North Asia
Japan's GPIF makes call for alternatives managers
Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has made its first call for applications from alternatives managers, with a view to backing fund-of-funds across private equity, infrastructure and real estate.
VC-backed real estate start-up gets $11.7m from Mitsui
Mitsui & Co has agreed to invest JPY1.3 billion ($11.7 million) in Renoveru, a VC-backed start-up focused on online services in Japan’s home renovations market.
Japan's Tokio Marine closes Fund V at $466m
Tokio Marine Capital has reached a final close of JPY51.7 billion ($466 million) on its fifth Japan mid-market fund on the back of strong support from domestic LPs, notably regional banks.
Deal focus: GSSG sharpens focus on Japan solar
A turnaround in Japanese government policy on solar power is responsible for a renaissance in the renewables space. GSSG Solar has earmarked its entire corpus of its $120 million second fund for deployment in the country
J-Star acquires Japan pet services company
J-Star has bought Japanese veterinarian services company Fuji Field for an undisclosed sum as part of a pet clinic consolidation strategy.
Japan's IMJ Investment rebrands as Spiral
Japanese GP IMJ Investment Partners has spun out from its corporate parent and changed its name to Spiral Ventures.
Bain makes another partial exit from Japan's Skylark
Bain Capital Private Equity has sold nearly one third of its remaining stake in Japanese restaurant operator Skylark, generating proceeds of JPY34.9 billion ($314 million).
Solar-focused GP invests $120m in Japan projects
GSSG Solar, a US private equity firm focused exclusively on the solar energy sector, has agreed to invest at least $120 million in an expansion of its Japanese portfolio.
Korea to invest $102m in life science start-ups
The South Korean government has pledged to establish a KRW113.5 billion ($102 million) fund to support life science start-ups through related ecosystem and infrastructure investments.
MBK set for a second stint with Japanese jeweler Tasaki
MBK Partners has submitted a JPY31.5 billion ($286 million) buyout offer for Japanese jewelry retailer Tasaki & Co – a Tokyo-listed company it previously backed in 2008 and exited seven years later.
VCs invest $33m in Japan's Dely
Jafco, YJ Capital, and Gumi Ventures have taken part in a JPY3.7 billion ($33 million) funding round for Japanese online food media start-up Dely.
KKR seals second Japan tender offer with $4.5b Calsonic deal
Shareholders in automotive components manufacturer Calsonic Kansei Corporation have accepted a JPY498.3 billion ($4.5 billion) buyout offer from KKR as the GP completed its second tender offer for a Japanese company within a day of concluding the first.
KKR completes $1.3b tender offer for Japan's Hitachi Koki
KKR has completed the first of two tender offers it has in process for Japanese listed companies after shareholders in power tools manufacturer Hitachi Koki voted in favor of a JPY147.1 billion ($1.28 billion) buyout offer.
Japan's Moneytree raises $9m Series B
Japan-based SBI investment has led a JPY1 billion ($9 million) Series B funding round for domestic financial technology services company Moneytree.
VIDEO: Mark Chiba, The Longreach Group
Mark Chiba, group chairman & partner of The Longreach Group, discusses mid-market buyouts in North Asia
Deal focus: PayPal backs Korean counterpart Viva Republica
Viva Republica has confirmed its preeminence in Korea's peer-to-peer payments space with rival provider PayPal joining existing investors in the company's $48 million Series C round
Japan's INCJ takes control of $87m pharma spin-out
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has teamed up with two pharmaceutical players to invest JPY10 billion ($87 million) in the creation of a biotech spin-out. INCJ will hold a 70.5% stake in the company.
PE and smart manufacturing: Intelligent designs
The emergence of internet-connected manufacturing has created a new investment area that will impact adjacent sectors and even entire economies for decades to come. PE is among the early movers
Goodwater leads $48m investment in Korea's Viva Republica
US-based venture capital firm Goodwater Capital has led a KRW55 billion ($48 million) Series C funding round for South Korean financial technology company Viva Republica.
Japanese accelerator launches $17.5m hardware fund
Darma Tech Labs, operator of Japanese hardware-focused accelerator Makers Boot Camp, plans to launch a JPY2 billion ($17.5 million) venture capital fund, with Kyoto Bank serving as the anchor LP.
PE and funeral services: Untapped eternity
Increased urgency around demographic tailwinds in the funeral services space has coincided with a spate of investment activity in recent years. Private equity could be well positioned to play a leading role
Comcast takes full ownership of Japan's USJ, PE firms to exit
Goldman Sachs, MBK Partners, Owl Creek Asset Management and PAG Asia Capital will fully exit Universal Studios Japan (USJ) after Comcast NBCUniversal agreed to buy the 49% of the company it doesn’t already own for JPY254.8 billion ($2.3 billion).
Taiwan’s Foxconn to buy stake in SoftBank investment unit
Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group has acquired a 54.5% stake in an investment subsidiary owned by SoftBank Group for $600 million.
HPEF strikes incentive deal with LPs over Asia fund
HPEF Capital Partners – formerly known as Headland Capital Partners – has won LP approval for an incentive scheme that ties in a reconstituted team to manage the existing portfolio, and the principals still hold expectations of raising a successor...