund focused on North American early stage companies in information technology, life sciences, and clean tech industries.

The Financial Markets group works actively with other Mitsui & Co., Ltd. businesses and operating divisions to source proprietary investment opportunities as well as smaller, add-on, acquisitions for existing portfolio companies. Investments are made to generate a financial return either through an external liquidity event or through establishing a long term business partnership with an existing business.

In general, Mitsui USA seeks to acquire companies with successful management and proven track records. These companies benefit from Mitsui & Co., Ltd.'s valuable operating experience, strategic resources, and global breadth.

Proprietary Commodities Trading

With a focus on Precious Metals and Energy, Mitsui’s commodities trading business is conducted by the following two companies.

Mitsui & Co. Precious Metals, Inc. is engaged in commodity dealing and trading in precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium, ruthenium and rhodium). Its headquarters is in New York with offices in London and Sydney.

Mitsui & Co Energy Risk Management Limited is a London-based energy derivatives (Crude Oil, Oil products, Natural Gas, Electricity and Emissions) trading business with operating subsidiaries in the USA and Singapore.

Both companies seek to provide customers with risk management tools through commodity derivatives on a global scale.