North Asia
Japan Industrial Solutions supports troubled local drug maker
Japan Industrial Solutions (JIS) has agreed to invest up to JPY 20bn (USD 155m) in Japan-based generic drug manufacturer Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical with a view to saving the troubled company.
Deal focus: Elevation targets Lumena uplift
Elevation Equity Partners sees Korean consumer electronics brand Lumena as a diamond in the rough, with high margins, quality products, and scope for domestic and international expansion
DST, WiL lead Series C for Japan's Upsider
DST Global and World Innovation Lab (WiL) have led a JPY 15bn (USD 115m) Series C round for Upsider, a Japan-based corporate credit card issuer. It is said to be the first time DST has taken the lead role in a Japan deal.
Korean home interiors start-up gets $182m Series D
OHouse, a consumer-facing platform in South Korea used for sourcing materials and services relating to home furnishing and interior decorating, has raised USD 182m in Series D funding.
Korea space tech start-up gets $8m
Korean microsatellite and space data analysis start-up NaraSpace Technology has raised KRW 10bn (USD 8m) from Korea Development Bank (KDB) and several local VC firms.
Japan's J-Star closes fifth fund on $574m
Japanese lower middle-market private equity firm J-Star has closed its fifth flagship fund at the hard cap of JPY 75bn (USD 574m). The target was JPY 65m.
KKR launches tender offer for Japan's Hitachi Transport System
KKR has launched a tender offer for Hitachi Transport Systems at a valuation of approximately JPY 749.5bn (USD 5.8bn) after agreeing to acquire parent company Hitachi’s controlling stake in the business.
Deal focus: Goldman embraces Japan robotics
Rapyuta Robotics offers solutions flexible enough to plug into existing warehouse infrastructure and nurtures ambitions to create a cloud-based operating system. This was enough to win over Goldman Sachs
Vision Fund backs Japan's AI Medical Service
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a JPY 8bn (USD 70m) Series C funding round for AI Medical Service, a Tokyo-based medical technology company that has developed an artificial intelligence-enabled (AI) endoscopy diagnostic solution.
VIG buys Korean healthy beverage brand
VIG Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Teazen, a South Korean producer of tea-based health drinks, for approximately USD 70m.
Japan's Hitachi mulls divestment of logistics unit
Hitachi has confirmed it may divest its logistics unit, Hitachi Transport System, following a report that KKR was poised to buy the asset for more than JPY 600bn (USD 4.69bn).
Goldman leads Series C for Japan's Rapyuta Robotics
Goldman Sachs has led a USD 51m Series C round for Rapyuta Robotics, a Japan-based developer of collaborative pick-assist robots commonly used in warehouses.
Bain launches tender offer for Japan marketing business
Bain Capital has launched a tender offer for Japan-based television and direct marketing business Tri-Stage that values the company at approximately JPY 17.2bn (USD 137.3m).
Deal focus: Wholesum brings agglomeration to Korea
Drawing inspiration from US-based Thrasio and from his own background in special situations investing, Andrew Joo wants to turn Wholesum into a Korean multi-brand powerhouse
Portfolio: Affinity Equity Partners and ServeOne
Affinity Equity Partners is redefining the B2B outsourcing industry by helping Korea’s ServeOne, escape the gravity of its chaebol parent to access new markets and business lines
Japan's MPower backs pet devices maker
Japan’s MPower Partners, which was set up last year to make environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments, has joined a USD 10.5m Series B round for local pet devices maker Rabo.
Korea Web3 gaming platform gets $34m
Krust Universe, a start-up incubation and investment unit of Korean internet giant Kakao, has led a USD 34m round for local Web3 gaming platform Iskra.
Japan's Drone Fund closes third vintage on $85m
Japan’s Drone Fund has closed its third air mobility-dedicated vehicle at JPY 10.5bn (USD 85m), beating a target of JPY 10bn.
LP interview: Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance
Innchul Oh, a senior manager with Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, approaches international private equity with a brand of risk wariness that currently favours venture over buyouts. Generalist GPs are lamented as a dying breed
Carlyle sells Japan construction materials supplier to Lone Star
The Carlyle Group has sold Senqcia Corporation, a Japanese construction materials supplier formerly known as Hitachi Metals Techno, to Lone Star Funds for an undisclosed sum.
Effissimo pledges to support Bain buyout of Toshiba
Bain Capital appears to be preparing a take-private bid for Toshiba Corporation, having secured the support of the company’s largest activist shareholder for a potential tender offer.
GP profile: DCM
Investing in China, Japan, and the US out of a single global fund, DCM sticks to a formula of small funds, concentrated portfolios, early-stage deals, and collaborative cross-border teams
Diageo divests Korean whisky brand to local PE consortium
Global beverage giant Diageo has agreed to sell Windsor, Korea’s best-selling whisky brand, to Bayside Private Equity and Metis Private Equity for KRW 200bn (USD 163.2m).
Japan mobile banking player Kyash gets $41m Series C
Altos Ventures, Goodwater Capital, Greyhound Capital, and StepStone Group are part of an investor group that has committed JPY 4.9bn (USD 41m) in Series D funding to Tokyo-based mobile banking start-up Kyash.
