North Asia
Japan's J-Star announces trio of investments
Japan’s J-Star has continued the rapid deployment of its third fund, securing buyouts across the lifestyle retail, recycling, and fire safety equipment manufacturing spaces.
Baring Asia realizes 2.4x return on Korea cement deal
Baring Private Equity Asia has completed its exit from Korean construction materials business Halla Cement, selling the asset to Asia Cement for an enterprise value of $723 million.
VCs commit $30m to Japanese recipe-sharing start-up
SoftBank and YJ Capital have taken part in a JPY3.4 billion ($30.2 million) funding round for Japanese online food media start-up Dely.
Japan's Folio gets $63m in extended Series A
A group of investors including Goldman Sachs have invested JPY7 billion ($63 million) in Japanese stock trading app operator Folio.
Japan's SBI sets up $450m AI-blockchain fund
SBI Investment, the VC arm of Japan’s SBI Holdings, has launched a JPY50 billion ($450 million) fund that will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology.
Korean political crises present PE opportunities
A turbulent 2017 for South Korea in both domestic and international politics has complicated private equity agendas across a number of sectors, but GPs are tracking some positive aftereffects.
Overseas LPs find entering Asia challenging
Overseas institutional LPs – in particular those willing to write larger checks – have found it difficult to access Asia's private equity market, industry participants told the HKVCA Asia Private Equity Forum.
Space technology: Starship enterprises
Space technology is being democratized outside its historical geographic and institutional spheres of development. As private investors get on board, a new range of risks and rewards is coming into focus
StepStone wins GPIF infrastructure mandate
Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) – the world’s largest pool of retirement savings – has awarded a global infrastructure fund-of-funds mandate to StepStone Group.
Deal focus: VIG sees stability in shoes
Korea's VIG Partners completes its second OEM deal in six months with the $207 million acquisition of Youyoung, a supplier of materials used in running shoes
Japan's J-Star invests in restaurant, auto businesses
J-Star has acquired a majority stake in Japanese restaurant operator Section Eight and invested in new and pre-owned car dealer Sanwa Service.
Global Brain backs $13m round for Japan's Base
Japanese venture capital firm Global Brain has led a JPY1.5 billion funding round for domestic online shopping start-up Base.
Brookfield to buy Westinghouse from Toshiba
Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to buy the Westinghouse nuclear power unit from Japan’s Toshiba Corporation in a deal worth approximately $4.6 billion.
VIG buys Korean sports shoe materials supplier
VIG Partners has acquired Youyoung, a Korea-based supplier of materials used in running shoes, for an enterprise valuation of KRW220 billion ($207 million).
INCJ joins $33m Series C for Japan's Megakaryon
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has joined a JPY3.7 billion ($33 million) Series C funding round for Megakaryon, a domestic medical research company.
Affinity closes fifth Asia fund at $6b
Affinity Equity Partners has completed a first and final close on its fifth pan-Asian fund at the hard cap of $6 billion after approximately five months in the market.
MBK promotes COO to partner
MBK Partners has promoted Bryan Byungsuk Min, currently the firm’s COO, to partner.
VCs invest $18m in Japan lifestyle media player
Every, a Japanese media company focused on lifestyle-oriented and smartphone-accessible content, has raised about JPY2.1 billion ($18.3 million) from a number of VCs, including World Innovation Lab.
J-Star exits Japan's Aisei Pharmacy to management team
J-Star has agreed to exit Japanese drugstore chain Aisei Pharmacy to company management less than two years after completing a JPY11.4 billion ($101 million) privatization.
AVCJ Awards 2017: Exit of the Year - Large Cap: Universal Studios Japan
Goldman Sachs, MBK Partners, Owl Creek Asset Management and PAG Asia Capital have profited handsomely from their efforts to bring more families to Universal Studios Japan
AVCJ Awards 2017: Exit of the Year - Mid Cap: Riraku
Over the course of four years, Advantage Partners doubled Japanese massage chain operator Riraku’s store count and tripled EBITDA. A 12x money multiple on exit was its reward
Carlyle sells Japan's AvanStrate to Vedanta Resources
Vedanta Resources, a metals and mining company founded in India and now headquartered in London, has agreed to assume control of Japanese LCD glass manufacturer AvanStrate from The Carlyle Group.
AVCJ Awards 2017: Deal of the Year - Mid Cap: Press & Converting
With Korean cosmetics brands trading at high valuations, VIG Partners thinks it got a bargain by moving upstream and buying a niche supplier to the skincare industry
ICG invests $200m in Korean injection molding company
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) has invested $200 million for a substantial minority stake in Yudo China Holdings, a Korea-headquartered plastic injection molding specialist, as part of efforts to consolidate the business ahead of an IPO.