Venture Capital Investment Down By Half In 2009

Investment by venture capital companies fell to 37.8 billion yen or 472 cases, in 2009, according to the Japan Venture Capital Association. VC companies invested about 100 billion yen in 2008 and 193.3 billion yen in 2007. The firms struggled to recoup their investments and held down spending as initial public offerings declined and a number of start-ups they invested in went belly up amid an economic downturn.