North Asia
Korean GP EQ Partners gets investment from Reorient Group
Hong Kong-listed financial services provider Reorient Group has bought a one third stake in Korean private equity firm EQ Partners from Dongah Tire & Rubber, a Korean auto parts manufacturer, for KRW4.5 billion ($4.1 million).
Carlyle to make partial exit with Broadleaf IPO
The Carlyle Group is set to exit the majority of its stake in Broadleaf following the Japanese company's announcement that it would seek to raise up to JPY23.3 billion ($248.37 million) through an IPO.
Asahi accuses Independent Liquor of ‘channel stuffing’
Asahi claims that Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital resorted to “channel stuffing” – where companies supply retailers with more product than they are capable of selling to boost sales figures – to artificially inflate Independent...
Virginia pension fund backs Fortress’ Japan distress vehicle
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has committed to $50 million to Fortress Investment Group’s Japan Opportunity Fund II, a distress-focused vehicle that closed last December at its hard cap of JPY130 billion ($1.65 billion).
Asahi, PE firms set for legal battle over Independent Liquor sale - update
Japanese beverage giant Asahi has taken legal action against private equity firms Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital over its acquisition of New Zealand firm Independent Liquor in 2011 for NZ$1.5 billion ($1.5 billion).
CLSA exits Japan’s Everlife for $285m
CLSA Japan has sold its 100% stake in Japanese direct marketing company Everlife to Korea's LG Household and Health Care for JPY25.8 billion ($285 million).
CITIC Capital Japan-backed Tri-Wall acquires DS Smith unit
Tri-Wall, a Hong Kong-headquartered heavy-duty cardboard manufacturer backed by CITIC Capital Partners, has acquired the UK Tri-Wall unit of British packaging firm D.S. Smith.
Vogo, KTB-backed LG Siltron withdraws IPO
LG Siltron, a silicon wafer manufacturer owned by LG Group, Vogo Investment and KTB Private Equity, has abandoned plans to raise at least $275 million through an IPO. The company won listing approval on October 31 but decided not to proceed because domestic...
Hahn & Co. in $130m bankruptcy buyout
Sourcing deals through South Korea's bankruptcy courts is notoriously complicated, but even by these standards Korea Line presented a challenge. The sale process was officially launched late afternoon on December 21, the Friday before what most people...
HIG Capital sells Anvis to Japan's Tokai Rubber
HIG Capital has sold German car parts maker Anvis to Japan's Tokai Rubber Industries for EUR132 million ($177.91 million). Financial terms of the deal were not undisclosed.
Secondaries in vogue in Korea
Among South Korean LPs there such a thing as the flavor of the month. We have seen global buyout and credit phases over the years, during which international private equity and credit houses mopped up more allocations than ever before. The last 12 months,...
Talent tinkering: Operating partners in Asia
Operational value-add is becoming the new normal in Asia as private equity firms hire professionals with the skills to build portfolio companies. However, methods of recruitment and retention vary hugely
Hahn & Co to buy Korea Line via bankrupcty process
Hahn & Co. has been selected by a bankruptcy court as the preferred bidder for a 50% controlling stake in Korea Line, South Korea’s fourth-largest shipping company. The enterprise value of the transaction is KRW1.1 trillion ($1 billion), with Hahn &...
BlackRock appoints head of alternatives for North Asia
BlackRock has appointed Jeong Hoon Lee as head of its alternative investment strategy group for North Asia.
Japan's Aeon eyes CVC's Matahari - report
Japan's Aeon Group and a unit of Thailand's Central Group are said to be eyeing CVC Capital Partners-owned Indonesian retail group Matahari Department Store.
Softbank Ventures Korea invests $1.4m in KnowRE
Softbank Ventures Korea (SBVK), the venture capital unit of Japan's Softbank Corporation, has invested $1.4 million in KnowRe, an education technology company specializing in adaptive online learning services.
Korean couples app raises $3m Series B funding
Korean social media application Between has raised a $3 million Series B funding round from new and existing venture capital players. The proceeds will be used to expand the company's presence outside its home market.
Samsung Ventures invests in Fixmo
Samusung Venture Investment Corp, the venture capital unit of Samsung Group, has invested in Canada's Fixmo, a mobile security solutions firm. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
J-Star completes clothing brand turnaround
Three and-a-half years ago, Olive des Olive, a hip teen clothing-brand based out of Tokyo, was suffering. Having filed for bankruptcy, its reputation frayed by allegations that its clothing came from a factory in China and had been re-labeled “Made...
Advantage sees 7x return on coffee chain deal
When Advantage Partenrs paid JPY15 billion ($146 million) for a 78% stake in Komeda Coffee in 2008, the chain was to a certain extent a victim of its own success. After more than 40 years of expansion the company had grown to around 300 stores and its...
LP interview: Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund
Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) is considering the addition of alternative investments to its portfolio. It must find a balance between conservatism and the need for higher returns
J-Star exit sees 3x return on Olive des Olive exit
J-Star, a Japanese mid-market buyout firm, has exited Tokyo clothing brand Olive des Olive to wholesale company Takisada-Osaka, securing a return of more than 3x and an estimated IRR of 35-40%.
Korea Teachers to invest in Hamilton Lane, Paul Capital
Korea Teachers Pension Fund (KTPF) will invest $30 million each to Hamilton Lane and Paul Capital as it looks to increase its global exposure to 15% of its overall private equity portfolio by 2018.
GPs upbeat on ailing Japan
Private equity investors expect to see more buyout opportunities in Japan despite a weak deal environment in recent years and ongoing concerns about the country's economy.