TOKYO/HONG KONG, June 12 (Reuters) - U.S. private equity

firm Warburg Pincus is set to launch a tender offer to acquire

Japanese student housing provider J.S.B. for over $1

billion, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Friday.

The Nikkei first reported about the takeover on Friday,

saying the deal would be worth 200 billion yen ($1.25 billion).

Warburg Pincus has secured tender agreements with J.S.B.'s

largest shareholders for the offer, which could be announced as

soon as late Friday, said the person, who declined to comment as

the information was confidential.

Warburg Pincus declined to comment. J.S.B. could not be

reached for comment outside working hours.

J.S.B. would mark Warburg Pincus' first take-private deal in

Japan since it opened up a Tokyo office in 2025.

The U.S. firm hired former Goldman Sachs banker Takashi

Murata as head of Japan and co-head of Asia real estate in 2024,

who has since expanded the local team to over 10 investment

professionals.

Last April, Warburg Pincus invested in Tokyo Beta, an

affordable rental housing firm, via its Asia real estate fund,

the firm announced at the time.

($1 = 160.0700 yen)