North Asia
Q&A: Ripplewood's Tim Collins
A Ripplewood Holdings-led consortium broke new ground for private equity with the turnaround of Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan. CEO Tim Collins explains why he boldly goes where others fear to tread
Japan PE fundraising: Upsizing
Japanese private equity firms are looking to raise larger funds, based on what is described as a blossoming investment opportunity. Do they risk biting off more than they can chew?
Catalys seeks $100m for Japan healthcare VC fund
Newly established Japanese venture capital firm Catalys Pacific has launched its debut fund with a view to raise $100 million for investments in early-stage life science start-ups globally.
Panasonic, VCs back Series B for Japan robotics player
Panasonic Corporation has joined a group of Japanese venture capital firms in a JPY900 million ($8.3 million) Series B round for local industrial robotics systems developer Linkwiz.
CLSA backs Series B extension for Korea's PeopleFund
Lending Ark Asia, a private credit division of CLSA Capital Partners, has led a $35 million extension to a Series B round for South Korean lending marketplace PeopleFund.
Advantage buys Japanese niche education businesses
Advantage Partners has acquired two Japan-based education assets – vocational training provider Abitus and Tokyo Central Japanese Language School (TCJ).
PE-backed ESR postpones Hong Kong IPO
Pan-Asian logistics and fund management platform ESR has postponed its Hong Kong IPO, which was expected to raise up to HK$9.75 billion ($1.24 billion) and facilitate partial exits for several private equity investors.
KKR to sell Korean battery components maker for $1b
KKR is set for the first exit from its third Asian fund, having agreed to sell Korean copper foils manufacturer KCF Technologies to an affiliate of SK Group for KRW1.2 trillion ($1 billion).
GIC, Booking invest $180m in Korea's Yanolja
Singapore’s GIC Private and US-based Booking Holdings have invested $180 million in South Korean hotel operator and booking platform Yanolja, reportedly valuing the company at more than $1 billion.
500 Startups launches second Korea fund
500 Startups has launched its second Korea fund focused on early-stage technology companies in the country.
Japan's Polaris to back Panasonic security spin-out
Japan’s Polaris Capital has agreed to back Panasonic i-Pro Sensing Solutions, a spin-out of Panasonic that will take over the parent company’s security systems business in Japan and overseas.
Japanese food tech start-up secures Series A round
Japan’s Base Food, a company that produces packaged meals that are said to be nutritionally complete, has raised JPY400 million ($3.7 million) in Series A funding from a group including Global Brain.
MBK to buy majority stake in Korea's Lotte Card for $1.2b
MBK Partners has agreed to assume majority control of the credit card business of South Korean conglomerate Lotte Corporation in a deal worth KRW1.38 trillion ($1.17 billion).
Affirma to buy Korean cosmetics manufacturer
Affirma Capital, a GP established through the spin-out of Standard Chartered’s private equity business, has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in South Korea-based Hwa Sung Cosmetics.
SBI joins $35m Series B for Japan's Pixie Dust
SBI Investment, the VC arm of Japan’s SBI Holdings, has joined a JPY3.8 billion $35 million Series B round for Pixie Dust Technologies, a local company developing novel uses for ultrasonic waves.
Korea's CJ CheilJedang brings Bain into Schwan's deal
Korean consumer conglomerate CJ CheilJedang Corporation has agreed to sell a 27% stake in CJ Foods America – a vehicle established for the acquisition of US frozen foods provider Schwan’s – to Bain Capital for $320 million.
PE-backed ESR closes Japan logistics fund at $1.8b
ESR, a pan-Asian logistics and fund management platform that was seeded by Warburg Pincus, has closed its latest Japan-focused fund at JPY200 billion ($1.8 billion).
Japan's PE-backed Sansan files for IPO
Sansan, a PE-backed company that specializes in cloud-based business card digitization, has filed for a domestic IPO that is expected to generate around JPY35.2 billion ($321 million).
L Catterton's Asia team to spin-out, raise growth fund
The bulk of the L Capital Asia team that merged with Catterton in 2016 to form L Catterton, a global consumer-focused private equity firm, is spinning out to raise a $750 million Asia growth fund.
Japan's Gree rebrands as Strive, launches $137m fund
Japan’s Gree Ventures has rebranded as Strive and launched its third fund with a view to raising JPY15 billion ($137 million) for internet company investments across Japan, Southeast Asia, and India.
VIG hits $530m first close on fourth Korean fund
VIG Partners has reached a first close of $530 million on its fourth Korea-focused fund, with international investors accounting for more than 60% of commitments received so far.
Japan crowdfunding player raises $20m Series C
Campfire, a Japanese crowdfunding platform operator, has raised a JPY2.2 billion ($20 million) Series C round with support from Global Brain and KDDI Corporation.
Allianz, GLP to invest $600m in Asia logistics
German financial services giant Allianz has committed $600 million to funds managed by GLP, a PE-owned warehouse operator based in Singapore, with a view to investing in logistics in China and Japan.
Kyobo Life: The mother of all puts
Put options amount to threats seldom acted upon. By demanding that the chairman of Korea’s third-largest life insurer buy back their shares, a group of investors has taken Asian PE into uncharted territory