North Asia
KKR announces eight promotions in Asia
Chung Ho Park, a member of KKR’s private equity team and co-head of the firm’s Korea business, has been promoted to partner level. A further seven Asia-based professionals, across different strategies, were named managing directors.
Deal focus: One Store brings service to videogaming
A freshly spun-out private equity arm of SK Securities is helping Korea’s One Store break up a local monopoly in mobile videogame marketing.
Japan’s J-Star closes fourth fund at $443m
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has closed its fourth middle-market fund at the hard cap of JPY48.5 billion ($433 million), up from JPY32.5 billion in the previous vintage.
Japan health tech player SmartScan gets $10m Series A
SmartScan, a Japanese medical technology supplier focused on software for diagnostics equipment, has raised a JPY1.3 billion ($10.3 million) Series A round from domestic VCs.
MBK sets $6.5b hard cap for fifth North Asia fund
MBK Partners is looking to become the sixth pan-Asian private equity manager to cross the $6 billion threshold, having set the hard cap for its fifth fund at $6.5 billion.
PE & QSR: Selling pizza in Japan
From delightfully indulgent pizza toppings to delivery world records, Domino’s Japan has added a splash of color to the food and beverage space. It also served up robust private equity returns
Japan's SmartNews secures $92m Series E
Japan-based news app SmartNews has closed its Series E round at $92 million with contributions from Japan Post Capital and Globis Capital Partners.
Japanese space rental platform files for IPO
SpaceMarket, a Japanese start-up that lists vacant spaces available for rent for corporate events, is looking to raise up to JPY933.2 million ($8.5 million) through a domestic IPO.
MBK, Mirae buy stake in Asia assets of Korea's CJ CGV
MBK Partners and Mirae Asset Daewoo Private Equity have agreed to pay KRW333.6 billion ($286 million) for a minority position in the China and Southeast Asia assets of Korean cinema chain operator CJ CGV.
IMM set for 2.3x return from Korea's Tailim Packaging
IMM Private Equity is expected to deliver a 2.3x return on its investment in Tailim Packaging Group following an agreement to sell the cardboard box manufacturer to Sae-A Trading for an enterprise valuation of around $1.5 billion.
Unison agrees $526m Japan pharma carve-out
Unison Capital has agreed to buy Kyowa Pharmaceutical Industry, a Japanese subsidiary of India-headquartered drug manufacturer Lupin for an enterprise valuation of JPY57.4 billion ($526 million).
Korean mobile app market One Store gets $86m
One Store, a Korean mobile app market controlled by SK Telecom, has raised a KRW100 billion ($86 million) round led by local VC firm Kiwoom Investment.
PAG, Centurium win firm of the year prizes at AVCJ Awards
PAG Asia Capital and Centurium Capital secured the two firm of the year prizes at the 2019 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards, while Renuka Ramnath of India’s Multiples Alternative Asset Management won the AVCJ Special Achievement Award.
Japan's WealthNavi secures $37m funding round
A fund launched by Sony Financial Ventures and Global Brain is among the participants in a JPY4.1 billion ($37.5 million) funding round for Japanese financial technology start-up WealthNavi.
SoftBank founder admits to lapses on WeWork
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son admitted to a lapse in judgment on WeWork while disclosing that SoftBank Vision Fund and SoftBank Group have written down their positions in the beleaguered co-working space provider by a combined $7.7 billion.
PE & QSR: Ambition on a bun
Many private equity investors think they can make a fast buck from fast dining, but rolling out a Western-style brand in Asia requires discipline on valuation and competence in execution
German VC firm DTCP opens Korea office
DTCP, a Germany-based VC firm controlled by Deutsche Telekom and Korea’s SK Telecom, has opened its first Asian office in Seoul.
HQ hires AB Value's Kitamura for Japan coverage
Motoya Kitamura, previously managing partner of Japanese secondaries investor AB Value Capital Partners, has joined HQ Capital as a managing director.
Japan's Paidy secures $143m in funding
Paidy, one of Japan’s largest financial technology start-ups, has confirmed $143 million in new funding, comprising an extended Series C round and debt financing.
Aspirant scales up for third Japan buyout fund
Aspirant Group, a Japanese middle-market buyout firm, has closed its third fund at the hard cap of JPY50 billion ($463 million). It is nearly twice the size of the GP’s previous vehicle.
GP profile: J-Star
J-Star’s measured approach to Japan’s middle-market buyout space has tracked a slowly unfolding opportunity set with an uncommon sense of patience
Japan's J-Star forms media platform with three acquisitions
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has acquired three local internet media companies with a view to bundling them into an acquisition platform for the sector.
Advantage seeks $690m for sixth Japan buyout fund
Advantage Partners is looking to raise around JPY75 billion ($690 million) for its sixth Japan-focused middle-market buyout fund, up from JPY60 billion in the previous vintage.
Japan succession planning: The generation game
By selling a stake in the GP, Advantage Partners has broken new ground in Japanese private equity. The move is designed to facilitate ownership transition, accumulate balance sheet capital
