North Asia
Japan's Chikyoren awards overseas PE mandate
Japan’s Pension Fund Association for Local Government Officials (Chikyoren) has awarded an overseas private equity mandate to Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management.
Deal focus: Carlyle backs Tokiwa's global beauty push
Well-established as a manufacturer of choice for global cosmetics brands looking to tweak their products for the Japanese market, Tokiwa is now looking to go global. The Carlyle Group will provide assistance
Advantage to exit Japanese outdoor sports equipment retailer
Advantage Partners has agreed to sell Ishii Sports, a Tokyo-based outdoor sports equipment retailer it acquired three years ago, to local consumer electronics store operator Yodobashi Holdings.
Longreach closes latest buyout fund at $650m
The Longreach Group has reached a final close of $650 million on its third North Asia-focused mid-market buyout fund.
Carlyle invests in Japanese cosmetics maker Tokiwa
The Carlyle Group has agreed to invest an undisclosed amount in Japanese cosmetics manufacturer Tokiwa to support its domestic and overseas expansion plans.
Korea's Standigm raises $11.5m Series B
Mirae Asset Capital has led a $11.5 million Series B round for Standigm, a Korean drug discovery and development company that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
Dai-ichi Life backs energy-focused Japan VC fund
Japan’s Dai-ichi Life Insurance has agreed to invest JPY1 billion ($9.1 million) in a venture fund managed by local energy and cleantech specialist Energy & Environment Investment (EEI).
Golden Gate, Hanwha target SE Asia's Series B rounds
Singapore-based venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures has partnered with South Korea's Hanwha Asset Management to invest in Series B rounds for Southeast Asian start-ups.
Deal focus: CLSA teams up with 'Chanel for children'
CLSA Capital Partners goes niche in Japan’s retail space with the acquisition of premium toymaker Bloom Group. A range of strategic and operational value-add measures are on the table
Japan VC: Positive energy
Japan’s quiet venture capital space is booming within its own borders. Signs of a stronger exit market and an exuberant influx of corporate involvement are encouraging themes, but they will play out slowly
DNX Ventures launches $300m Japan-US VC fund
DNX Ventures, formerly known as Draper Nexus Ventures, has launched its third Japan-US cross-border VC fund with a target of $300 million.
Unison to exit Japan's Ayumi to Blackstone
The Blackstone Group has made its first transaction in Japan, agreeing to acquire Ayumi Pharmaceutical Corporation from Unison Capital and medical information site operator M3.
CLSA buys Japanese toy maker
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has agreed to buy Bloom Group, a Japanese toy manufacturer best known for its “squishy” products popular among elementary and middle-school-age girls.
MBK-owned Homeplus abandons plan for Korean REIT
Homeplus, a South Korean supermarket retailer that an MBK Partners-led consortium acquired from Tesco for $6.4 billion in 2015, has abandoned plans for the IPO of a real estate investment trust (REIT).
Japan's Infinity Ventures targets $120m for fourth fund
Japan-based Infinity Ventures has launched its fourth fund focused on Japan and China with a target of $120 million.
Korean cloud services provider gets $42m
MegazoneCloud, a Korean IT services provider that helps companies incorporate cloud-based systems, has raised $42 million from a group of domestic investors, including the National Pension Service (NPS).
Bain raises tender offer price for Japan's Kosaido
Bain Capital Private Equity has sweetened a tender offer initiated in January for Japan-listed printing and IT services provider Kosaido. The revised bid values the company at about JPY17.4 billion ($157 million).
500 Startups Japan rebrands, launches $45m fund
The Japan-based team of 500 Startups has spun out a separate firm called Coral Capital and announced a debut fund with about $45 million in commitments.
HarbourVest promotes Minjin Chung to managing director
HarbourVest Partners has promoted Minjin Chung (pictured), a principal based in Korea, to the level of managing director with responsibility for North Asia.
PE-backed logistics platform ESR files for Hong Kong IPO
ESR, a pan-Asian logistics and fund management platform that was seeded by Warburg Pincus, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
Japan launches space start-up accelerator
Several venture capital firms, including Global Brain, are participating in a Japanese government-backed accelerator program for space start-ups.
Affinity secures third Korea deal in three months
Affinity Equity Partners has announced its third Korea deal in as many months with an agreement to acquire a majority stake in ServeOne, LG Group’s maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) unit, for KRW602 billion ($535 million).
Japan fundraising: Getting bigger
Will the rapid increases in fund size for the likes of Japan Industrial Partners and Polaris Private Equity turn out to be the exception or the rule in Japan's middle market?
BaltCap, JBIC launch $113m Europe-Japan VC fund
Estonian private equity firm BaltCap and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have launched a EUR100 million ($113 million) Europe-Asia cross-border VC fund with a focus on Japan.