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KKR is spearheading the international expansion of employee ownership programs in Japan through Ownership Works. The move comes as private equity firms face pressure to soften their image while Japanese workers show some of the lowest engagement scores globally despite lifetime employment patterns.

Private Equity Embraces Worker Ownership in Japan

Global investment firm KKR is reportedly leading the introduction of an employee ownership initiative in Japan as the private equity industry faces mounting pressure to improve its public image amid increased dealmaking activity in the country. According to reports, Japan will become the first international location for Ownership Works, a private equity-backed program founded in the United States in 2022 that aims to provide blue-collar employees with equity stakes in their companies.