EQT and Digital Garage have raised their tender offer for Kakaku.com to ¥3,570 a share, topping a competing proposal. The consortium extended the offer period to August 27 and stressed it has secured all regulatory clearances. At ¥3,570, the offer values Kakaku.com at a 68.32% premium to its ¥2,121 share price before speculation emerged.

EQT argued its previous ¥3,450 already captured intrinsic value, but raised the price to strengthen deal certainty. Tetsuro Onitsuka, a partner in EQT’s Private Capital Asia team, said the decision is in the best interests of Kakaku.com and its shareholders. He cited EQT’s long presence in Japan and record in digital marketplace businesses.

Kakaku.com operates Japan's best-known consumer internet services including its price-comparison site and the Tabelog restaurant-review platform. Following a take-private, EQT would work with Digital Garage and management to strengthen those platforms and pursue further growth.