North Asia
IMM set for $222m exit from Korea's Taihan Electric Wire
IMM Private Equity has agreed to sell its 40% stake in Taihan Electric Wire, a Korea-based manufacturer of high-voltage cables to Hoban Construction for KRW251.8 billion ($222 million).
Deal focus: Affinity to close JobKorea's technology gap
When Affinity Equity Partners was drawing up plans for JobKorea, it found Seek’s product innovations in Australia a useful reference point. This gave context to a $795 million acquisition
Wise Road agrees $1.4b take-private of Korea chipmaker
Wise Road Capital, a China-based private equity firm that focuses on high-tech investments, has agreed to privatize Korea’s Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation at a valuation of $1.4 billion.
Baring targets $8.5b for eighth pan-Asia fund
Baring Private Equity Asia is back in the market seeking $8.5 billion for its eighth pan-regional fund, less than 15 months after closing Fund VII at $6.5 billion.
JC Flowers exits Asia trading platforms business
JC Flowers has agreed to sell Hong Kong-based Chi-X Asia Pacific, which operates equity trading platforms in Australia and Japan, to US-based Cboe Global Markets.
DCM set for partial exit from Japan's Freee
Tokyo-listed accounting software provider Freee is set to raise up to JPY42.5 billion ($391 million) through an offering of new shares and the sale of shares held by DCM Ventures.
Ares & SSG: Scale proposition
The merger of Ares Management and SSG Capital is among the largest ever seen in Asian alternatives. They are now pushing into new markets and segments, leveraging the combination of size and local resources
China biotech makes Asia global healthcare PE leader
A more than 100% year-on-year increase in deal volume saw Asia Pacific overtake North America to become the most active global private equity healthcare market for the first time in 2020.
WingArc raises $179m in Japan IPO, Carlyle makes full exit
The Carlyle Group has completed a full exit from Japanese enterprise software developer WingArc1st via the company’s JPY19.4 billion ($179 million) IPO.
Ant Capital seeks $461m for sixth Japan fund
Ant Capital Partners has set a hard cap of JPY50 billion ($461 million) for its sixth Japan buyout fund, with a first close on as much as half that total provisionally scheduled for the end of April.
Deal focus: Gitai turns robot economics on its head
Japanese start-up Gitai eschews conventional wisdom that industrial-use robots must be specialized. Its Series B round will be used to build general-purpose robots for use in space
Korea's Coupang gains 41% on debut after $4.5b US IPO
BlackRock Private Equity Partners received proceeds of $936 million through a partial exit from Korean e-commerce business Coupang, which raised $4.55 billion in its US IPO. The stock gained 41% on debut.
US-Japan VC hits $75m first close on cross-border fund
SIP Global Partners, a US and Japan-headquartered VC firm, has reached a first close of $75 million on its debut cross-border fund. The target is $150 million.
Polaris buys mapping business from Japan's Pioneer
Japanese technology conglomerate Pioneer Corporation has agreed to sell Increment P Corporation – its car navigation and mapping business – to Polaris Capital Group.
Singapore's East Ventures takes over EV Growth
EV Growth, a joint venture between Singapore’s East Ventures, Indonesia’s SMDV and Japan’s YJ Capital, is dissolving its co-GP structure, with East Ventures taking over as the sole manager.
Korea biotech start-up gets $44.5m pre-IPO round
Korea’s Standigm, which provides artificial intelligence (AI) systems to biotech operators, has raised a $44.5 billion pre-IPO round led by SKS Private Equity and Daishin Privat Equity.
Japan space robotics start-up gets $17m
Gitai, a Japanese start-up developing a humanoid general-purpose work robot for use in space, has secured a JPY1.8 billion ($17 million) Series B round from local VCs.
KIC appoints new private equity head
Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) has appointed Sungjun Song as head of its private equity division.
ESG & operations: Compliance corner
Few mid-market private equity firms in Asia have dedicated ESG personnel and this is not necessarily an obstacle to progress. As compliance and reporting burdens increase, the status quo may change
FountainVest buys China logistics business
FountainVest Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in China-based CJ Rokin Logistics from Korea’s CJ Logistics for KRW733.8 billion ($661.3 million).
New Frontier Japan targets $94m for second fund
New Frontier Japan Investment (NFJI), a lower middle-market Japanese private equity firm, is looking to raise JPY10 billion ($94.4 million) for its second fund.
Q&A: Affirma Capital's Ivo Philipps
Affirma Capital came into being 18 months ago as Standard Chartered’s private equity team spun out with most of the remaining balance sheet assets. COO Ivo Philipps explains the middle and back office transition
VC-backed Appier files for Japan IPO
Appier, a Taiwan-based advertising technology provider, has filed for a JPY26.4 billion ($250 million) Japan IPO. It sets up exits for several VC investors, including Sequoia Capital.
COOs in Asia private equity: Horses for courses
The COO role is gradually becoming more prevalent in Asian private equity, but GPs struggle to find the right combination of financial skills and business acumen. The optimal candidate is often internal