North Asia
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.
KKR agrees $2.2b sale of Japan's Kokusai Electric
KKR will sell Kokusai Electric – a semiconductor-focused thin film manufacturing business acquired from Hitachi approximately 18 months ago – to US-listed Applied Materials for $2.2 billion in cash.
GPs anticipate rich flow of Japanese divestments - AVCJ Forum
The corporate carve-out opportunity in Japan is sizeable and sustainable, despite relatively lackluster large-cap deal flow in 2018, industry participants told the AVCJ Japan Forum.
Deal focus: KKR drives KCF ahead of schedule
KKR generates a healthy exit for its third pan-Asian fund by helping Korean copper components supplier KCF Technologies build up exposure to a booming electric vehicle market
VIG to make full exit from Korea's Samyang Optics
VIG has agreed to make a full exit from Korean camera lens manufacturer Samyang Optics – having taken the business public in 2017 – and will realize a 3.5x gross return on its investment.
Bain agrees Japan human resources carve-out
Bain Capital Private Equity has agreed to acquire 100% of the human resources (HR) business and related subsidiaries of Japan corporate software developer Works Applications for an undisclosed sum.
The 20-year review
AVCJ's Japan Forum has been going for two decades, a period during which the industry has embarked on several roller-coaster journeys. For now, though, the market appears to be in good health
Unison buys Japanese hair treatment specialist
Unison Capital has acquired Pyuru, a Japanese producer of hair care and cosmetics products best known for a naturally-derived treatment for graying hair.
Japan secondary buyouts: Between friends
Negative perceptions and local sensitivities have stymied the development of secondary buyouts in Japan. International GPs – plus some of their domestic peers – have the firepower to drive change
Profile: Ernest Higa
From lumber to fast food, Ernest Higa has found a market for US concepts in Japan. The entrepreneur – and oftentimes private equity collaborator – believes careful customization is the key to success
Japan’s Aspirant leads $223m manufacturing carve-out
Japanese private equity firm Aspirant Group has led the 100% acquisition of a copper tubing subsidiary of diversified industrial manufacturer UACJ Corporation for about JPY24 billion ($223 million).
Global GPs and Japanese LPs: Stirring the pot
As Japanese institutional investors seek to initiate or change up their private equity programs, GPs looking to build long-term relationships in the country must find the right way to engage
Revitalizing Japan's conglomerates: Big ticket
Japan’s manufacturing conglomerates are continuing to define the economy as they either adapt or succumb to new technology trends. The process is adding a new ripple to the local carve-out market