Japan
Nippon Venture Capital invests $1.7m in internet start-up Volare
Nippon Venture Capital has invested JPY170 million ($1.7 million) in Japanese web solutions start-up Volare.
CDH, Belle to make Baroque big in China
Secondary direct deals frequently stumble on valuations. Private equity investors are sitting on either side of the table and both are hardwired to get the best possible price; the lingering fear is leaving the table with a deal that is either significantly...
Bain exits Domino's Japan, retains slice
The pizza delivery market in Japan is very different from that of the US. Rather than a budget takeout option, pizza is treated as something of a luxury and customers are willing to pay a premium for quality. Japanese tastes differ too. In addition to...
Advantage to acquire Japan massage salon chain Riraku
Advantage Partners has agreed to buy Japanese massage salon chain Riraku for an undisclosed sum. The mid-market buyout firm is acquiring the business from the founder and CEO and other shareholders.
CyberAgent, Gree, GMO invest in Japan’s Kaizen platform
CyberAgent Ventures, Gree Ventures and GMO Venture Partners have together invested $800,000 in Kaizen platform, the Japanese start-up behind website service planBCD.
Orrick strengthens Japan M&A, PE practice
Orrick has appointed Edward S. Johnson as a partner in its M&A and private equity practice in Tokyo. He joins from Paul Hastings, where he previously served as managing partner of the Tokyo office.
Japan's Alt Plus buys stake in VC-backed Korean mobile game developer
Japanese mobile game developer Alt Plus, has acquired a 10% stake in Emagine, a Korean mobile game start-up backed by Lead Capital Management and Ant Capital Partners. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Japan's Globis invests $4.2m in news aggregator
Globis Capital Partners has invested JPY420 million ($4.29 million) in Tokyo-based Gocro, the start-up behind news aggregation app SmartNews.
Fab raises $5m from Itochu Corp
Online lifestyle store Fab.com has raised $5 million from Japan’s Itochu Corporation, as the two develop a joint venture agreement to bring the company to Japan in 2014.
Bain to sell Domino’s Japan for $123m
Bain Capital will sell a 75% stake in Domino’s Pizza Japan (DPJ) to Australia-listed Domino’s Pizza Enterprises (DPE) for JPY12 billion ($123.4 million). The buyer will provide JPY9 billion of new debt funding, implying an enterprise value for the...
Scentan Ventures takes part in $2m round for Japanese curation app Antenna
Singapore's Scentan Ventures has joined Tokyo-based strategic investor Macromill in investing JPY1.5 billion ($15.5 million) in Glider Associates, the Japanese startup behind smartphone curation app Antenna, for a 25.6% stake.
CLSA exits Japan apparel business Baroque to CDH, Belle International
CLSA Capital Partners has exited its majority stake in apparel business Baroque Japan to China's CDH Investments and Chinese women's shoe retailer Belle International.
Draper Nexus leads $2m round for Japan travel site startup Trippiece
Draper Nexus Venture Partners has led a JPY200 million ($2 million) round of investment in Tokyo-based travel site startup Trippiece.
Japan's secondaries surge
Secondary deals in Japan spiked in 2011 as buyouts from before the global financial crisis found an exit. With the country's economic prospects improving, industry participants expect the flow to continue
Breaking down the buyout opportunity
Multinational corporations, with one eye on their precarious balance sheets, decide to cut their losses and offload divisions. Septuagenarian founders, keen to retire from the family business but with no obvious successor, agree that it's time to cash...
Jafco invests $10m in lunch box delivery start-up
Japanese VC firm Jafco Ventures has invested JPY1 billion ($10 million) in Star Festival, the start-up behind lunchbox delivery and catering site Gochikuru.com.
Advantage Partners exits Japan's Kazaka Securities
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Advantage Partners has sold its stake in Kazaka Securities to Osaka-based Naito Securities. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Japan's Advantage reaches final close on $200m bridge fund
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Advantage Partners has closed its latest fund, having reached the JPY20 billion ($200 million) hard cap after about five months in the market.
Japan's Transcosmos buys 20% VC-backed Chinese logistics firm
Japan’s Transcosmos has bought a 20% stake in FineEx, a Chinese logistics provider backed by Shanghai Vstone Capital. The transaction size was not disclosed but it is believed to be over $10 million.
Daiwa, Intec invest $2m in Japan's Repica
Japan's Daiwa PI Partners and Intec IT Capital have invested JPY200 million ($2 million) in Repica, a company that develops CRM solutions for Japanese businesses.
Nomura, Next Capital-backed Ashikaga files for IPO - report
Ashikaga Holdings, which is backed by Nomura Financial Partners and Next Capital Partners, has applied to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) for what could be a $1 billion IPO.
INCJ invests $27m in Japan patent fund
Government-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY2.75 billion ($27.8 million) in a fund that will buy unused patents and license them to domestic start-ups.
Japan's ACA targets $100m for domestic IT fund
Japanese buyout firm Asian Capital Alliance (ACA) is targeting $100 million for a new fund focused on businesses in the domestic information and communications technology space.
Nissay Capital backs Japanese online ad platform Dennoo
Nissay Capital has invested $1.1 million in Japanese online ad platform, Dennoo. The investment brings the start-up's total amount of venture capital funding to $3.1 million.