North Asia
J-Star buys Japanese consumer brand Sun Smile
J-Star has acquired Sun Smile, a Japanese manufacturer of consumer products aimed at young women.
Korean fintech: Financial times
Korea’s financial technology sector is affording start-ups disruption opportunities based on an outdated infrastructure environment. Early movers are experimenting with a number of business models
Q&A: TMON Chairman Daniel Shin
Daniel Shin, chairman of TMON – formerly known as Ticket Monster – dissects the competitive Korean e-commerce space, with an eye on how new technological applications can provide an operational edge
Korea securities firms: Brokerage bonanza
Korean securities firms are building PE teams with a view to raising capital from third-party investors. There is government support for these efforts, but independent GPs aren’t worried about increased competition
Korean middle market: Up the ladder
Interest from foreign LPs in Korea’s middle-market is rising, but the segment is still dominated by domestic institutional investors. Changes to this dynamic are unlikely to arrive soon
Blackstone hires ex-JP Morgan banker as Japan chairman
The Blackstone Group has appointed Katsuyuki Kuki, who previously spent nine years as an investment banker with J.P. Morgan, as its chairman and representative director for Japan.
Affinity buys majority stake in Korean food container maker
Affinity Equity Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Lock & Lock, a South Korean manufacturer of airtight food containers and kitchen household goods for KRW629.3 billion ($562 million).
SoftBank Group, Vision Fund invest $4.4b in WeWork
US-based co-working space operator WeWork has received commitments totaling $4.4 billion from Japan’s SoftBank Group and its SoftBank Vision Fund.
SparkLabs launches $50m Korea, SE Asia venture fund
SparkLabs Global Ventures has launched a $50 million venture capital fund that will make Series A and B investments in Korean and Southeast Asian start-ups.
Partners Group appoints Japan head
Partners Group has appointed Shunsuke Tanahashi (pictured) as head of the private equity firm’s Japanese business.
Jafco backs Japan blockchain-IoT start-up
Nayuta, a Japanese start-up focused on combining internet-of-things (IoT) and blockchain technologies, has received a JPY140 million ($1.3 million) funding round led by Jafco.
Crescendo Equity, Lindman back Korean software developer Hancom
Hancom, a South Korea-listed software developer, has raised KRW60 billion ($53 million) from two private equity firms.
VCs invest $6.4m in Japan's Monstar Lab
A group of venture capital investors including YJ Capital and Fenox Venture Capital has led a JPY700 million ($6.4 million) funding round for Japanese global outsourcing service developer Monstar Lab.
Portfolio: The Rohatyn Group and BHC
The Rohatyn Group bought Korean fried chicken franchise BHC in 2013 with a view to ironing out inefficiencies, broadening brand appeal, and pursuing bolt-on acquisitions. It has made progress in each area
VCs commit $9m to Japan blockchain platform
Nippon Technology Venture Partners, Fisco Capital, and ABBALab have committed $9 million to Japanese cryptocurrency platform Tech Bureau.
CLSA-backed BC Ings makes Japan education bolt-on
BC Ings, a Japanese cram school operator owned by CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP), has acquired local counterpart Akasaka Gakuin.
INCJ joins $4.3m round for Japan AI player
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Bank of Kochi have agreed to jointly invest JPY470 million ($4.3 million) in Japanese artificial intelligence (AI) technology developer Nextremer.
China’s GSR to acquire Nissan’s electric battery business
Japan’s Nissan Motor has agreed to sell its electric battery operations and production facilities to Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital. Financial terms were not disclosed.
VCs back Asia expansion by Japan's Sansan
Japanese cloud-based professional services company Sansan has received a fresh round of expansion funding from Mirai Creation Investment and existing backers DCM and Salesforce Ventures.
Japan's KDDI to acquire VC-backed Soracom
Soracom, a Japanese internet of things (IoT) communications platform that has several VC backers, will be acquired by domestic telecom operator KDDI Corporation.
Q&A: Permira's Alex Emery
Alex Emery, head of Asia at Permira, on global funds versus regional funds, escalations in dry powder and deal size, and how to lay the ground for when the current bull run inevitably comes to an end
Deal focus: KKR hits the gas on Korea auto carve-out
KKR has backed two divisions of Korea's LS Group - worth a combined $940 million - giving it exposure to an established auto parts business and a division that could prosper on the back of the electric car boom
Japan VC: Culture club
The Cool Japan policy aims to internationalize a large but lagging economy beyond its manufacturing roots. Venture capital will be the key to reimagining unique overlaps of culture and technology
Secondary buyouts: Peer to peer
Maligned by some investors, sponsor-to-sponsor deals are gradually becoming more prevalent in Asia as the private equity industry matures. What is the early verdict?