Japan
Mitsui Sumitomo VC unit backs Israel fusion start-up
Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital (MSIVC) has joined a Series A round for Israel-based nuclear fusion start-up NT-Tao that had raised USD 22m as of February.
Endeavour exits Japan automotive components maker
Japanese GP Endeavour United has exited local automotive components maker Crefact to local strategic Hiruta Kogyo for an undisclosed sum.
Carlyle pursues $221m Japan chemicals take-private
The Carlyle Group has launched a tender offer for Seiko PMC that values the Tokyo-listed paper and ink chemicals manufacturer at approximately JPY 32.4bn (USD 221m).
Japanese autonomous trucking start-up raises $24m
T2, a Japanese autonomous driving start-up that focuses on trucking, has raised JPY 3.5bn (USD 24.1m) in Series A funding from a combination of financial and strategic investors.
Longreach buys Japanese assisted stretching business
The Longreach Group has acquired Nobitel, a Japanese company that provides one-on-one assisted stretching services aimed in part at the country’s ageing population, for an undisclosed sum.
Japan space robot maker Gitai raises $45m
Japanese space robotics start-up Gitai has lifted its Series B round to USD 45m with a new USD 15m tranche featuring Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital.
Integral backs Japan software player TCS
Japanese private equity firm Integral Corporation has invested an undisclosed sum in local IT services and business software company TCS Group.
Trustar exits Japan's Moritex via $275m trade sale
Trustar Capital has sold Japanese machine vision lenses maker Moritex Corporation to a strategic buyer for about USD 275m after a nearly nine-year hold.
JIP supports Japan cancer diagnostics joint venture
Japanese private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) is participating in a local joint venture with BostonGene, a US-based provider of artificial intelligence-enabled (AI) profiling solutions used to treat cancer patients.
CLSA exits Japanese uniform rental business Uni-Mate
Japan’s CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has sold 100% of uniform rental and cleaning business Uni-Mate to local private equity firm Karita & Company (K&C) for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Longreach hits homerun with Quasar
The Longreach Group transitioned Quasar Medical to professional management, took it into new markets, and diversified the company’s manufacturing footprint. A 7x return was its reward
Japan's PowerX raises $32m Series B
PowerX, a Japanese start-up developing a “battery tanker” for shipping stored renewable electricity across oceans, has raised a USD 32m Series B round featuring US-based Translink Capital.
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.
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