North Asia
Q&A: Pomona Capital's Michael Granoff
Michael Granoff, founder and CEO of Pomona Capital, discusses raising capital from Asian LPs, how GPs can be differentiated in a crowded secondaries market, and why he’s not keen on fund restructurings
Japan's Tokio Marine Capital spins out from parent
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Tokio Marine Capital is spinning out from its corporate parent to form an independent investment manager known as T Capital Partners.
Korea fintech player Tera Funding gets $18m
Korean financial technology provider Tera Funding has secured an $18 million Series B round from a group including SBI Investment Korea and KB Investment.
China PE compensation premium is shrinking - survey
The premium traditionally paid for deal-making talent in China over other Asian jurisdictions is narrowing and in some cases has turned into a deficit – in what might be seen as evidence of GPs looking to strengthen their coverage beyond the region’s...
LPs warn of co-investment risks - AVCJ Forum
The boom in LP appetite for co-investment has made it harder to secure access to deals and created adverse selection risk as private equity firms push beyond their comfort zone, investors told the AVCJ Korea Forum.
Deal focus: Gong Cha’s global push pays off for Unison
Unison Capital achieves a rare feat in helping the Korea franchise of bubble tea retailer Gong Cha take over its Taiwanese parent before facilitating a sale to TA Associates. Entering Japan has been a key value-add
Korea start-ups: The graduates
Korea’s start-ups are internationalizing and becoming more technically advanced as the ecosystem matures. A rapidly multiplying flock of local VCs will have to do the same to keep up with them
VIG secures 3.2x return on Korea's HiParking
VIG Partners has agreed to sell Korean parking management business HiParking to Humax, a consumer electronics manufacturer, for KRW170 billion ($141 million).
Korea culture plays: Brands apart
Korean pop music is being used as a marketing tool for a long tail of consumers products and services. While investors are keen to leverage star power, they recognize it doesn’t last forever
Q&A: Choson Exchange's Geoffrey See
Geoffrey See is an advisor on Korean Peninsula affairs to the World Economic Forum and a serial tech entrepreneur who helps incubate start-ups in North Korea through his organization Choson Exchange
Korea cross-border consumer: Dining out
Restaurant chains can potentially ride on the tailwinds generated by demand for Korean cultural exports, but strong execution is ultimately the key factor in overseas expansion
Korean carve-outs: Network effects
Chaebol carve-outs have historically been elusive for global firms operating in Korea. A growing appreciation of their value-add capabilities could be the catalyst needed to direct more deals their way
TA invests in Unison-backed Gong Cha - update
TA Associates has acquired a controlling stake in Gong Cha, the Taiwan-based bubble tea chain backed by Unison Capital.
CITIC joins $34m round for Japanese e-commerce platform
CITIC Capital has participated in a JPY3.6 billion ($34.1 million) funding round for Active Sonar, operator of Reclo, a Japanese online re-selling platform for luxury brands.
Japan's JPIC backs $33m round for Atonarp
Japan Post Investment Corporation (JPIC) has backed a $33 million Series C round for Atonarp, a Tokyo-based molecular diagnostics systems developer that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
Japan edge computing specialist gets $7.8m
Global Brain has led a $7.8 million round for Idein, a Japanese technology developer focused on systems for device-level data processing, also known as edge computing.
Japanese space robot developer gets Series A round
Gitai, a Japanese start-up that is developing robots that can replace astronauts on low-orbit space missions, has raised $4.1 million in Series A funding.
J-Star exits Japanese auto industry supplier
J-Star has sold Tokai Trim, a Japanese manufacturer of seat covers for cars and motorcycles, to domestic hotel chain operator Rembrandt Holdings.
Deal focus: Longreach secures swift return from Japan's NOC
The Longreach Group exits Nippon Outsourcing Corporation with a 2.7x return after strong domestic interest in Japan's demographics-driven BPO industry led to a shorter-than-expected holding period
Japan's VC-backed Chatwork files for IPO
Chatwork, a Japan-based business chat platform developer, has filed for an IPO in Tokyo that will provide an exit to several of its venture capital backers.
Korean biotech player gets $137m Series B
D&D Pharmatech, a South Korean biotechnology company, has raised a $137 million Series B round from a group of Korean and US investors.
Korea's Pavilion to pay $54m for firefighting business
Korea’s Pavilion Private Equity has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in domestic firefighting equipment maker Paratech for about KRW65 billion ($54 million).
Kleiner Perkins, Aspex lead $64m round for Korea's Viva Republica
Kleiner Perkins and Aspex Management, a pan-Asia investor founded in Hong Kong last year, have led a $64 million round for Korean financial technology start-up Viva Republica.
Women entrepreneurs: Tales from the coalface
Women remain underrepresented in start-up ecosystems across Asia, but for those who have taken the plunge, there is potential to make a social impact that transcends their respective target markets
