North Asia
VIG secures $480m first close on third Korea fund
VIG Partners has reached a first close of $480 million on its third Korea-focused fund. The GP, which was formerly known as Vogo Investment, is expected to reach its target of $600 million by the end of the year.
Longreach agrees Japan BPO carve-out from Olympus
The Longreach Group has agreed to Nippon Outsourcing Corporation, a business process outsourcing (BPO) subsidiary of Olympus Corporation. The transaction size was not disclosed.
J-Star buys Japan aged care services provider
J-Star will take control of Japanese aged care provider Live Cross through a bolt-on acquisition by the firm’s existing portfolio company Kairos Tokyo.
VIG invests in Korean funeral services provider
VIG Partners – formerly known as Vogo Investment – has secured the first investment from its third fund with an agreement to buy a controlling stake in Good Sangjo, a Korean funeral services provider, for KRW65 billion ($58.6 million).
Japan's INCJ invests $102.6m in domestic VC funds
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has committed up to JPY10.4 billion ($102.6 million) to funds managed by domestic VC firms MedVenture Partners and Universal Materials Incubator.
Eight Roads leads $12m round for Japan's Toreta
Eight Roads Ventures Japan has led a JPY1.2 billion ($11.8 million) investment in Toreta, a Tokyo-based reservation and customer management platform aimed at restaurants.
Ant Capital buys Japanese cosmetics business
Ant Capital Partners has acquired Japan-based Sojitz Cosmetics for an undisclosed sum. The business will be renamed Kagayaku Cosmetics.
Glenwood, NH agree $561m sale of Korea's Tongyang Magic
Glenwood Private Equity and NH Private Equity have agreed to sell Korean consumer appliances manufacturer Tongyang Magic to SK Networks for KRW619 billion ($561 million).
Korea's Viva Republica gets $23.7m Series B
Goodwater Capital and Qualcomm Ventures have led a $23.7 million Series B funding round for South Korean financial technology provider Viva Republica.
CDH to make partial exit through Baroque Japan IPO
Baroque Japan, an apparel business majority-owned by CDH Investments and Chinese women’s shoe retailer Belle International, is seeking to raise around JPY30.86 billion ($307 million) through a Tokyo IPO.
SK Networks named preferred bidder for PE-owned Tongyang Magic
SK Networks is on pole position to acquire Tongyang Magic, a Korean consumer appliances manufacturer owned by Glenwood Private Equity and NH Private Equity, after being named preferred bidder.
iSigma exits Japanese auto parts maker for $99m
ISigma, a mid-size buyout firm controlled by Japanese trading and investment conglomerate Marubeni, has agreed to sell domestic automotive industry supplier Iino Manufacturing for JPY10 billion ($99.4 million).
Jafco in $408m first close for new flagship fund
Japan’s Jafco has achieved a first close on its fifth global venture capital and buyout fund with JPY41 billion ($408 million) in commitments.
New Horizon makes offer for Japan's Sagami
Tokyo-listed kimono retailer Sagami, which is already subject to a tender offer launched by Aspirant Group, has received a competing bid from New Horizon Capital.
CVC buys majority stake in Japan's Hasegawa
CVC Capital Partners has bought a controlling stake in Japanese assisted living, nursery school and cleaning services provider Hasegawa Holdings.
CVC to buy Korean courier Logen from Baring Asia
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to buy Logen, South Korea’s leading courier company focused on small to mid-volume customers, from Baring Private Equity Asia.
TRG opens South Korea office
The Rohatyn Group (TRG), a global emerging markets asset management firm, has opened an office in South Korea.
Private debt: Pulling uphill
Selling Asian LPs on private credit strategies remains difficult for the most part, but fund managers are generally confident that interest in the asset class is set to take off
MBK shelves plan to exit Korea's Coway
MBK Partners has suspended plans to sell its holding in listed South Korean water purifier business Coway because the stock is thought to be undervalued.
Korean LPs back Lindeman's $273m China fund
Lindeman Asia Investment, a South Korea and China-focused PE firm that concentrates on small and medium-sized enterprises, has launched a KRW300 billion ($273 million) fund with backing from domestic LPs.
Carlyle launches tender offer for Money Square Japan
The Carlyle Group has launched a tender offer for Money Square Japan, a Tokyo-listed provider of foreign exchange margin trading services.
Japan's Taiho Ventures backs US cancer drug developer
Taiho Ventures, the newly established VC arm of Japan’s Taiho Pharmaceutical, has participated in a $70 million Series B round of funding for Arcus Biosciences, a US-based start-up that develops cancer drugs.
KKR's acquisition of Korea-based Kim's Club falls through
South Korean retail conglomerate E-Land Group has dropped plans to sell its luxury grocery chain Kim’s Club to KKR after agreeing a separate strategic divestment.
CLSA-backed BayCurrent lists in Tokyo
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has made a partial exit from BayCurrent Consulting as the company raised JPY28.3 billion ($272 million) through an IPO on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.