Japan
SMRJ, Daiichi Sankyo, Mitsubishi UFJ launch $10m pharma fund
The Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation Japan (SMRJ), pharmaceutical firm Daiichi Sankyo and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital are together launching a new JPY1 billion ($10 million) fund to invest in pharmaceutical start-ups working...
NTT Docomo Ventures, Livesense lead $5.5m investment in Japan's Aratana
NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the Japanese mobile giant, and internet media firm Livesense have together led a JPY550 million ($5.5 million) investment round for Aratana, a social e-commerce platform developer. Existing VC backers JAFCO,...
Mediaflag moves to acquire J-Star-owned sweets maker Tokachi
Mediaflag - a company which provides distribution support services to consumer goods manufacturers - has offered to acquire a 100% stake in Tokachi, a traditional Japanese sweets maker owned by Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star. The financial terms...
Henry Kravis on Asia
KKR co-founder Henry Kravis recently briefed a group of reporters on his firm's investment strategy in Asia, offering glimpses of a business that is rooted in private equity yet stretches well beyond it.
Japan Private Equity holds $30m first close on Fund IV
Japan Private Equity (JPE) has held a JPY3 billion ($30 million) first close on its fourth buyout fund, JPE Private Equity No.4.
KKR considers teaming with Japan state fund for Panasonic unit - report
KKR may partner with a Japanese state-backed investment fund in a bid to secure a stake in Panasonic's healthcare unit.
Advent, CDIB, Mirae back The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Advent International has joined Taiwan's CDIB Capital and Japan's Mirae Asset Private Equity to acquire a significant stake in International Coffee and Tea, the company behind US specialty coffee and tea retailer - The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. The largest...
Toshiba expands in India with 3i’s Vijai Electricals acquisition
Japan’s Toshiba Corporation will acquire the majority of Vijai Electricals’ electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) business for approximately $200 million. 3i bought a minority stake in Vijai for $25.8 million in 2006.
Orion Partners to launch $250m Japan care homes fund
Hong Kong-headquartered Orion Partners, formerly known as Ajia Partners, is looking to raise as much as JPY25 billion ($250 million) for its third Japan care homes investment fund.
Japan's Dogan closes Kyushu SME fund at $34m
Japanese GP Dogan Advisors has reached a JPY3.3 billion ($34 million) close on its latest regional fund, Kyushu BOLERO (Buyout for local enterprise and reform organization) Fund 2.
Nissay Capital invests $1.9m in towel company
Nissay Capital has invested JPY199 million ($1.9 million) in Japanese towel maker, Ikeuchi Towel. The size of the stake acquired was not disclosed.
KKR leads race for Panasonic healthcare unit - report
KKR is said to have taken the lead in the bidding for a majority stake in Panasonic's healthcare unit - a potential $1.5 billion deal that would represent the firm's largest Japanese buyout to date.
Nissay Capital leads $1.5m round for Japan skills marketplace
Nissay Capital has a led a JPY150 million ($1.5 million) round of investment in WelSelf, the Tokyo-based start-up behind online skils marketplace Coconala. Other investors include internet marketing companies Opt and Adways, and the CEO of cosmetics site...
Japan's Future Venture Capital raises $5m venture fund
Japan's Future Venture Capital has raised a JPY500 million ($5 million) venture fund, Ehime Venture Fund 2013.
Japan's Rakuten acquires VC-backed video site Viki
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has acquired Viki, a VC-backed global video streaming platform.The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
INCJ invests $6m in Japan's UniZeo
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY600 million ($6 million) in UniZeo, a Japanese company which is focused on commercializing new methods of producing synthetic zeolite.
SMBC, IGPI invest $1.3m in Japanese game design platform
SMBC Venture Capital and Industrial Growth Partners (IGPI) have invested JPY130 million ($1.3 million) in Mugenup.com, a start-up that crowd-sources design talent to work on projects for game developers.
Japan's Rakuten leads $23m Series B round for e-commerce app Slice
Rakuten Group - Japan's largest e-commerce firm - has led a $23 million financing round for the Silicon Valley-based start-up behind online shopping app Slice.
JAFCO invests $3m in Japan online laundry service
JAFCO Ventures has invested JPY300 million ($3 million) in White Plus, the Japanese start-up behind Lenet, an online laundry delivery service.
Fuji Startup Ventures backs Japanese classifieds site
Fuji Startup Ventures (FSV), the VC investment arm of Japanese national TV network Fuji Terebi, has invested JPY50 million ($500,000) in classifieds website JMTY.com - pronounced "Jimoti."
American Capital exits Miami flight school to Japan's ANA for $79m
American Capital has exited its majority stake in the Miami-based Pan Am International Flight Academy to Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) for $79 million, claiming a compound annual rate of return of 16% over the lifetime of the investment.
INCJ leads $11m investment in Japan blood biotech venture
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has led a JPY1.16 billion ($11.7 million) investment in Megakaryon Corp, which is developing technology to produce blood platelets using reprogrammed stem cells.
KKR, Bain to enter final bidding for Panasonic healthcare unit - report
KKR, Toshiba Corp. and a consortium including Bain Capital, Mitsui & Co. and Development Bank of Japan are expected to participate in the final round of bidding for Panasonic’s healthcare unit.
Longreach completes precision drilling carve-out from Hitachi
North Asia mid-market buyout firm The Longreach Group has agreed to buy precision drilling business Hitachi Via Mechanics (HVM) from Japanese conglomerate Hitachi. It is said to be the first time Hitachi has divested a sizable asset to private equity...