Japan
Japan's NTT launches $500m global VC fund
Japanese telecommunications giant NTT Corporation has set up $500 million global venture capital fund that will focus on digital technologies.
Deal sourcing: Priority access
While proprietary deals are not always possible in Asian private equity, there are many ways for GPs to gain an edge even when competing with multiple bidders for the same asset
Deal focus: L Catterton enters Japan with Owndays
In its debut Japan investment, L Catterton plans to help eyewear maker Owndays expand its customer-friendly business model outside its home market
CITIC Capital buys control of cooking sauce brand Amoy
CITIC Capital has acquired a controlling stake in Amoy Food, a Hong Kong-based manufacturer of cooking sauces owned by Japanese food and beverage maker Ajinomoto, for an undisclosed sum.
LPs drive evolution in Asia back office practices – AVCJ Forum
Growing demand for information and reporting among a shifting LP base is leading Asian GPs to improve their back office structuring, investors told the AVCJ Forum.
Japan PE outlook: Slow and steady
GPs have built strong ties with corporate Japan by demonstrating value-add capabilities. These networks should serve them well as the market becomes more active
TEPCO invests in PE-backed Vietnam hydro project
Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has invested in a Vietnam hydropower project in which Nexif Energy, a Southeast Asia-focused energy investment platform backed by Denham Capital, owns a majority stake.
L Catterton, Mitsui invest in Japanese eyewear retailer
L Catterton Asia has made its first investment in Japan, partnering Mitsui & Co. Principal Investments (MCPI) to support local eyewear retailer Owndays.
Japan’s TEPCO invests in PE-backed Electrify
Electrify, a Singapore-based energy marketplace based on blockchain technology and backed by Japan’s Global Brain, has raised an investment of undisclosed size from TEPCO Frontier Partners, an incubator sponsored by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).
CITIC Capital buys Japan's Nippon Oil Pump from Wendel
CITIC Capital Partners has agreed to acquire Nippon Oil Pump (NOP), a Japan-based maker of hydraulic pumps and motors, from European listed investment firm Wendel for about EUR85 million ($97 million).
Fenox launches $20m VC fund with Japan's Sega Sammy
Fenox Venture Capital, a VC firm based in Silicon Valley, has partnered with Japanese entertainment company Sega Sammy Holdings to launch a $20 million fund to invest in advanced technologies globally.
INCJ leads $50m round for Singapore's Astroscale
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has led a $50 million Series D round for Astroscale, a Singaporean space technology company focused on orbital debris removal.
CIC to back Japan-China industrial cooperation fund
China Investment Corporation (CIC) has reached an agreement with several Japanese financial institutions to establish a fund that will support Japanese companies looking to expand into China.
Deal focus: Meltin plans next stage in human evolution
Japanese bio-robotics start-up Meltin has received a $17.7 million Series B round from a group of investors including SBI Investment with a view to revolutionizing human-machine interfaces
KKR-owned Calsonic Kansei agrees $7.1b bolt-on
Calsonic Kansei Corporation, a Japanese automotive components manufacturer acquired by KKR last year, has agreed to buy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCA) components business for EUR6.2 billion ($7.1 billion).
SBI backs $18m round for Japan bio-robotics start-up
SBI Investment has joined a $17.7 million funding round for Meltin, a Japanese company focused on combining robotics with bio-signal processing.
3Q analysis: Favoring the few
Brand names dominate Asia fundraising to an unprecedented degree; China IPOs continue despite weakening markets; Taiwan, Australia and Singapore deliver an unlikely investment boost
CLSA makes Japan staffing bolt-ons
Outsourcing Investments (OSI), a Japanese business process outsourcing (BPO) firm owned by CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP), has acquired two domestic staffing service providers through bolt-on transactions.
J-Star buys Japanese fashion retailer
Japanese mid-market private equity firm J-Star has acquired Wego, a domestic fashion brand that has 185 stores nationwide and annual sales of more than JPY35 billion ($310 million).
Japan payments player Origami raises $60m Series C
Origami, a Tokyo-based mobile payments platform, has raised JPY6.6 billion ($60 million) in Series C funding from investors including SBI Investment, Union Pay International, Mitsui Sumitomo Card, and Credit Saison.
Baring Asia to invest $538m in Japan's Pioneer
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to invest up to JPY60 billion ($538 million) in Pioneer Corp, by subscribing to a new share issue by the struggling Japanese conglomerate.
NSSK acquires operator of Japan's Thank You Mart chain
Japanese private equity firm NSSK has acquired Elsonic, operator of the Thank You Mart retail chain, for an undisclosed sum.
KKR strengthens Japan private equity team
KKR has hired Kazuyuki Kido, who previously spent 20 years at SMBC Nikko Securities and Nikko Principal Investments, as a managing director in its Tokyo-based team.
Japan Post backs $94m round for US-based Cloudian
Japan Post Investment Corporation (JPIC), a direct investment unit launched by Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance earlier this year, has joined a $94 million round for Japan-founded and US-based data company Cloudian.