이 기사는 2022년 03월 22일 08시06분 thebell에 표출된 기사입니다

Japan’s top-tier general trading company Sojitz Corp has joined a race for Burger King’s operations in South Korea and Japan, aiming to create synergy with its existing businesses.

Sojitz has participated in the preliminary round of bidding held by Affinity Equity Partners and its sale advisor Goldman Sachs, industry sources said on Friday. Sojitz in Japan itself reportedly contacted the seller instead of doing so through its Korean subsidiary.

Sojitz is considered one of the seven major trading companies in Japan alongside Mitsubishi Corp, Sumitomo Corp, Mutsui & Co, Itochu Corp, Marubeni Corp and Toyota Tsusho.

The Japanese trading company has reportedly shown strong interest in the Burger King Korea and Japan since Affinity Equity Partners put the operations up for sale. Industry watchers said Sojitz is highly likely to participate in the bidding on its own, while there is a possibility of joining forces with a financial investor.

Sojitz operates seven business divisions: automotive, aerospace & transportation project, infrastructure & healthcare, metals, mineral resources & recycle, chemicals, consumer industry & agriculture and retail & consumer service.

Its retail & consumer service division produces and sells a variety of food ingredients, including beef, seafood, sugar and dairy products.

Sojitz recently formed a strategic business alliance with Royal Holding and Unitec Foods to supply products using Nikuvege, a plant-based meat developed by Unitec Foods, to global consumers.

The Japanese firm is accelerating its overseas investment. The company and Vietnam’s largest dairy manufacturer Vinamilk Group have reached an agreement to invest $500 million to establish a new joint venture for the purpose of importing, processing, and selling beef products in Vietnam.

Sojitz is also engaged in aircraft leasing, which may also help the company utilize its financial capability to improve Burger King's business efficiency. (Reporting by Gyoung-tae Kim)