North Asia
Capital, talent flock to Japanese start-ups - AVCJ Forum
Japan’s early-stage investment environment has improved dramatically over the past several years with the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs, industry participants told the AVCJ Japan Forum.
Blackstone names ex-Morgan Stanley banker as Japan chair
The Blackstone Group has appointed Ryusuke Shigetomi, formerly vice chairman for global investment banking at Morgan Stanley, as representative director and chairman of its Japan operations.
Korea's IMM leads $64m round for vertical farming company
Korea’s IMM Investment has led a $64.5 million round for Abu Dhabi-based vertical farming company Pure Harvest Smart Farms as part of an Asian expansion
Affirma achieves $473m final close on fifth Korea fund
Affirma Capital has closed its fifth Korea-focused fund with KRW543 billion ($473 million) in commitments, marking its first successful fundraise since spinning out from Standard Chartered.
Japan's Keystone targets $440m for Fund V
Tokyo-based Keystone Partners is looking to raise around JPY50 billion ($440 million) for its fifth Japan-focused fund, which will make a combination of growth and turnaround investments.
Japan's WM, AIC launch secondary fund targeting LP stakes
WM Partners and Alternative Investment Capital (AIC) are looking to raise a JPY10 billion ($88 million) secondary fund that will primarily target LP positions in Japan-focused private equity funds.
CLSA completes exit from Japan cram school
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has sold its remaining shares in Japanese cram school operator BC Ings to Eishinkan, a major player in the segment.
Q&A: 500 Global's Christine Tsai
Christine Tsai, co-founder of 500 Global, formerly 500 Startups, reflects on how a planetary approach to seed-stage VC has changed the asset class, the developing world, and the firm itself
Japan fundraising: Regional banks revisited
Japan’s regional banks have risen from a low base to become a meaningful LP constituency for local middle-market managers. Their staying power might be a function of broader industry consolidation
Japan digitization: Easy targets, hard to hit
Japan’s massive mid-sized business sector is still trading in its fax machines for the cloud, sometimes willingly, sometimes begrudgingly. PE’s help is most needed in terms of mindset
Hitachi sells radiation devices business to Nippon Mirae Capital
Hitachi has agreed to sell its Japan-based radiation measurement devices and industrial x-ray CT devices businesses to local private equity firm Nippon Mirae Capital.
Hahn & Co's K Car raises $285m in Korean IPO
K Car, a Korean automotive marketplace created by Hahn & Company through the merger of SK Encar and Joy Rent a Car, has raised KRW336.6 billion ($285 million) in a domestic IPO.
Anchor raises $1.6b for Korea, North Asia
Anchor Equity Partners has closed its fourth Korea and North Asia-focused fund with $1.6 billion in commitments after approximately five months in the market.
Stonebridge Ventures targets Korea IPO
Stonebridge Ventures, a Korean venture capital firm with more than KRW700 billion ($595 million) in assets under management, has filed to list on KOSDAQ.
Eneos to buy PE-backed Japan Renewable Energy for $1.8b
Eneos Holdings, an oil company and active technology investor, has agreed to acquire Japan Renewable Energy (JRE) from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and GIC.
EQT recruits Japan private equity head from JPIC
EQT has hired Tetsuro Onitsuka, formerly of Japan Post Investment Corporation (JPIC) and TPG Capital, as head of Japan private equity as it continues to build out a local presence in the country.
Carlyle buys Japan advertising business
The Carlyle Group has completed its acquisition of Japanese advertising content provider AOI TYO Holdings follow a tender offer that valued the Tokyo-listed company at JPY21.4 billion ($191 million).
Riverside exits Japan bicycle business to Daiwa
The Riverside Company has sold Japan-based bicycle retailer Y International to domestic private equity firm Daiwa PI Partners for an undisclosed sum.
LP interview: Japan Investment Corporation
Japan Investment Corporation aims to help a sparse venture capital market catch up with a slightly more mature buyout space. Balancing private and public interests remains the key challenge
Partners Group backs continuation vehicle for Korean restaurant brand
MBK Partners has signed up Partners Group as the anchor investor in an approximately $500 million single-asset continuation fund for its majority stake in Korean fried chicken franchisor BHC.
Korean LPs adapt to the new normal – AVCJ Forum
South Korean institutional investors are keen to deploy capital in alternatives, their sentiment towards the asset class boosted by a relatively robust recovery from the pandemic and the stabilization of returns, the AVCJ Korea Forum heard.
500 Startups closes $140m global fund, rebrands
500 Startups has closed its largest-ever global fund at $140 million, while simultaneously rebranding as 500 Global and expanding its strategy to include later-stage deals.
Japan's SmartNews secures $230m Series F
Japan-based news app SmartNews has achieved a valuation of $2 billion on closing a $230 million Series F round featuring US-based Princeville Capital and Woodline Partners as well as several local investors.