North Asia
Japan VCs back $100m round for local impact investor Gojo
Japanese impact investor and microfinance institution Gojo & Company has secured a USD 100m Series E from a group of local VC investors including Global Brain and Globis Capital Partners.
Japan's Integral files for IPO
Japanese private equity firm Integral Corporation has been approved to go public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange via an IPO that could raise up to JPY 29.3bn (USD 201m).
Japan's Mixi launches $50m India VC fund
Japanese social media company Mixi has set up a USD 50m corporate venture capital fund targeting Indian start-ups.
Japan's Advantage sells Wavedash to US-listed strategic for $61m
Japan’s Advantage Partners has sold online ticket marketplace Wavedash to Vivid Seats, a US-listed ticketing technology company, for JPY 8.7bn (USD 61m).
Japan's J-Star seeks seafood company take-private
Japanese middle market private equity firm J-Star is bidding to acquire Yaizu Suisankagaku (YSK) through a tender offer that values the Tokyo-listed seafood business at about JPY 15bn (USD 91m).
Japan's Endeavour United closes Fund III on $370m
Japanese middle market private equity firm Endeavour United has closed its third fund with JPY 53bn (USD 370m) in commitments, a two-thirds increase in size on the previous vintage.
Longreach targets $800m for Japan, Greater China mandate
The Longreach Group is looking to raise USD 800m for its fourth fund, which will continue the firm’s existing strategy of mid-market control deals in North Asia with an emphasis on Japan.
Japan's Miyako targets $140m for third VC fund
Japan’s Miyako Capital, an independent VC firm affiliated with Kyoto University, has launched its third deep tech fund with a target of JPY 20bn (USD 140.2m).
PE-owned Japanese drug maker seeks bankruptcy protection
Kyowa Pharmaceutical Industry, a Japanese generic drug manufacturer owned by Unison Capital, has applied for alternative dispute resolution, an out-of-court process that allows companies to continue operations while negotiating with creditors on a restructuring.
MBK launches sixth North Asia fund, targets $7b
North Asia-focused buyout firm MBK Partners has set a target of USD 7bn for its sixth flagship fund, according to three sources familiar with the situation.
Korea’s UCK Partners surpasses $770m on Fund III
UCK Partners, a South Korean private equity firm formerly known as Unison Capital Korea, has accumulated approximately KRW 1trn (USD 777m) across two incremental closes on its third fund.
Japan's I-Grid Solutions raises $21m
Japan’s The Fund, a joint venture between Mizuho Capital and VC firm Signifiant, has invested JPY 30bn (USD 21m) in local corporate energy management advisor I-Grid Solutions.
Q&A: The Longreach Group’s Mark Chiba
Mark Chiba, group chairman of North Asia-focused The Longreach Group, on deal flow in Japan’s middle market, pursuing platform acquisitions, the rise of digitalisation, and the complexities of take-privates
Goodwater raises $1b across two funds
Goodwater Capital, a US-based VC firm with a presence in Korea and significant Asia exposure, has raised USD 1bn across two funds. It brings assets under management to USD 3.3bn.
Asia deal financing: A selective market
Regional buyout activity is weak but leveraged loans are available for the right kind of target – in Japan, Korea, Australia, and beyond – and with a suitably customised structure
Aspirant exits Japanese fish retailer to local strategic
Japanese middle market private equity firm Aspirant Group has sold Yamato, a local seafood company with interests stretching from fish wholesaling to conveyor belt sushi restaurants, to kitchen-wear supplier Tenpos HD.
Asia-based football investment platform backs England's Charlton Athletic
ACA Football Partners (ACAFP), an investment platform established by professionals from Singapore-based ACA Investments, is part of a consortium that has acquired English football club Charlton Athletic.
Japanese power producer Jera launches $300m VC unit
Japanese power producer and utility Jera has launched a USD 300m venture capital programme aimed at sustainability-themed technology start-ups and related funds.
Strategic co-investors commit to JIP's mega Toshiba buyout
Rohm Semiconductor and Niterra, component suppliers to the semiconductor and automotive industries, respectively, have confirmed their participation in the Japan Industrial Partners-led (JIP) JPY 2trn (USD 15.3bn) tender offer for Toshiba Corporation.
Korean investors pump $150m into fuel cell maker HyAxiom
Korea Investment Private Equity, KDB Investment–Hana Securities, and KB Asset Management have led an investment of approximately USD 150m in HyAxiom, a fuel cell manufacturer controlled by South Korean conglomerate Doosan Group.
Japan's Angel Bridge closes third fund on $72m
Japanese early-stage investor Angel Bridge has closed its third fund with JPY 10bn (USD 72m) in commitments from local investors.
Glenwood takes legal action over disputed Korea transaction
An arbitration proceeding has been initiated in Singapore regarding a dispute between Glenwood Private Equity and BPEA EQT over the failed sale of Korea-based industrial films producer PI Advanced Materials.
Hahn acquires Korea medical devices player
Hahn & Company has acquired a nearly two-thirds stake in Korea-listed medical laser maker Lutronic through a tender offer for about KRW 629bn (USD 497m).
KKR leads $190m Series C for Korea fashion platform
KKR has led a USD 190m Series C round for Korean online fashion platform Musinsa with support from Wellington Management.