North Asia
Fund focus: CITIC rides the Japan wave
CITIC Capital raises $268 million for third Japan fund, benefiting from an upturn in investor sentiment that should prove to be a boon for Japanese GPs in general
Azerbaijan fund commits $100m to e-Shang Redwood's Japan vehicle
Azerbaijan’s state oil fund (SOFAZ) has agreed to invest $100 million in a Japan-focused logistics vehicle being raised by e-Shang Redwood (ESR), a pan-Asian logistics services company that has a string of private equity backers.
VIG reaches $600m final close on third Korea fund
VIG Partners has closed its third Korea-focused fund at $600 million, with support from new and existing investors including Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS).
MBK-owned ING Life files for Korea IPO
ING Life Korea, a Korean insurer that MBK Partners acquired in 2013 from ING Groep, has applied for regulatory approval for a domestic IPO.
Beyond Next Ventures leads $3.4m round for Japan's CureApp
Japan-based investor Beyond Next Ventures has led a JPY380 million ($3.4 million) round for domestic healthcare software developer CureApp.
Longreach achieves first close on North Asia buyout fund
The Longreach Group is understood to have reached a first close of approximately $200 million on its third North Asia-focused mid-market buyout fund, which has a particular focus on Japan. The full target is $650 million.
Deal focus: Affinity captures Korea credit card exposure
General Electric's sale of its stake in Hyundai Card was complicated by joint venture partner Hyundai Motor Group staying involved. Affinity Equity Partners leveraged its existing relationship with the conglomerate to seal the deal
Q&A: STIC Investments' Hans Jung
STIC Investments has raised $530 million for a fund that will target restructuring opportunities involving Korean conglomerates. Executive Managing Partner Hans Jung explains the strategy
CITIC Capital closes third Japan fund at $268m
CITIC Capital Partners has achieved a final close on its third Japan buyout fund at the hard cap of JPY30 billion ($268 million). Three investments have already been made from the vehicle across retail and healthcare.
Japan VCs back domestic fintech start-up
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), SBI Investment and Dentsu Digital Holdings have contributed to a JPY800 million ($7.1 million) funding round for Tokyo-based financial technology company Coiney.
Japan fintech start-up Folio gets $16m Series A
Jafco and several other Japanese venture capital firms have joined a JPY1.8 billion ($18.7 million) Series A round for Japanese stock-trading app developer Folio.
VIDEO: Kim Yong Kook, Invest Korea
Kim Yong Kook, head of Invest Korea, discusses key trends in the country's investment environment
iSigma exits Japan's Sweet Style
ISigma, a mid-size buyout firm controlled by trading and investment conglomerate Marubeni, has exited its 100% stake in Japanese food and beverage company Sweet Style to Mitsuuroko Group.
Secondary volumes decline in 2016 – survey
Global secondary market volume reached $42.15 billion last year, failing to eclipse the consecutive record annual totals of $49.3 billion and $49.6 billion in 2014 and 2015, according to Setter Capital.
NYSTRS commits $100m to MBK's fourth North Asia fund
New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) has disclosed a commitment of $100 million to MBK Partners’ fourth North Asia buyout fund, which closed at $4.1 billion in December 2016.
VIDEO: Jun Tsusaka, NSSK
Jun Tsusaka, managing partner, CIO and founding member at NSSK, discusses Japan's middle market
Japan succession deals: The long game
Succession planning opportunities are growing in Japan’s middle market as a generation of founders bend to the will of time and commercial pressure. For GPs seeking buyouts, it is all about who you know
IMJ, Opt invest $4.4m in Japan's Enechange
Enechange, which manages an energy price comparison site aimed at Japanese customers, has raised JPY500 million ($4.4 million) from Opt Ventures and IMJ Investment Partners.
Tokio Marine secures $363m second close on Japan fund
Tokio Marine Capital has reached a second close of JPY41.7 billion ($363 million) on its latest Japan mid-market fund. The full target is JPY50 billion.
Japan's Polaris exits Clean Surface Technology
Japan-based Polaris Capital has sold its 100% stake in domestic electronics supplier Clean Surface Technology (CST) to coal mining company Mitsui Matsushima for JPY4 billion ($35 million).
KKR makes $1.3b tender offer for Japan's Hitachi Koki
KKR has launched its second tender offer in two months for a Japanese listed company, submitting a bid for Hitachi Koki that values the power tools manufacturer at JPY147.1 billion ($1.28 billion).
Carlyle promotes SE Asia buyout head Sunil Kaul to partner
The Carlyle Group has promoted Sunil Kaul (pictured), who leads buyout operations in Southeast Asia, from managing director to partner. His is one of 62 senior promotions announced by the firm, of which 15 are Asia-based professionals.
Fund focus: LPs sign up for Axiom's simple solution
Changes in the market and turnover in the team notwithstanding, Axiom Asia secured $1 billion for a fourth fund much like its previous three: a co-mingled fund-of-funds that offers exposure to hard-to-access GPs
Korea Teachers' Pension appoints new CIO
Korea Teachers’ Pension has appointed David Park, formerly CIO of Allianz Life Insurance Korea, as its new chief investment officer. His two-year term began on January 2.