Case Study

Case Study: BidItUp, Cresa & Cheiko Bond’s Strategic Advisory Role in Asahi Kasei Asset Transition

Overview

In a high-stakes cross-border asset disposition project, BidItUp—led in part by Managing Director Cheiko Bond—played a pivotal advisory and facilitation role during the strategic transition of Asahi Kasei’s North American manufacturing operations.

Asahi Kasei, one of Japan’s leading chemical and materials conglomerates, required a partner with both the technical understanding of industrial asset recovery and deep cultural fluency to navigate a multi-stakeholder sale involving North American buyers, Japanese executive teams, and institutional advisors.

Challenge

The Asahi Kasei transition involved:

• Complex regulatory, logistical, and cultural requirements
• Real-time translation and negotiation between Japan- and U.S.-based executives
• Maintaining brand integrity and stakeholder alignment throughout a discreet asset recovery and redeployment process
• Sensitivity to Japanese corporate protocols, including consensus-based decision making and face-saving business etiquette

BidItUp’s Role

BidItUp, in collaboration with Cheiko Bond, was selected for its:

• Proven experience with Japanese OEMs (e.g., Mitsubishi Motors, NSK AKS, Sumitomo Chemical)
• In-market credibility as a global industrial auctioneer and asset strategy firm
• Cross-cultural leadership through Cheiko Bond, a Canada–Japan advisor fluent in legal, financial, and diplomatic negotiation

Key Contributions

• Stakeholder Mediation: Cheiko Bond acted as the cultural and business liaison between Japanese executives and U.S.-based stakeholders, facilitating a smoother, trust-driven process.
• Bilingual Documentation & Negotiation: All transaction-related materials were accurately translated and presented with full legal fidelity, improving confidence and transparency across both sides.
• Real Estate Advisory Support: BidItUp partnered with Cresa and Bill Vogel, who brought critical expertise in commercial real estate strategy and transaction execution. Their involvement ensured seamless handling of property valuation, site transition logistics, and alignment with both U.S. market conditions and Japanese corporate expectations.
• On-Site Support: BidItUp provided boots-on-the-ground support during physical inspections, documentation, and handoff stages.
• Post-Transition Advisory: Assisted in the transition plan for residual assets and legal closure.

Outcome

• Assets were successfully marketed and transitioned in a culturally sensitive and commercially sound manner.
• BidItUp preserved the integrity and privacy of Asahi Kasei’s North American wind-down while maximizing asset value.
• The collaboration with Cresa and Bill Voegl ensured that all real estate components were executed with strategic clarity and fiduciary discipline.
• The project strengthened BidItUp’s position as the preferred industrial transition advisor for Japanese corporations operating globally.

Strategic Takeaway

"Without a trusted bridge between cultures, even the strongest commercial strategy can fall short. Our role wasn’t just to execute—it was to translate, align, and elevate the process for all involved." — Cheiko Bond

This engagement reaffirmed BidItUp’s ability to lead multi-national industrial exits where success depends equally on cultural intelligence and executional precision.

For Japanese firms considering asset redeployment, facility closures, or strategic sales in North America, BidItUp offers a proven, respectful, and performance-driven approach.