North Asia
AVCJ at 25: David Gross-Loh & Jim Hildebrandt of Bain Capital
David Gross-Loh and Jim Hildebrandt, managing directors at Bain Capital, guided the firm’s Japan-heavy Asia portfolio through the global financial crisis. Acting fast without overreacting was central to their approach
AVCJ at 25: Joe Bae of KKR
Joe Bae, partner and head of Asia at KKR, set up the private equity firm’s regional operation seven years ago with two principal goals: being as local as possible and building a franchise that is sustainable in the long term
AVCJ at 25: Michael B. Kim of MBK Partners
Michael B. Kim, founding partner of MBK Partners, left The Carlyle Group in 2005 to set up his own private equity firm. The time was right, the capital was available, and there was a desire to become more local
AVCJ at 25: Roy Kuan of CVC Capital Partners
Roy Kuan, managing partner at CVC Capital Partners, witnessed a transformation in private equity in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. Suddenly he was in the buyout business, carving out assets from distressed conglomerates
AVCJ at 25: Weijian Shan of PAG
Weijian Shan, chairman and CEO of PAG, made his name in private equity turning around troubled companies for Newbridge Capital. Two bank deals helped open international investors’ eyes to the Asia buyout opportunity
AVCJ at 25: George Raffini of Headland Capital Partners
George Raffini spent 21 years with HSBC’s Asia private equity unit before the team spun out to form Headland Capital Partners in 2010. He witnessed Asia reach new highs in the 1990s before brutally falling to earth
AVCJ at 25: Ta-Lin Hsu of H&Q Asia Pacific
Ta-Lin Hsu, founder and chairman of H&Q Asia Pacific, brought venture capital to Taiwan as part of efforts to develop the tech sector. It was a launching pad for private equity across the region
MBK appoints advisor for ING South Korea bid - report
North Asia-focused buyout firm MBK Partners is said to have hired Barclays to advise on a bid for ING's South Korean life insurance business.
Development Bank of Japan launches $1.5b fund
The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) has launched a JPY150 billion ($1.5 billion) growth fund for investing in domestic companies.
Asia has more than one third of global sovereign assets – study
Asia accounts for 39% of the $5.2 trillion in sovereign wealth fund (SWF) assets globally, with China alone holding $1.49 trillion, according to a new study.
Longreach adds to Tokyo team
North Asia mid-market buyout firm The Longreach Group has appointed Takuya Sato as executive director and Kishin Ryu as an associate.
Cerberus to boost stake in Japan's Seibu
Cerberus Capital Management wants to raise its stake in Japanese railways and property group Seibu Holdings by around 4% as the company plans to re-list.
PE firms call for limit on Japan's government-backed funds
KKR, The Carlyle Croup and Bain Capital are part of a group of private equity firms urging the Japanese government to rein in its state-backed funds.
TPG, Northstar approached for BTPN stake - report
Japanese banks Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho and Sumitomo Mitsui are said to be among potential suitors approaching TPG and Northstar Pacific Partners with a view to acquiring their stake in Indonesia's Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional (BTPN). The PE firms'...
Mitsubishi unit seeks $750m for shipping PE fund
MC Asset Management Holdings, a unit of Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi, is seeking to raise a $750 million fund that will take advantage of depressed prices in the shipping industry.
Fidelity Growth Japan leads Metaps series B round
Fidelity Growth Partners Japan has led a JPY1 billion ($10 million) Series B round of investment in Metaps, a Tokyo-based mobile software developer. Existing investors have also taken part in the round.
Vogo-backed Tong Yang Life eyes ING South Korea unit
Vogo Capital-backed Tong Yang Life Insurance is considering purchasing ING Group's South Korean insurance unit.
KKR boosts capital markets, Capstone teams in Japan
KKR has strengthened its Japan team with the appointment of Hiro Shimizu and Sakae Suzuki as directors. The private equity firm now has 12 people in its Tokyo office.
KKR’s Asia fund ‘practically closed’ – Kravis
KKR’s second Asia fund is “practically closed” having exceeded its $6 billion cap, according to Henry Kravis, co-chairman of the private equity firm. This confirms earlier reports that the fund – the largest vehicle ever raised in the region,...
Korea's AmorePacific leads pharma firm's Series B round
AmorePacific Ventures, the VC arm of Korea's largest cosmetics group, has led a $7 million Series B round of investment in Miami-based Brickell Biotech, a pharma firm specializing in skin conditions. Further details of the deal were not disclosed.
Carlyle upbeat on Japan, expects to launch new fund in 2013
The Carlyle Group says it has already begun preliminary talks with investors for a third Japan fund, and remains upbeat about opportunities in the country's buyout space.
STIC-led consortium finalizes LIG Nex1 deal
A group of Korean investors led by STIC Investments has agreed to buy a 49% stake in LIG Nex1, a domestic aerospace and defense company owned by LIG Group. The sale price is said to be KRW420 billion ($388 million).
Morgan Stanley in control deal for Korean paper maker
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has agreed to buy a majority stake in South Korean bathroom tissue producer Monalisa for KRW91.4 billion ($84.2 million). The seller is Kwang-ho Kim, the company’s CEO, who will also exit two unlisted entities...
Orix beats PE firms to buy Rabobank's Robeco
Orix has bought the asset management arm of Rabobank, Robeco, for EUR1.9 billion ($2.5 billion). The Japanese financial services firm will acquire a 90.1% stake in the company while Rabobank will retain 9.9%.