North Asia
Google joins Series C round for Japan's Abeja
Google has participated in a Series C round for Japanese corporate analytics player Abeja, taking the company's cumulative funding to JPY6 billion ($53 million).
Ardian opens Korea office
Ardian has opened an office in South Korea – its fourth in Asia – in order to service the needs of a growing investor base in the region.
Cool Japan leads $44m round for Spiber
Cool Japan Fund has led a JPY5 billion ($44 million) round for Spiber, a domestic biotechnology developer focused on synthesizing protein-based materials that simulate characteristics of spiderwebs.
Morgan Stanley's Matsuyama joins Carlyle Japan
The Carlyle Group has named Tomofumi Matsuyama (pictured), a former executive at Morgan Stanley, as a managing director of its Japan buyout team.
VIG buys global Korean fried chicken franchise
VIG Partners has agreed to buy a 55% stake in Bonchon International, a Korean fried chicken restaurant brand with 325 outlets across eight countries. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.
Polaris to acquire Japan's O-Net from Rakuten
Polaris Capital has agreed to acquire Japanese online marriage services and event planning business O-net from e-commerce giant Rakuten for an undisclosed amount.
Korea's ACE Equity seals $356m tech manufacturing buyout
ACE Equity Partners, a Korean private equity firm that operates on a project fund basis, has acquired Daeho Technology Korea (DTK), a manufacturer of glass used in smart phones, for KRW400 billion ($356 million).
VIG-owned Hi-Parking buys Wilson Parking Korea
HiParking, a Korean parking managing business owned by VIG Partners, has agreed to buy Wilson Parking Korea as part of an industry consolidation play.
Japan's NTT launches $500m global VC fund
Japanese telecommunications giant NTT Corporation has set up $500 million global venture capital fund that will focus on digital technologies.
Deal sourcing: Priority access
While proprietary deals are not always possible in Asian private equity, there are many ways for GPs to gain an edge even when competing with multiple bidders for the same asset
SCPE buys controlling stake in Korean meat importer
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has acquired a controlling interest in Sunwoo, a South Korea-based meat importer, for $90.1 million.
Deal focus: L Catterton enters Japan with Owndays
In its debut Japan investment, L Catterton plans to help eyewear maker Owndays expand its customer-friendly business model outside its home market
Vision Fund invests $2b in Korea’s Coupang
SoftBank Vision Fund has committed $2 billion to South Korean e-commerce business Coupang, reportedly valuing the company at $9 billion.
CITIC Capital buys control of cooking sauce brand Amoy
CITIC Capital has acquired a controlling stake in Amoy Food, a Hong Kong-based manufacturer of cooking sauces owned by Japanese food and beverage maker Ajinomoto, for an undisclosed sum.
Korean GPs worry about valuations, wage hikes - AVCJ Forum
South Korean private equity investors warned the AVCJ Forum that valuations and an increase in the minimum wage could play havoc in the market next year following what has so far been a relatively benign 2018.
LPs drive evolution in Asia back office practices – AVCJ Forum
Growing demand for information and reporting among a shifting LP base is leading Asian GPs to improve their back office structuring, investors told the AVCJ Forum.
Korea PE outlook: Exit issues
While Korea’s private equity market remains relatively stable, a much-anticipated opening up of IPO exits has yet to come to fruition
Japan PE outlook: Slow and steady
GPs have built strong ties with corporate Japan by demonstrating value-add capabilities. These networks should serve them well as the market becomes more active
TEPCO invests in PE-backed Vietnam hydro project
Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has invested in a Vietnam hydropower project in which Nexif Energy, a Southeast Asia-focused energy investment platform backed by Denham Capital, owns a majority stake.
L Catterton, Mitsui invest in Japanese eyewear retailer
L Catterton Asia has made its first investment in Japan, partnering Mitsui & Co. Principal Investments (MCPI) to support local eyewear retailer Owndays.
Operational value-add: Sweat equity
As Asian GPs trial a range of operational value-add strategies with an eye on shifting market dynamics, they are discovering that helping portfolio companies requires self-inspection
Japan’s TEPCO invests in PE-backed Electrify
Electrify, a Singapore-based energy marketplace based on blockchain technology and backed by Japan’s Global Brain, has raised an investment of undisclosed size from TEPCO Frontier Partners, an incubator sponsored by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).
TRG agrees sale of Korean fried chicken business BHC
The Rohatyn Group (TRG) has agreed to exit BHC Group, a South Korean fried chicken restaurant franchisor, by selling the business back to its founder.
CITIC Capital buys Japan's Nippon Oil Pump from Wendel
CITIC Capital Partners has agreed to acquire Nippon Oil Pump (NOP), a Japan-based maker of hydraulic pumps and motors, from European listed investment firm Wendel for about EUR85 million ($97 million).