North Asia
New Horizon buys Japan cosmetics player from Ant Capital
Japanese private equity firm New Horizon Capital has acquired 100% of Kagayaku Cosmetics from Ant Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum.
SoftBank Ventures Asia hits $269m first close on global fund
SoftBank Ventures Asia – previously known as SoftBank Ventures Korea – has reached a first close of KRW317.4 billion ($269 million) on a fund that will make early-stage investments globally with a focus on Asia.
Korea's Orum Therapeutics secures $30m Series B
Orum Therapeutics, a Korean biotechnology developer targeting cancer and rare diseases, has secured a $30 million Series B round from a group including IMM Investment and InterVest.
Culture is key to a sustainable spin-out - AVCJ Forum
Making a private equity spin-out work is as much about cultivating a transparent culture within the team as identifying an underserved market segment, industry participants told the AVCJ USA Forum.
Japanese cooking robot developer raises Series A
Global Brain has led a JPY8.5 billion ($7.8 million) Series A round for Connected Robotics, a Japanese robotics developer that specializes in cooking.
Japanese autonomous driving start-up Tier IV raises $100m
Japanese autonomous driving technology developer Tier IV has raised $100 million in Series A funding from a group of investors including Jafco.
Goodwater, Mitsubishi lead Series B for Japan fintech player
US venture firm Goodwater Capital and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital have co-led a JPY1.5 billion ($14 million) Series B round for Japanese financial technology provider Kyash.
Sony partners Japan's Daiwa for $186m VC fund
Sony has joined Daiwa Capital Holdings, a subsidiary of Japan’s Daiwa Securities Group, for a JPY20 billion ($186 million) VC fund targeting start-ups in high growth industries.
Japan's JBIC backs $788m Russian chemicals project
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has teamed up with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), a sovereign wealth fund, to invest at least RUB50 billion ($788 million) in a chemical complex in western Russia.
Japan's TDK sets up VC arm, $50m fund
Japanese electronics giant TDK Corporation has established a venture capital unit with the launch of a $50 million fund that will focus on early-stage start-ups.
KKR agrees $2.2b sale of Japan's Kokusai Electric
KKR will sell Kokusai Electric – a semiconductor-focused thin film manufacturing business acquired from Hitachi approximately 18 months ago – to US-listed Applied Materials for $2.2 billion in cash.
GPs anticipate rich flow of Japanese divestments - AVCJ Forum
The corporate carve-out opportunity in Japan is sizeable and sustainable, despite relatively lackluster large-cap deal flow in 2018, industry participants told the AVCJ Japan Forum.
Deal focus: KKR drives KCF ahead of schedule
KKR generates a healthy exit for its third pan-Asian fund by helping Korean copper components supplier KCF Technologies build up exposure to a booming electric vehicle market
VIG to make full exit from Korea's Samyang Optics
VIG has agreed to make a full exit from Korean camera lens manufacturer Samyang Optics – having taken the business public in 2017 – and will realize a 3.5x gross return on its investment.
Bain agrees Japan human resources carve-out
Bain Capital Private Equity has agreed to acquire 100% of the human resources (HR) business and related subsidiaries of Japan corporate software developer Works Applications for an undisclosed sum.
The 20-year review
AVCJ's Japan Forum has been going for two decades, a period during which the industry has embarked on several roller-coaster journeys. For now, though, the market appears to be in good health
Unison buys Japanese hair treatment specialist
Unison Capital has acquired Pyuru, a Japanese producer of hair care and cosmetics products best known for a naturally-derived treatment for graying hair.
Japan secondary buyouts: Between friends
Negative perceptions and local sensitivities have stymied the development of secondary buyouts in Japan. International GPs – plus some of their domestic peers – have the firepower to drive change
Profile: Ernest Higa
From lumber to fast food, Ernest Higa has found a market for US concepts in Japan. The entrepreneur – and oftentimes private equity collaborator – believes careful customization is the key to success
Japan’s Aspirant leads $223m manufacturing carve-out
Japanese private equity firm Aspirant Group has led the 100% acquisition of a copper tubing subsidiary of diversified industrial manufacturer UACJ Corporation for about JPY24 billion ($223 million).
Global GPs and Japanese LPs: Stirring the pot
As Japanese institutional investors seek to initiate or change up their private equity programs, GPs looking to build long-term relationships in the country must find the right way to engage
Revitalizing Japan's conglomerates: Big ticket
Japan’s manufacturing conglomerates are continuing to define the economy as they either adapt or succumb to new technology trends. The process is adding a new ripple to the local carve-out market
Q&A: Ripplewood's Tim Collins
A Ripplewood Holdings-led consortium broke new ground for private equity with the turnaround of Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan. CEO Tim Collins explains why he boldly goes where others fear to tread
Japan PE fundraising: Upsizing
Japanese private equity firms are looking to raise larger funds, based on what is described as a blossoming investment opportunity. Do they risk biting off more than they can chew?
