North Asia
Japan's J-Star exits HR business to Longreach
The Longreach Group has acquired a 100% stake in J-CEP, the holding company of HR services company Aki-Japan, for an undisclosed sum, providing an exit for J-Star.
Bain pursues $147m acquisition of Japan's System Information
Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Tokyo-listed Systems Information (SI&C) via a tender offer that values the software and IT provider at about JPY 22bn (USD 147m).
DCM adds partners in Japan, China
DCM has promoted two Asia-based investment professionals – Kenichiro Hara and Fiona Huang, who focus on Japan and China, respectively – to partner.
KKR-owned Kokusai Electric targets $749m Tokyo IPO
KKR is eyeing a partial exit from Kokusai Electric after the Japan-based semiconductor industry supplier announced plans to raise JPY 111.2bn (USD 749m) through a Tokyo IPO.
JIP-led consortium completes Toshiba tender offer
A consortium led by Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has successfully completed a tender offer for Toshiba Corporation, paving the way for a JPY 2trn (USD 13.6bn) privatisation of the company.
L Catterton enters Japan's veterinary services space
L Catterton’s interest in Asian pet food and services has stretched from China to India and now Japan with a commitment of undisclosed size to Withmal, a Japanese veterinary services group.
Japanese warehouse robot start-up raises $84m
SBI Investment has led a JPY 12.3bn (USD 84m) Series C round for Japanese industrial robotics supplier Mujin, advancing expansion plans in Europe and the US.
Global Brain, Globis lead $93m round for Japan's Josys
Global Brain and Globis Capital Partners have led a USD 93m Series B round for Josys, a Japan-based IT services provider specializing in helping companies manage devices.
Deal focus: Patience pays off for Trustar on Moritex
Trustar Capital’s 20x return on Japanese precision manufacturing business Moritex was driven by greater geographic diversification in production and distribution and a shakeup of the product portfolio
Japan Industrial Partners sets $2bn hard cap for Fund VI
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), the Japanese private equity firm leading the USD 15bn privatisation of Toshiba, has set the hard cap for its latest fund at JPY 300bn (USD 2bn) and secured a six-month extension to the fundraising period.
Mitsui Sumitomo VC unit backs Israel fusion start-up
Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital (MSIVC) has joined a Series A round for Israel-based nuclear fusion start-up NT-Tao that had raised USD 22m as of February.
Endeavour exits Japan automotive components maker
Japanese GP Endeavour United has exited local automotive components maker Crefact to local strategic Hiruta Kogyo for an undisclosed sum.
Carlyle pursues $221m Japan chemicals take-private
The Carlyle Group has launched a tender offer for Seiko PMC that values the Tokyo-listed paper and ink chemicals manufacturer at approximately JPY 32.4bn (USD 221m).
Japanese autonomous trucking start-up raises $24m
T2, a Japanese autonomous driving start-up that focuses on trucking, has raised JPY 3.5bn (USD 24.1m) in Series A funding from a combination of financial and strategic investors.
Longreach buys Japanese assisted stretching business
The Longreach Group has acquired Nobitel, a Japanese company that provides one-on-one assisted stretching services aimed in part at the country’s ageing population, for an undisclosed sum.
Japan space robot maker Gitai raises $45m
Japanese space robotics start-up Gitai has lifted its Series B round to USD 45m with a new USD 15m tranche featuring Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital.
Integral backs Japan software player TCS
Japanese private equity firm Integral Corporation has invested an undisclosed sum in local IT services and business software company TCS Group.
Trustar exits Japan's Moritex via $275m trade sale
Trustar Capital has sold Japanese machine vision lenses maker Moritex Corporation to a strategic buyer for about USD 275m after a nearly nine-year hold.
JIP supports Japan cancer diagnostics joint venture
Japanese private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) is participating in a local joint venture with BostonGene, a US-based provider of artificial intelligence-enabled (AI) profiling solutions used to treat cancer patients.
Korea Credit Data raises $75m, achieves unicorn status
Korea Credit Data (KCD), the operator of a super app aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has raised KRW 100bn (USD 75.7m) at a valuation of KRW 1.3trn (USD 1bn).
CLSA exits Japanese uniform rental business Uni-Mate
Japan’s CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has sold 100% of uniform rental and cleaning business Uni-Mate to local private equity firm Karita & Company (K&C) for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Longreach hits homerun with Quasar
The Longreach Group transitioned Quasar Medical to professional management, took it into new markets, and diversified the company’s manufacturing footprint. A 7x return was its reward
Deal focus: KKR thinks global with Korea’s Musinsa
KKR has made its first tech growth investment in Korea with Musinsa, an online marketplace for a carefully curated selection of streetwear brands with export potential
Japan's PowerX raises $32m Series B
PowerX, a Japanese start-up developing a “battery tanker” for shipping stored renewable electricity across oceans, has raised a USD 32m Series B round featuring US-based Translink Capital.