Japan
Globis, WiL, Japan Post back Series B for AI Medical
AI Medical Service, a Japanese healthcare technology start-up working on what it claims is the world’s first artificial intelligence-enabled endoscopic diagnosis system, has raised JPY4.6 billion ($43 million) in Series B funding.
CLSA exits Japanese automotive tools retailer
CLSA Capital Partners has exited Worldtool, a Japanese automotive tools retailer that primarily operates under the Astro Products brand, to domestic home improvement chain Royal Homecenter.
Japanese flying car developer receives $14m
Japanese flying car developer SkyDrive has raised a $14 million funding round from a group including Itochu Technology Ventures and Strive.
Japan's GPIF reappoints Hiro Mizuno as CIO
Hiro Mizuno (pictured) has been reappointed CIO of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) following the conclusion of his first term leading the world’s largest retirement savings pool at the end of September.
Bain buys Japanese email business from Cheetah Digital
Bain Capital Private Equity has acquired the Japanese email services business of Cheetah Digital, a US marketing firm backed by San Francisco-based Vector Capital.
Japan Industrial Partners agrees manufacturing carve-outs
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) is poised to complete two carve-outs in the copper tube manufacturing space, having agreed to acquire a majority stake in a Kobe Steel-Mitsubishi Material joint venture and buy a division from Furukawa Electric.
Japan investors back US token player Securitize
Japanese investors are supporting efforts to bring token-based economic infrastructure to Japan with participation in a $14 million round for US-based digital securities technology player Securitize.
VC-backed Japanese e-commerce player files for IPO
Base, a Japanese e-commerce services platform that helps small-scale vendors establish online shops, has filed for an IPO in Tokyo. It will facilitate partial exits for multiple venture capital investors.
Japan carve-out opportunity moves beyond conglomerates
Japan’s corporate carve-out opportunity set is expanding as smaller firms begin to follow the example of conglomerates, according to domestic mid-market GP Integral Corporation.
Japan's Tokio Marine Capital spins out from parent
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Tokio Marine Capital is spinning out from its corporate parent to form an independent investment manager known as T Capital Partners.
CITIC joins $34m round for Japanese e-commerce platform
CITIC Capital has participated in a JPY3.6 billion ($34.1 million) funding round for Active Sonar, operator of Reclo, a Japanese online re-selling platform for luxury brands.
Japan's JPIC backs $33m round for Atonarp
Japan Post Investment Corporation (JPIC) has backed a $33 million Series C round for Atonarp, a Tokyo-based molecular diagnostics systems developer that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
Japan edge computing specialist gets $7.8m
Global Brain has led a $7.8 million round for Idein, a Japanese technology developer focused on systems for device-level data processing, also known as edge computing.
Japanese space robot developer gets Series A round
Gitai, a Japanese start-up that is developing robots that can replace astronauts on low-orbit space missions, has raised $4.1 million in Series A funding.
J-Star exits Japanese auto industry supplier
J-Star has sold Tokai Trim, a Japanese manufacturer of seat covers for cars and motorcycles, to domestic hotel chain operator Rembrandt Holdings.
Deal focus: Longreach secures swift return from Japan's NOC
The Longreach Group exits Nippon Outsourcing Corporation with a 2.7x return after strong domestic interest in Japan's demographics-driven BPO industry led to a shorter-than-expected holding period
Japan's VC-backed Chatwork files for IPO
Chatwork, a Japan-based business chat platform developer, has filed for an IPO in Tokyo that will provide an exit to several of its venture capital backers.
JC Flowers plans near-full exit from Japan's Shinsei Bank
US-based private equity firm JC Flowers is planning to sell nearly all of its stake in Japanese financial institution Shinsei Bank for an undisclosed amount.
Integral agrees carve-out of Japanese refrigerator supplier
Integral Corporation has agreed a JPY50 billion ($471 million) carve-out of a subsidiary of Tokyo-listed Sanden Holdings Corporation that supplies refrigerators for use in convenience stores and vending machines.
Macro and diversity: All hands on deck
As women participate in economies across Asia in larger numbers, investors must consider how this impacts their target markets. Gender-balanced portfolios will no longer be a nice-to-have
Japan Post Capital leads $29m Series E for SmartNews
Tokyo-based news app operator SmartNews is said to have achieved unicorn status following a JPY3.1 billion ($29.2 million) Series E round led by Japan Post Capital.
Unison launches Japan hospital roll-up platform
Unison Capital has made the first investment from a newly created platform that will pursue a roll-up strategy in Japan’s hospital industry, with JPY50-60 billion ($467-560 million) set to be committed over the next five years.
Japan Industrial Partners makes tender offer for Nippon Avionics
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has agreed to buy NEC Corporation's majority stake in Tokyo-listed electronics supplier Nippon Avionics and launched a tender offer that values the company at about JPY3.1 billion ($28.4 million).
Japan's Coral Capital names new partner
Coral Capital, formerly 500 Startups Japan, has named Google Japan’s head of start-ups and strategic relations Ken Nishimura (pictured) as a partner and chief editor.