North Asia
Korean strategics confirm interest in PE-owned Tongyang Magic
SK Networks and Unid have both expressed an interest in Tongyang Magic, a South Korean consumer appliances manufacturer put up for sale by Glenwood Private Equity and NH Private Equity.
Korean online beauty retailer Memebox raises $66m
Memebox, an e-commerce company that sells Korean beauty products, has raised $65.95 million in Series C funding led by Formation Group, an Asia-focused VC firm launched by Formation 8 co-founder Brian Koo.
Japan analytics player Abeja raises $2m
Japanese corporate analytics platform Abeja has raised JPY200 million ($2 million) in Series B funding from PNB Inspire Partners, a domestic investor aimed at helping companies expand into Southeast Asia and Islamic countries.
Korean brokerage wins license to launch PE arm
South Korean brokerage NH Investment & Securities has been awarded a license to launch a private equity investment unit.
Fidelity, DBJ lead $20m round for Japan's Raksul
Fidelity Investments and the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) have led a JPY2.1 billion ($20.3 million) round of funding for Japanese online printing start-up Raksul.
Deal focus: VCs back Japan's fintech underdog
As Japan's traditional financial institutions take time to address demand for online payment services, start-ups are trying to corner the market. Exchange Corporation's Series B round is intended to make sure it is one of them
Marubeni-owned iSigma buys Japan's Kyosemi
ISigma, a mid-size buyout firm controlled by Japanese trading and investment conglomerate Marubeni, has acquired domestic semiconductor equipment manufacturer Kyosemi Corporation.
MPM Capital forms VC fund with Japan's Astellas Pharma
MPM Capital, a US venture firm focused on early-stage life science companies, has launched a new investment vehicle in partnership with Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma.
Japan Industrial Partners buys Narumiya from SBI
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has acquired children’s clothing retailer Narumiya International from SBI Holdings for an undisclosed sum.
Green House, WiL partner on $52m India fund
India's Green House Ventures (GHV) Accelerator will partner with Japan and US-based early-stage investor World Innovation Labs (WiL) to launch a INR3.5 billion ($52 million) fund for investments in Indian start-ups.
WiL leads $10.6m round for Japan's Retty
World Innovation Lab (WiL) has led a JPY1.1 billion ($10.6 million) investment in Japanese social media-oriented restaurant guide operator Retty.
Deal Focus: L Capital taps Korea's cultural clout
Clio Cosmetics hopes to leverage Korea's entertainment appeal throughout Asia
Eight Roads leads $15m round for Japan payments provider
Eight Roads Ventures has led a $15 million Series B round of funding for Paidy, a cardless payment and instant credit service offered by Japanese financial technology platform Exchange Corporation.
Japan analytics platform Abeja gets $5m
Japanese corporate analytics platform Abeja has raised a JPY530 million ($5 million) Series B round from Innovation Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Archetype Ventures.
INCJ leads $16m investment in Japan's Atonarp
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has led a $16 million funding round for Tokyo-based chemical sensor developer Atonarp.
L Capital Asia takes minority stake in Korea cosmetics player
L Capital Asia – the private equity arm of luxury goods giant LVMH – has acquired a minority stake in Clio Cosmetics, a South Korea-based color cosmetics manufacturer, for an undisclosed sum.
Polaris buys Japanese timber company
Polaris Capital has agreed to acquire 100% of Japanese precut timber and building materials company Hivic for an undisclosed sum from domestic construction group Lixil.
Bain, Goldman Sachs to acquire Korea's Carver
Bain Capital Private Equity and Goldman Sachs have agreed to acquire a majority position in Carver Korea, a specialist cosmetics supplier.
GIC backs South Korea's Hyundai Logistics
Singapore’s GIC Private has invested in a real estate fund that acquired the Hyundai Logistics Distribution Center in South Korea.
CLSA exits Japanese used car auction operator
CLSA Capital Partners, the alternative asset management arm of Hong Kong-headquartered brokerage and investment group CLSA, has fully exited its stake in Japanese used car auction operator Mirive.
Japan's SmartNews secures $38m Series D
Tokyo-based news discovery app SmartNews has raised $38 million in a Series D round led by Development Bank of Japan.
Ping An commits $300m to PE-backed logistics platform
Ping An Real Estate, the real estate investment and asset management platform of China's Ping An Insurance Group, has committed $300 million to e-Shang Redwood (ESR), a real estate logistics platform backed by Warburg Pincus with operations in China,...
Korea's NPS allocates $605m to four local PE firms
South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) has allocated KRW700 billion ($605 million) to funds managed by domestic GPs VIG Partners, Skylake Investment, Lindemann Asia Investment and SG Private Equity.
Hahn & Co moves towards control of Korea's Ssangyong Cement
Korean GP Hahn & Company will assume majority control of Ssangyong Cement with the acquisition of a stake held by Japan-listed Taiheiyo Cement for KRW454.8 billion ($394 million).