Kakaku.com acquired by a European fund; to go private to adapt to the AI era

EQT affiliate Kamgras 1 announced a tender offer to acquire Kakaku.com at ¥3,000 per share.

Kakaku.com, KDDI, and Digital Garage support the deal; if completed, Kakaku.com will be delisted.

After going private, the company plans to reduce reliance on SEO, strengthen apps and social channels, and deepen data use and payment ties.

The move signals a broader shift in Japan’s internet platforms toward AI-ready business models and new traffic acquisition strategies.