North Asia
Globis, WiL, Japan Post back Series B for AI Medical
AI Medical Service, a Japanese healthcare technology start-up working on what it claims is the world’s first artificial intelligence-enabled endoscopic diagnosis system, has raised JPY4.6 billion ($43 million) in Series B funding.
Fund focus: Hahn eyes more big buyouts
With $3.2 billion in dry powder, Hahn & Company is looking for larger deals in a Korean market that already punches above its weight in private equity terms
CLSA exits Japanese automotive tools retailer
CLSA Capital Partners has exited Worldtool, a Japanese automotive tools retailer that primarily operates under the Astro Products brand, to domestic home improvement chain Royal Homecenter.
Japanese flying car developer receives $14m
Japanese flying car developer SkyDrive has raised a $14 million funding round from a group including Itochu Technology Ventures and Strive.
Japan's GPIF reappoints Hiro Mizuno as CIO
Hiro Mizuno (pictured) has been reappointed CIO of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) following the conclusion of his first term leading the world’s largest retirement savings pool at the end of September.
VIG acquires Korean education business
VIG Partners has agreed to pay KRW165 billion ($137 million) for a controlling stake in D.Share, an online-offline English language education provider in Korea.
Glenwood agrees $263m Korean glass carve-out
Glenwood Private Equity, a GP led by the son of Samsung Group’s former vice chairman, has agreed to buy the Korean glass-making operation of France-based Saint-Gobain for an enterprise value of EUR240 million ($263 million).
Bain buys Japanese email business from Cheetah Digital
Bain Capital Private Equity has acquired the Japanese email services business of Cheetah Digital, a US marketing firm backed by San Francisco-based Vector Capital.
Carlyle recruits Goldman Sachs banker as Korea head
The Carlyle Group has appointed John Kim (pictured), previously of Goldman Sachs, as a managing director in its Asia buyout team and head of all investment activity in Korea.
Korea's Hahn & Co raises $3.2b for Fund III, co-invest sidecar
Hahn & Company has closed its third Korea-focused buyout fund with $3.2 billion in commitments – the largest vehicle ever raised by an independent manager for investment solely in the country.
Japan investors back US token player Securitize
Japanese investors are supporting efforts to bring token-based economic infrastructure to Japan with participation in a $14 million round for US-based digital securities technology player Securitize.
VC-backed Japanese e-commerce player files for IPO
Base, a Japanese e-commerce services platform that helps small-scale vendors establish online shops, has filed for an IPO in Tokyo. It will facilitate partial exits for multiple venture capital investors.
Japan carve-out opportunity moves beyond conglomerates
Japan’s corporate carve-out opportunity set is expanding as smaller firms begin to follow the example of conglomerates, according to domestic mid-market GP Integral Corporation.
Q&A: Pomona Capital's Michael Granoff
Michael Granoff, founder and CEO of Pomona Capital, discusses raising capital from Asian LPs, how GPs can be differentiated in a crowded secondaries market, and why he’s not keen on fund restructurings
Japan's Tokio Marine Capital spins out from parent
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Tokio Marine Capital is spinning out from its corporate parent to form an independent investment manager known as T Capital Partners.
Korea fintech player Tera Funding gets $18m
Korean financial technology provider Tera Funding has secured an $18 million Series B round from a group including SBI Investment Korea and KB Investment.
China PE compensation premium is shrinking - survey
The premium traditionally paid for deal-making talent in China over other Asian jurisdictions is narrowing and in some cases has turned into a deficit – in what might be seen as evidence of GPs looking to strengthen their coverage beyond the region’s...
LPs warn of co-investment risks - AVCJ Forum
The boom in LP appetite for co-investment has made it harder to secure access to deals and created adverse selection risk as private equity firms push beyond their comfort zone, investors told the AVCJ Korea Forum.
Deal focus: Gong Cha’s global push pays off for Unison
Unison Capital achieves a rare feat in helping the Korea franchise of bubble tea retailer Gong Cha take over its Taiwanese parent before facilitating a sale to TA Associates. Entering Japan has been a key value-add
Korea start-ups: The graduates
Korea’s start-ups are internationalizing and becoming more technically advanced as the ecosystem matures. A rapidly multiplying flock of local VCs will have to do the same to keep up with them
VIG secures 3.2x return on Korea's HiParking
VIG Partners has agreed to sell Korean parking management business HiParking to Humax, a consumer electronics manufacturer, for KRW170 billion ($141 million).
Korea culture plays: Brands apart
Korean pop music is being used as a marketing tool for a long tail of consumers products and services. While investors are keen to leverage star power, they recognize it doesn’t last forever
Q&A: Choson Exchange's Geoffrey See
Geoffrey See is an advisor on Korean Peninsula affairs to the World Economic Forum and a serial tech entrepreneur who helps incubate start-ups in North Korea through his organization Choson Exchange
Korea cross-border consumer: Dining out
Restaurant chains can potentially ride on the tailwinds generated by demand for Korean cultural exports, but strong execution is ultimately the key factor in overseas expansion