North Asia
Korea's Envisioning Partners raises $64m climate tech fund
Envisioning Partners, a Korean impact venture capital firm set up last year, has raised KRW 76.8bn (USD 64m) for a climate-focused tech fund, beating a target of USD 60m.
Longreach expands Japan coffee shop footprint
The Longreach Group has completed a third investment in Japan’s coffee shop space with the acquisition of Pokka Create Corporation, which operates more than 200 stores under the Café de Crie brand.
Korea autonomous driving tech supplier raises $20m
Morai, a Korean autonomous vehicle simulation technology supplier, has raised USD 20m in Series B funding from investors including Korea Investment Partners and Hyundai Motor Group.
Deal focus: NPX adds tech to Korea's culture thesis
NPX Capital is creating a US-based media platform to tap rising global appetite for Korean entertainment. Early acquisitions emphasise artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the metaverse
VCs invest in Japan sports analytics start-up
Global Brain has joined a JPY 770m (USD 7m) pre-Series B round for Japan’s Run.Edge, a sports video search and analytics platform.
Fund focus: Asia Alternatives rides out chaos
Regulatory tumult in China has not materially shaken LP faith in Asia Alternatives or the fund-of-fund manager’s commitment to China – but an increased India allocation is likely in the latest vintage
Longreach expands partner group to six - update
North Asia-focused mid-market buyout firm The Longreach Group has promoted Keitaro Tsuda, Sonny Chan, and Ken Law to partner, expanding its leadership group to six.
GIC backs $525m Korea data centre program
Singapore’s GIC has teamed up with digital infrastructure company Equinix with a view to investing USD 525m in the development of two data centres in Korea.
Portfolio: Affirma and Sunwoo Fresh
Affirma Capital is helping Korea’s Sunwoo Fresh discover new revenue streams overseas, online, and in adjacent links of the beef importing value chain. Aggressive M&A has accelerated the process
Ex-CVC Asia head raises $200m SPAC
Generation Asia Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Roy Kuan, formerly Asia managing partner at CVC Capital Partners, has raised USD 200m through a US offering.
BRV leads $140m Series C for Korea's Green Labs
BRV Capital Management has led a KRW 170bn (USD 140m) Series C round for Green Labs, a Korea-based agricultural technology start-up seeking to digitalise the food production value chain.
NPX invests $43m in Korean digital content provider
The private equity arm of US and Korea-based NPX Capital has invested USD 43m in Korean digital cartoon studio Copin Communications.
Asia PE investment hits new high in 2021
A rebound in China-based activity took Asia private equity investment to a record USD 105.3bn in the fourth quarter, ensuring that 2021 represents a new high watermark for the industry.
Deal focus: ACA seeks Asia-Europe sporting synergies
Japan’s ACA Group has acquired a Belgium-based KMSK Deinze as part of a multi-club investment strategy that will – in part – bring Asian players into the middle tiers of European football
Global Brain, Mitsubishi launch $44m VC fund
Japan’s Global Brain and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation have established a corporate VC fund that aims to invest JPY 5bn (USD 43.7m) globally over the next 10 years. Global Brain will act as manager.
Bain exits Japan hot spring operator to Lone Star
Bain Capital has sold Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Resorts & Hotels, a Japan-based traditional inn and hot spring chain operator it acquired nearly seven years ago, to Lone Star for an undisclosed sum.
MBK to buy control of Korea e-commerce solutions provider
MBK Partners has agreed to buy a controlling stake in KoreaCenter, a Korea-based e-commerce services provider, for KRW 491.7bn (USD 429.8m) across several equity and debt transactions.
Japan's ACA buys Belgian football club
Japanese fund manager ACA Investments has created a football-focused unit under its Singapore-based subsidiary and acquired a club that competes in the second tier of the Belgian league.
Korea's VIG makes first full exit from Fund III
VIG Partners has agreed to exit its 51% stake in eyewear brand Star Vision through a buyback by the South Korean company’s founder and current minority shareholder.
Anchor invests $210m in Korean grocery player Kurly
Anchor Equity Partners has committed KRW250 billion ($210 million) in pre-IPO funding to Kurly, a Korean grocery delivery platform that earlier this year said it would list locally rather than in the US.
KKR to buy Japan SME software provider from Orix
KKR has agreed to buy Yayoi, a Japan-based software developer that serves small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Orix Corporation.
Carlyle agrees $419m exit from Japan healthcare business
The Carlyle Group has agreed to sell Sunsho Pharmaceuticals, a Japan-based contract manufacturer of dietary supplements, to Towa Pharmaceutical for JPY47.7 billion ($419.5 million).
Japan's Advantage raises renewables-focused SPAC
Advantage Partners has raised $150 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that will target de-carbonization and renewable energy-related assets with a focus on Asia ex-China and Europe.
2022 preview: Japan VC
Japanese VC is growing up fast and looking a little less homogenous in the process. A longstanding growth-stage gap is about to disappear as new actors file in