Japan
Western Digital drops challenge to Bain consortium’s Toshiba deal
Western Digital Corporation has dropped its legal challenge to the acquisition of Toshiba Memory Corporation (TMC), the Nand flash memory unit of Toshiba Corporation, by Bain Capital Private Equity-led consortium.
Deal focus: GPs smile at emotive robots
Kaname Hayashi, development leader of SoftBank's Pepper, is working on his own line of emotive robots. Few details have been disclosed but investors were happy enough to commit $57 million in funding
Japanese online media player Candee gets $21.6m round
Eight Roads Japan has led a JPY2.45 billion ($21.6 million) funding round Tokyo-based online media start-up Candee.
KKR completes tender offer for Japan's Hitachi Kokusai
KKR has completed its tender offer for Japanese high-tech manufacturer Hitachi Kokusai Electric, having surpassed the 24.1% shareholder support required for the JPY322 billion ($2.9 billion) deal to proceed.
Bain completes tender offer for Japan’s ADK
Bain Capital Private Equity has completed its tender offer for Japanese advertising agency Asatsu-DK (ADK), acquiring a majority stake in a deal that values the company at JPY153 billion ($1.3 billion).
Fund focus: Eight Roads fund targets Japan tech
Eight Roads Ventures has $223 million to deploy in Japan, with robotics, inbound tourism and healthcare all high on its agenda
AVCJ at 30: Part Four - Buyouts Across the Region
Joseph Skrzynski of CHAMP Private Equity, Peter Wiggs of Archer Capital, Tim Sims of Pacific Equity Partners, and Richard Folsom of Advantage Partners on the development of buyouts in Australia and Japan
Japan household robot maker secures $57m round
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Tokyo-based asset manager Sparx Group have agreed to invest at least JPY6.4 billion ($57 million) in household robot maker Groove X.
Bain to make full exit from Japan's Bellsystem24
Bain Capital Private Equity has agreed to make a full exit from Japan-based call center business Bellsystem24 by selling its remaining 14.43% stake to domestic printing company Toppan Printing.
Eight Roads launches $223m Japan fund
Eight Roads Ventures, the proprietary investment arm of Fidelity International, has launched its second dedicated Japan fund with a corpus of JPY25 billion ($223 million). The firm’s parent committed all of the capital.
KKR improves offer for Japan's Hitachi Kokusai a second time
KKR has increased its tender offer for Japanese high-tech manufacturer Hitachi Kokusai Electric for a second time, valuing the company at approximately JPY322 billion ($2.9 billion), up from JPY298 billion.
Japan-China e-commerce business gets $68m Series C
Inagora, a VC-backed e-commerce platform that supplies Japanese products to Chinese consumers, has received $68 million in Series C funding from Itochu Corp, KDDI Corporation, and SBI Holdings.
Bain to complete exit from Japan's Skylark
Bain Capital Private Equity will divest its remaining 15% stake in Japanese restaurant operator Skylark, completing a gradual sale of the business it acquired in 2011 and took public three years later.
WPP agrees to Bain tender offer for Japan's ADK
Bain Capital Private Equity’s tender offer for Japan-listed advertising agency Asatsu-DK (ADK) has overcome its biggest obstacle as the company’s largest shareholder WPP Group has withdrawn its objection to the deal.
Japan Post Bank pursues global PE strategy – AVCJ Forum
Japan Post Bank’s has fully embraced the global remit of its recently launched private equity program, making commitments to funds around the world through fund-of-funds while considering direct investments in its home market.
Singapore's VC-backed Quoine raises $105m via ICO
Singapore-based Quoine, a financial technology company backed by Japan’s Jafco, has raised $105 million via an initial coin offering (ICO).
Active outreach key to middle-market fundraising – AVCJ Forum
Fund managers in Asia’s middle market must demonstrate excellent customer service to make themselves stand out to increasingly overstretched LPs, industry participants told the AVCJ Forum.
Japan home health tech player gets $4.4m
Nissay Capital and 2020, the Japanese investment arm of Foxconn Technology Group, have invested JPY500 million ($4.4 million) in a pre-Series B round for Tokyo-based healthcare technology start-up Triple W Japan.
Aspirant to buy logistics unit from Japan's Takara
Japanese PE firm Aspirant Group has agreed to acquire Takara Chouun, a logistics subsidiary of the Takara Holdings conglomerate.
Japan's ADK faces lawsuit following Bain tender offer
Bain Capital Private Equity’s buyout offer for Japan-listed advertising agency Asatsu-DK (ADK) has prompted legal action by WPP Group, the company’s largest shareholder.
Polaris carves out beverage business from Asahi
Polaris Capital Group has agreed to acquire LB, a soft drink-focused division of Japanese beverage maker Asahi Group Holdings.
MBK makes tender offer for Japan's Kuroda Electric
MBK Partners has submitted a tender offer for Kuroda Electric – a Japanese electronic components manufacturer that has been under pressure from an activist shareholder – that values the company at approximately JPY102 billion ($895 million).
Asian LPs and infrastructure: Rousing the giants
Infrastructure is shedding its reputation for being a sleepy sector as Asian investors join a global surge of interest in the asset class. Strategic angling for the best deals will now require a more nimble approach
J-Star acquires Forpets in latest pet bolt-on
Japan’s J-Star has acquired 100% of domestic veterinary services company Forpets as a bolt-on of existing portfolio company JVCC. It is JVCC’s third such transaction this year.