North Asia
SoftBank achieves $93b first close on global tech fund
SoftBank Group Corp. has reached a first close of more than $93 billion on its global technology investment fund. A final close of $100 billion is expected within six months.
Prostar buys majority stake in Korean gas distributor
Energy-focused private equity firm Prostar Capital and its co-investor BlackRock have acquired Korean gas distributor Kyungnam Energy, facilitating an exit for local GP Anchor Equity Partners.
Japanese digital marketing player receives $28m
From Scratch, a Japanese digital marketing platform, has raised approximately JPY3.2 billion ($28.4 million) in funding from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Rakuten Ventures, as well as several existing investors.
VIG-owned Samyang targets up to $74m in Korea IPO
Samyang Optics, a Korea-based camera lens manufacturer owned by VIG Partners, is seeking to raise as much as KRW82.4 billion ($73.5 million) through a domestic IPO.
MBK secures partial exit from Korea's Coway
MBK Partners has sold part of its stake in Korean water purifier business Coway – having abandoned plans for a full exit last year – generating proceeds of approximately KRW370 billion ($330 million).
J-Star acquires Japan tutoring business
J-Star has purchased the tutoring businesses of Japan’s Alpha Corporation for an undisclosed amount.
Korea's KIC boosts alternatives exposure to $15.1b
Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) hiked its alternatives allocation from 12.4% to 13.7% - reaching $15.1 billion - over the course of 2016 as the overall portfolio posted a positive return following an investment loss in 2015.
Highland closes Asia, US healthcare fund at $147m
Highland Capital Management has raised approximately $147 million for an Asia and North America-focused healthcare fund, having received an anchor LP commitment from South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS).
Endeavour United to buy Pizza Hut Japan
Endeavour United, a GP established by the team behind turnaround investor Phoenix Capital, has agreed to buy Pizza Hut Japan and Phoenix Foods from Mitsubishi Corporation-controlled KFC Holdings Japan.
Japan fundraising: Middle market momentum
Japan’s buyout space has been thrust into the spotlight following a flurry of fundraising activity by domestic private equity firms. Can the middle market retain its sweet spot status?
CLSA closes third Japan fund at $400m hard cap
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has become the seventh private equity firm to close a Japanese mid-market fund since the start of the year, hitting the hard cap of $400 million for its third vehicle.
Japan's Orix to acquire 22% of PE-backed Ormat
Japanese financial services group Orix Corp. has agreed to buy a 22.1% stake in Israeli geothermal energy producer Ormat Technologies for $627 million from an investor group led by PE firm FIMI Opportunity Funds.
VCs back South Korean biopharma player ExoCoBio
South Korean biopharmaceutical developer ExoCoBio has raised an $11 million Series A round from investors including SBI Investment, Atinum Investment, ID Ventures, and Dt&Investment.
CMIG to create $15b One Belt One Road fund
China Minsheng Investment Group (CMIG), the largest privately-held investment group in China, has initiated a new fund that could raise up to $15 billion for investment in overseas projects under the government-backed "One Belt One Road" initiative.
Polaris closes fourth Japan fund on $665m
Polaris Capital Group has hit the hard cap of JPY75 billion ($665 million) for its fourth Japan fund, becoming the third Japanese mid-market GP to announce a final close in the space of a week, and the sixth since the start of the year.
CVC appoints Sumitomo Mitsui executive as Japan president
CVC Capital partners has named Nobuaki Kurumatani, a former executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, as the president of its Japan operations.
Advantage closes fifth Japan fund at $535m
Advantage Partners has reached a final close on its fifth Japan-focused mid-market buyout fund at the hard cap of JPY60 billion ($535 million).
J-Star raises $291m for third Japan fund
J-Star has closed its third Japan-focused buyout fund at the hard cap of JPY32.5 billion ($291 million), having launched the vehicle last summer with a target of JPY30 billion.
HQ exits vehicle parts supplier to Japan's Hitachi Chemical
HQ Equita, a Germany-based mid-market buyout firm controlled by HQ Capital, has agreed the sale of transportation industry supplier Isolite to Japan’s Hitachi Chemical.
NSSK acquires Japanese publishing group
Japanese private equity firm NSSK has acquired Bunkasha Publishing, a domestic media group focused on manga comics in both print and digital formats.
Excelsior buys Office Depot Korea business
Hong Kong-based private equity firm Excelsior Capital has bought the South Korea business of business products supplier Office Depot.
CDIB invests in South Korean skincare company
CDIB Capital, the private equity arm of Taiwan’s China Development Financial, has invested an undisclosed sum in L&P Cosmetic, a skincare company based in South Korea.
South Korea's Ticket Monster raises $115m
Ticket Monster, a PE-backed e-commerce operator based in South Korea, has received a $115 million investment aimed at expanding its grocery shopping and travel services businesses.
Deal focus: Autoplus primed as industry consolidator
Autoplus is the only independent player of the three groups that dominate used car sales in South Korea. Having bought the business for $97 million, VIG Partners expects the company to strengthen its grip on the market