Japan
Catalys seeks $100m for Japan healthcare VC fund
Newly established Japanese venture capital firm Catalys Pacific has launched its debut fund with a view to raise $100 million for investments in early-stage life science start-ups globally.
Panasonic, VCs back Series B for Japan robotics player
Panasonic Corporation has joined a group of Japanese venture capital firms in a JPY900 million ($8.3 million) Series B round for local industrial robotics systems developer Linkwiz.
Advantage buys Japanese niche education businesses
Advantage Partners has acquired two Japan-based education assets – vocational training provider Abitus and Tokyo Central Japanese Language School (TCJ).
Japan's Polaris to back Panasonic security spin-out
Japan’s Polaris Capital has agreed to back Panasonic i-Pro Sensing Solutions, a spin-out of Panasonic that will take over the parent company’s security systems business in Japan and overseas.
Japanese food tech start-up secures Series A round
Japan’s Base Food, a company that produces packaged meals that are said to be nutritionally complete, has raised JPY400 million ($3.7 million) in Series A funding from a group including Global Brain.
SBI joins $35m Series B for Japan's Pixie Dust
SBI Investment, the VC arm of Japan’s SBI Holdings, has joined a JPY3.8 billion $35 million Series B round for Pixie Dust Technologies, a local company developing novel uses for ultrasonic waves.
PE-backed ESR closes Japan logistics fund at $1.8b
ESR, a pan-Asian logistics and fund management platform that was seeded by Warburg Pincus, has closed its latest Japan-focused fund at JPY200 billion ($1.8 billion).
Japan's PE-backed Sansan files for IPO
Sansan, a PE-backed company that specializes in cloud-based business card digitization, has filed for a domestic IPO that is expected to generate around JPY35.2 billion ($321 million).
Vietnam inbound investment: Regional rivals
Strategic interest in Vietnam is growing, especially among companies within Asia looking to tap growth no longer available at home. PE investors see them as partners – and sometimes as competitors
Japan's Gree rebrands as Strive, launches $137m fund
Japan’s Gree Ventures has rebranded as Strive and launched its third fund with a view to raising JPY15 billion ($137 million) for internet company investments across Japan, Southeast Asia, and India.
Japan crowdfunding player raises $20m Series C
Campfire, a Japanese crowdfunding platform operator, has raised a JPY2.2 billion ($20 million) Series C round with support from Global Brain and KDDI Corporation.
Allianz, GLP to invest $600m in Asia logistics
German financial services giant Allianz has committed $600 million to funds managed by GLP, a PE-owned warehouse operator based in Singapore, with a view to investing in logistics in China and Japan.
Tikehau Capital opens Tokyo office
Tikehau Capital, a France-based asset manager with EUR2.8 billion ($3.1 billion) in private equity assets under management, is expanding its Asia footprint with an office in Tokyo.
Magic Leap gets $280m from Docomo, targets Japan expansion
Magic Leap, a US virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) goggles maker backed by several private equity firms, has secured $280 million for a Japanese expansion from NTT Docomo.
Globis raises $321m for Japan VC fund
Japanese venture capital firm Globis Capital Partners has raised JPY36 billion ($321 million) for its sixth fund. The overall target of JPY37.5 billion is expected to be reached by June.
INCJ-backed Japan Display agrees $2.1b foreign bailout
Japan Display, an electronics supplier backed by Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), has agreed a JPY232 billion ($2.1 billion) bailout, including an approximately $714 million investment from China’s Harvest Fund Management.
Japan's Astroscale expands Series D by $30m
Astroscale, a Japan-based space technology company focused on debris removal, has announced a $30 million extension to its Series D round, bringing the total raised to $80 million.
Sequoia China, HighLight back biotech player Cullgen
Sequoia Capital China and HighLight Capital have led a $16 million Series A round for Cullgen, a biotech company that develops treatments for cancer by targeting previously “undruggable” cellular proteins.
INCJ leads $230m round for Japan's JOLED
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has led a JPY25.5 billion ($230 million) round for domestic display screen manufacturer and technology developer JOLED.
Bain falls short in tender offer for Japan's Kosaido
The proposed JPY17.4 billion ($157 million) acquisition of Japanese printing and IT services provider Kosaido by Bain Capital has reached an impasse after the private equity firm’s tender offer failed to win sufficient shareholder support.
1Q analysis: China malaise
First quarter analysis: China uncertainty hits PE investment; public market instability holds back IPOs; distress strategies underpin India fundraising as commitments to China-focused managers plummet
Fund focus: Back on the map
The Longreach Group has leveraged rising appetite for exposure to Japan’s middle market with a $650 million close for its latest buyout fund. Increased global participation contributed to the result
Deal focus: Carlyle backs Tokiwa's global beauty push
Well-established as a manufacturer of choice for global cosmetics brands looking to tweak their products for the Japanese market, Tokiwa is now looking to go global. The Carlyle Group will provide assistance
Advantage to exit Japanese outdoor sports equipment retailer
Advantage Partners has agreed to sell Ishii Sports, a Tokyo-based outdoor sports equipment retailer it acquired three years ago, to local consumer electronics store operator Yodobashi Holdings.