North Asia
Korea Teachers Pension Fund CIO to step down
Yun Kyu Lee is to step down as chief investment officer of Korea Teachers Pension Fund (KTPF). His replacement has yet to be announced.
Capital Dynamics to launch $154m Japan-focused fund-of-funds
Switzerland-headquartered asset manager Capital Dynamics plans to launch a JPY15 billion ($154 million) Japan-focused fund-of-funds. A source familiar with the matter said Japanese corporate pension funds will be among the investors in the new vehicle,...
PE firms seek partnerships with Korean corporates - AVCJ Forum
Private equity firms are best served working with South Korean conglomerates rather than competing against them for assets, with collaborative efforts to secure overseas assets a strong potential source of deal flow, industry participants told the AVCJ...
Morgan Stanley-backed Hyundai Rotem targets IPO
Hyundai Rotem, a South Korean railway and defense systems manufacturer backed by Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), has applied to the Korea Exchange for an IPO. According to local media, the company is looking to raise KRW300-400 billion ($270-360...
Formation 8 raises $448m, eyes US-Asia VC opportunities
Formation 8, a start-up venture capital firm that targets US businesses with the potential to expand into Asia, has raised $448 million for its debut fund. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the firm has eight operating professionals based out of offices...
MGPA announces second close on Asia real estate fund
MGPA has held a second close of EUR50 million ($65 million) on its latest Asia property fund with a further commitment from a German insurance company. The vehicle, MGPA Asien Speziafonds, which specifically targets German investors, has so far received...
University of Michigan commits to Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia IV
The University of Michigan has committed $25 million to Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia’s (MSPEA) fourth pan-regional fund. The vehicle, which reached a first close of $750 million towards the end of last year after less than six months in the market,...
Q&A: Vogo Investment's Jason Shin
Jason Shin, managing partner of Vogo Investment, explains why South Korean company owners’ preference for local partners goes well beyond foreign private equity’s well publicized scrapes
A multi-faceted market
Of readers who have been following Asia’s private equity markets for some years, few would contest South Korea’s place as one of the more important locations for international investors. After all, apart from maybe Australia, it has been the region’s...
Korea buyouts: Young pretender?
South Korea was the only significant PE market in Asia to see an uptick in deal flow last year. Investors have high expectations; uncertainty among local conglomerates – and local GPs – could make or break them
Chaebol cross-shareholding: David and Goliath
Removing cross-shareholding structures that hold Korea’s conglomerates together, and arguably suffocate competition, is key to economic democratization. But will it happen and what would it mean for PE?
KKR appoints turnaround specialist as Japan CEO
KKR has hired Hirofumi Hirano, who led the AlixPartners team that advised on the turnaround of Japan Airlines, as managing director and CEO for its Japan operations. Current CEO Shusaku Minoda has been promoted to chairman.
Strained relations: Foreign PE and financial services
Global buyout firms have seen less deal flow in South Korea in recent years, with financial services sector activity a shadow of its former self. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are unwelcome
MGPA buys two Tokyo office buildings
MGPA has acquired two office buildings in Tokyo – South Shin Otsuka building in Otsuka and Shinjuku TX building in Shinjuku - through its Asia–focused German fund MGPA Asien Speziafonds.
Cerberus boosts Seibu tender offer, intensifies row with management
Cerberus Capital Management wants to increase its stake in Seibu Holdings by as much as 12% to 44.7% and nominate nine members of the Japanese rail and hotel operator’s 18-strong board. The move has escalated a row between the private equity firm and...
Polaris acquires Japanese salon operator
Polaris Capital has acquired a majority stake in Japanese salon and sports club operator Socie World for a reported JPY3 billion ($32 million). The capital came from the private equity firm’s third vehicle, which has so far raised JPY36 billion, just...
Phoenix Capital exits Japan’s TEAC to Gibson Guitar
Phoenix Capital has agreed to sell its entire holding in Japanese-listed audio equipment manufacturer TEAC to Gibson Guitar for 4.88 billion yen ($51.9 million).
New Mexico State Investment Council commits to Affinity Fund IV
New Mexico State Investment Council (NMSIC) has agreed to invest up to $75 million in Affinity Equity Partners’ fourth pan-Asia fund. The vehicle reached a first close of $1.5 billion in early March and has a hard cap of $3.5 billion.
Q&A: Baring Private Equity Asia's Jean Eric Salata
Baring Private Equity Asia closed its fifth fund at $2.46 billion in early 2011. CEO Jean Eric Salata tells AVCJ why the firm has taken its time investing the capital and where he now sees value emerging in the market
On rocky ground: PE’s Mongolia risk factor
Rich in mining resources, Mongolia has a bright economic future, but vulnerability to commodity price shocks and an uncertain political climate have made many investors wary of taking the risk
KKR sees 5x return on Japan's Intelligence Holdings - Update
KKR will sell Japanese recruitment services provider Intelligence Holdings to Temp Holdings for JPY68 billion ($721 million), including debt. The PE firm's equity exit is worth JPY51 billion ($537 million), putting it on course for a more than 5x money...
Carlyle exits Japan's Broadleaf through IPO
The Carlyle Group has exited its majority stake in Japanese software company Broadleaf though an IPO on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
JAFCO invests $5.3m in group buying site Luxa
JAFCO has invested JPY500 million ($5.3 million) in Luxa, a Japanese group buying site, as part of a Series B round.
KKR eyes Panasonic healthcare unit - report
KKR is said to be among several investors showing interest as Panasonic looks to offload its healthcare unit.