Stephen J.DeCosse (Steve)

Of Counsel

Tokyo + 81.3.6800.1819

Steve DeCosse focuses on public and private cross-border M&A and investments for strategics, trading houses, and private equity firms across a range of industries. His recent experience includes grain, robotics, food ingredients, 5G, offshore wind, oil and gas (O&G), transport and logistics, sensors, auto parts, and health care.

Steve is regularly recommended as a leading lawyer in Japan by independent guides to the legal profession including Chambers, The Legal 500, and the Japan edition of Best Lawyers in the fields of corporate and M&A. He is listed in the Hall of Fame for Japan: Corporate and M&A in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. He is a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators.

Steve is currently involved in an Asia-wide pro bono project focusing on human trafficking in six southeast Asian countries.

Experience

  • JENSEN-GROUP and MIURA create heavy-duty laundry joint venture in JapanJones Day advised JENSEN-GROUP in the formation of a joint venture with MIURA whereby the JENSEN-GROUP acquired 49% of the shares of Inax Corporation, one of the main manufacturing and distribution companies for heavy-duty laundry equipment in Japan and a Japanese wholly owned subsidiary of MIURA, and MIURA took a 20% stake in the JENSEN-GROUP through a combination of 49% of the shares of Inax and an add-on capital increase in cash.
  • Marubeni sells global grain business of Gavilon Agriculture InvestmentJones Day advised Marubeni Corporation in the sale of the global grain business of Gavilon Agriculture Investment, Inc. to Viterra Limited, following a reorganization of Gavilon’s structure.
  • Sempra Energy sells PXiSE Energy SolutionsJones Day advised Sempra Energy in the sale of membership interests in PXiSE Energy Solutions to Yokogawa Electric Corporation.
  • Calgon Carbon acquired by Kuraray for $1.3 billionJones Day advised Calgon Carbon Corporation (NYSE:CCC) in its $1.3 billion all-cash acquisition by Kuraray Co., Ltd. (TSE:3405).
  • TDK acquires InvenSense for $1.3 billionJones Day advised TDK Corporation in its $1.3 billion acquisition of InvenSense, Inc.
  • Synaptics acquires LCD display driver manufacturer Renesas SP Drivers for JPY48.5 billion (US$475 million)Jones Day advised Synaptics Inc., a leading developer of human interface solutions, in connection with its JPY48.5 billion (US$475 million) definitive agreement to acquire Renesas SP Drivers, Inc., a Japanese joint venture between Renesas Electronics Corporation, Sharp Corporation, and Powerchip Technology Corp., which is the market leader in small and medium-sized LCD driver ICs and provides high performance display drivers to the world's leading consumer device OEMs.
  • Tokyo Electron attempts $29 billion merger of equals with Applied MaterialsJones Day represented Tokyo Electron Limited in its proposed $29 billion merger of equals with Applied Materials, Inc., which, if completed, would have created a global innovator in semiconductor and display manufacturing technology based in The Netherlands and dual listed on NASDAQ and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
  • OMRON invests in Taiwan’s collaborative robot company Techman Robot Inc.Jones Day advised Omron Corporation in its capital investment in Techman Robot, Inc., the world's second-largest collaborative robot brand that work with people at manufacturing sites.
  • Japanese company restructures U.S. oil and gas trading subsidiaryJones Day advised a Japanese company regarding the restructuring of its U.S. oil and gas trading subsidiary.
  • JERA acquires minority stake in Formosa 3 offshore wind power projectJones Day advised JERA in the acquisition of a minority stake in the Formosa 3 offshore wind power in Changhua county off the central-western coast of Taiwan.
  • Infrastructure fund advised regarding bids for shadow toll roads and other infrastructure assetsJones Day advised infrastructure fund in connection with bids for shadow toll roads and other infrastructure assets.
  • JERA acquires minority stake in Formosa 2 offshore wind power projectJones Day advised JERA in the acquisition of a minority stake in the Formosa 2 offshore wind power project, located near Miaoli County off the west coast of Taiwan.
  • OMRON Nohgata sells 80% stake to AdvantechJones Day advised OMRON Corporation in the sale of an 80% interest in OMRON Nohgata to Advantech.
  • JERA acquires minority stake in Formosa 1 offshore wind power projectJones Day advised JERA in the acquisition of a minority stake in the Formosa 1 offshore wind power project, located off the north-western coast of Taiwan.
  • Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund II sells National Car Parks Limited to consortium of Park24 Co., Ltd. and Development Bank of Japan Inc.Jones Day advised Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund II LP in the sale of 100 percent of its interest in National Car Parks Limited to a consortium of Park24 Co., Ltd. and Development Bank of Japan Inc.
  • Marubeni Corporation sells 50 percent interest in Illinois company engaged in leasing of railroad freight rolling stockJones Day advised Marubeni Corporation on the sale of a 50 percent interest in an Illinois company engaged in the business of leasing railroad freight cars.
  • OMRON acquires SentechJones Day advised OMRON Corporation in connection with the ex-Japan aspects of its acquisition of Sentech Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of industrial cameras.
  • Japanese company creates cross-border e-commerce platformJones Day advised Itochu Corporation and its affiliate in the establishment of a cross-border e-commerce platform with one of China's largest state-owned enterprises, CITIC Holdings Co. Ltd. and its affiliate.
  • International Automotive Components Group North America sells IAC Japan Co., Ltd.Jones Day advised International Automotive Components Group North America, LLC in its sale by International Automotive Components Group (IAC) of IAC Japan Co., Ltd., IAC's domestic Japan manufacturing business, to Akeel Holdings LLC.
  • Mitsubishi sells 3.4% interest in Strand Minerals (Indonesia) to Pacific MetalsJones Day advised Mitsubishi Corporation (TSE-listed) ("Mitsubishi") in the sale of a 3.4% interest (out of its 33.4% stake) in Strand Minerals (Indonesia) Pte Ltd. ("Strand") to Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TSE-listed) ("Pamco").
  • Quintiles and Quest Diagnostics forms joint venture to provide clinical trials laboratory servicesJones Day advised Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc. in its joint venture with Quest Diagnostics Inc. to form a global clinical trials laboratory services business.
  • Mitsubishi participates in uranium exploration projects in MongoliaJones Day advised Mitsubishi Corporation on the creation of a strategic partnership with Areva NC regarding uranium exploration projects in the Provinces of Dornogobi and Sukhbaatar in Mongolia.
  • Omron sells equity interest in Power SystemsJones Day advised Omron Corporation (TSE-listed) in its sale of its equity interest in Power Systems, Ltd., a maker of flexible, slim pack, electrical double layer capacitors, to Ioxus, Inc., a U.S. company in the energy storage business for clean energy, EV, transportation, and other applications.
  • RHJ International sells 100% equity interest in Phoenix Resort to Sega SammyJones Day advised RHJ International SA in connection with its sale of its 100% equity interest in Phoenix Resort K.K., a multi-faceted hotel, resort, and conference complex, to Sega Sammy Inc., a Japanese listed corporation.
  • RHJ International sells its 77.9% ownership of Niles Co. to Valeo for ¥15.4 billion (€135 million)Jones Day advised RHJ International SA in its sale of its 77.9% interest in Niles Co., Ltd., a Japanese auto parts manufacturer, to Valeo SA, a worldwide leader in the interior controls market, for a total cash consideration of ¥15.4 billion (€135 million).
  • Major Japanese energy company invests in solar energy business in U.S.Jones Day advised a major Japanese energy company in its investments in solar energy business in the U.S.
  • Major Japanese company bids (subsequently terminated) for a U.S. power company out of a Chapter 11 proceedingJones Day advised a major Japanese company in its bid (subsequently terminated) for a U.S. company in the power turbine business out of a Chapter 11 proceeding.
  • American Airlines secures alliance with Japan AirlinesJones Day represented American Airlines, Inc. before antitrust and regulatory agencies in Asia and the U.S. in a successful global effort to retain its multi-year joint business agreement with Japan Airlines, under which JAL will remain within the oneworld alliance.
  • RHJ International forms joint venture with Mitsubishi Corporation to provide IT consulting servicesJones Day advised RHJ International SA in the negotiation of a joint venture in Japan with Mitsubishi Corporation to provide IT consulting services.
  • Speaking Engagements

    • September 2020
      JOI (Japan Institute for Overseas Investment): U.S. Energy Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges in 2020/海外投融資情報財団:2020年の米国エネルギー最新動向:投資機会と課題
    • February 2015
      ジョーンズ・デイ メキシコセミナー:石油・ガス・電力産業におけるラウンドワンと新規参入
    • July 2014
      ジョーンズ・デイセミナー:メキシコ エネルギー投資に関する新展開
    • January 2014
      米国事業買収-外国買主にとっての重要な法律上・実務上の考慮事項(更新版)
    • January 2014
      ジョーンズ・デイセミナー:アフリカ石油・ガスアップデート
    • November 2012
      M&Aセミナー:メキシコにおけるM&A及び合弁事業-主要な考慮事項
    • July 2012
      米国事業買収の基本-外国買主にとっての重要な法律上・実務上の考慮事項
    • April 2012
      M&Aセミナー:ブラジルにおけるM&A及び合弁事業 -主要な考慮事項