North Asia
Kleiner Perkins, Aspex lead $64m round for Korea's Viva Republica
Kleiner Perkins and Aspex Management, a pan-Asia investor founded in Hong Kong last year, have led a $64 million round for Korean financial technology start-up Viva Republica.
Women entrepreneurs: Tales from the coalface
Women remain underrepresented in start-up ecosystems across Asia, but for those who have taken the plunge, there is potential to make a social impact that transcends their respective target markets
JC Flowers plans near-full exit from Japan's Shinsei Bank
US-based private equity firm JC Flowers is planning to sell nearly all of its stake in Japanese financial institution Shinsei Bank for an undisclosed amount.
Integral agrees carve-out of Japanese refrigerator supplier
Integral Corporation has agreed a JPY50 billion ($471 million) carve-out of a subsidiary of Tokyo-listed Sanden Holdings Corporation that supplies refrigerators for use in convenience stores and vending machines.
Japan Post Capital leads $29m Series E for SmartNews
Tokyo-based news app operator SmartNews is said to have achieved unicorn status following a JPY3.1 billion ($29.2 million) Series E round led by Japan Post Capital.
Unison launches Japan hospital roll-up platform
Unison Capital has made the first investment from a newly created platform that will pursue a roll-up strategy in Japan’s hospital industry, with JPY50-60 billion ($467-560 million) set to be committed over the next five years.
Baring Asia buys Korean leasing business from JC Flowers
Baring Private Equity Asia has acquired Korean consumer finance and leasing services provider Acuon Capital from JC Flowers for an undisclosed sum.
Japan Industrial Partners makes tender offer for Nippon Avionics
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has agreed to buy NEC Corporation's majority stake in Tokyo-listed electronics supplier Nippon Avionics and launched a tender offer that values the company at about JPY3.1 billion ($28.4 million).
Japan's Coral Capital names new partner
Coral Capital, formerly 500 Startups Japan, has named Google Japan’s head of start-ups and strategic relations Ken Nishimura (pictured) as a partner and chief editor.
Japan middle market: Going local
Private equity firms looking for an edge in Japan’s middle market are leveraging relationships with brokers and banks – including LPs in their funds – to access company founders in the hinterlands
Japan space tech start-up raises $100m
Synspective, a Japan-based satellite developer and orbital data services provider, has raised $100 million in a Series A round with participation from a group including SBI Investment.
SoftBank expects at least $108b for second Vision Fund
SoftBank Group is set to establish its second Vision Fund focused on artificial intelligence (AI) with about $108 billion in initial commitments.
IMM reaches $1.3b first close on Fund IV, strikes two deals
Korea’s IMM Private Equity has hit the $1.3 billion mark with a first close on its fourth fund, with contributions from international LPs added to the core domestic support. The manager has already put $450 million to work across two deals.
Korea's Moiin launches $100m VR fund
Korean virtual reality (VR) hardware developer Moiin has announced plans to launch a $100 million venture capital fund in the US focused on immersive gaming companies globally.
New Horizon buys Japan cosmetics player from Ant Capital
Japanese private equity firm New Horizon Capital has acquired 100% of Kagayaku Cosmetics from Ant Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum.
SoftBank Ventures Asia hits $269m first close on global fund
SoftBank Ventures Asia – previously known as SoftBank Ventures Korea – has reached a first close of KRW317.4 billion ($269 million) on a fund that will make early-stage investments globally with a focus on Asia.
Korea's Orum Therapeutics secures $30m Series B
Orum Therapeutics, a Korean biotechnology developer targeting cancer and rare diseases, has secured a $30 million Series B round from a group including IMM Investment and InterVest.
Culture is key to a sustainable spin-out - AVCJ Forum
Making a private equity spin-out work is as much about cultivating a transparent culture within the team as identifying an underserved market segment, industry participants told the AVCJ USA Forum.
Japanese cooking robot developer raises Series A
Global Brain has led a JPY8.5 billion ($7.8 million) Series A round for Connected Robotics, a Japanese robotics developer that specializes in cooking.
Japanese autonomous driving start-up Tier IV raises $100m
Japanese autonomous driving technology developer Tier IV has raised $100 million in Series A funding from a group of investors including Jafco.
Goodwater, Mitsubishi lead Series B for Japan fintech player
US venture firm Goodwater Capital and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital have co-led a JPY1.5 billion ($14 million) Series B round for Japanese financial technology provider Kyash.
Sony partners Japan's Daiwa for $186m VC fund
Sony has joined Daiwa Capital Holdings, a subsidiary of Japan’s Daiwa Securities Group, for a JPY20 billion ($186 million) VC fund targeting start-ups in high growth industries.
Japan's JBIC backs $788m Russian chemicals project
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has teamed up with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), a sovereign wealth fund, to invest at least RUB50 billion ($788 million) in a chemical complex in western Russia.
Japan's TDK sets up VC arm, $50m fund
Japanese electronics giant TDK Corporation has established a venture capital unit with the launch of a $50 million fund that will focus on early-stage start-ups.