North Asia
Japan space debris start-up raises $191m Series E
Astroscale, a Japanese space tech start-up dedicated to cleaning up orbital debris, has closed its Series E round at $191 million with support from local investors aStart and Sparx Group.
Deal focus: VR gaming comes of age
Japanese videogame publishing company Thirdverse believes the time is right to bring virtual reality entertainment to the masses. VCs with expertise in the sector are beginning to agree
Polaris wins PSERS support for $1.4b Japan fund
Polaris Capital Group has won support from Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) for a Japan buyout fund of up to JPY150 billion ($1.4 billion), twice the size of its 2016 vintage predecessor.
Q&A: Unison Capital's Tatsuo Kawasaki
Tatsuo Kawasaki, a partner at Unison Capital, on supporting existing investments and making new ones, expectations of distress in Japan, and why a platform approach makes sense for healthcare
Jafco backs Japan VR game developer
Japan’s Jafco has led an $8.5 million Series A round for local virtual reality (VR) game developer Thirdverse.
Bain launches Japan fund
Bain Capital has launched a dedicated Japan fund with a target of JPY100 billion ($946 million) as local and foreign managers ready themselves for a much-anticipated rise in buyout deal flow in the country.
Japan voice AI player RevComm raises $14m Series A
RevComm, a Japan-based voice recognition artificial intelligence (AI) technology provider, has closed its Series A round at JPY1.5 billion ($14.2 million) with support from several local VCs.
J-Star acquires Japan aquaculture business
Japanese lower middle market private equity firm J-Star has acquired local aquaculture industry supplier Dainichi for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Affirma’s decade-long water turnaround
Having assumed full ownership of EMC Holdings in 2016, Affirma Capital rejuvenated the Korean wastewater management business through savvy acquisitions and encouraging management to get creative
IMM agrees $124m exit from Korea's Hollys Coffee
IMM Private Equity is set to exit its approximately 94% stake in Korean food and beverage chain Hollys Coffee to local digital payments services provider KG Inicis for KRW145 billion ($124 million).
PE-owned Japan flash memory player postpones IPO
Kioxia Holdings, the Japanese flash memory business that a Bain Capital-led consortium acquired from Toshiba two years ago for an enterprise valuation of JPY2 trillion ($18.7 billion) has pulled the plug on its Tokyo IPO.
Japan gaming start-up raises Series A, hits $1b valuation
Playco, a Japan-headquartered mobile gaming start-up, has simultaneously formally launched operations and become a unicorn, raising $100 million in Series A funding at a valuation of $1 billion.
Deal focus: NSSK completes digital transformation
Converting Bunkasha Publishing's library of manga library from paper to digital form was a priority for NSSK. New owner Beaglee will now plug this content into its online distribution platform
CLSA closes fourth Japan fund at $450m
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has closed its fourth Japan mid-market fund at $450 million after approximately three months in the market.
Asia exits: Liquidity lags
Private equity exits – outside of the public markets – are gradually emerging from a COVID-19 hibernation. But sellers must be mindful of timing, structure, and which buyers they are targeting
NSSK sells Japanese manga publisher
NSSK has sold Bunkasha Publishing, a Japanese media group focused on manga comics in both print and digital formats, to local internet content provider Beaglee.
Japan's 31 Ventures establishes second fund with $81m
Japan-based 31 Ventures, a VC firm established by local investor Global Brain and property developer Mitsui Fudosan, has launched a second fund of JPY8.5 billion ($81 million).
LP interview: Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
For Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, COVID-19 has reinforced the key tenets of its Asia investment strategy, from being flexible on timeline to putting boots on the ground
CLSA acquires Japan fitness club operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has acquired Japanese 24-hour fitness club operator Worldplus for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Affinity, Baring leverage market dislocation
Seeing Korean banks trading at discounted valuations and believing in the long-term health of the industry, some private equity investors have taken the opportunity to buy in the public markets
Bain pursues $374m acquisition of Japan pharmacy business
Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Japanese pharmacy chain store operator Kirindo Holdings through a tender offer that values the business at JPY39.7 billion ($374 million).
PAG exits Young Toys to Korean strategic buyer
PAG Asia Capital has sold Young Toys, a South Korea-based toy manufacturer it has owned since 2015, to a consortium led by MiraeN Group, a leading local publisher.
Korean AI drug developer secures $14m Series B
Oncocross, a South Korean drug developer that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify new applications for treatments already in clinical trials, has raised KRW16.5 billion ($14 million) in Series B funding led by Smilegate Investment and GNTech...
Baring-owned Vistra acquires Japan accounting firm
Vistra, a Hong Kong-based corporate services provider and fund administrator owned by Baring Private Equity Asia, has acquired Japanese accounting specialist Routes for an undisclosed sum.