North Asia
Fund focus: Globis gets traction with pension LPs
Japanese pension funds show stronger interest in latest fund from Tokyo's Globis
Deal focus: VCs back Kyulux to be leading light
VCs and strategic investors demonstrate confidence in Kyulux to produce energy-efficient digital displays with higher quality at a lower price
Deal focus: Ticket Monster targets seamless service
Korea's NHN Entertainment seeks payment synergies with PE-backed e-commerce marketplace Ticket Monster
IMM PE, Mirae agree to sell stake in Korea defense business
IMM Private Equity and Mirae Asset Private Equity are set to exit South Korea-based Doosan Defense Systems & Technology (DST) after Hanwha Techwin agreed to buy the business for KRW695 billion ($607 million).
KKR, Anchor-backed Ticket Monster gets NHN investment
Ticket Monster, a South Korea-based e-commerce marketplace controlled by KKR and Anchor Equity Partners, has received a KRW47.5 billion ($40 million) investment from online gaming provider NHN Entertainment (NHNE) in what is expected to be the first tranche...
Samsung leads $13.5m round for Japan’s Kyulux
Samsung Venture Investment has led a $13.5 million Series A round for Kyulux, a developer of advanced lighting technology used in digital screens.
Warburg Pincus exits Premier Foods to Japan's Nissin
Japanese noodle maker Nissin Foods has agreed to buy a 17.3% stake in diversified UK grocer Premier Foods from Warburg Pincus for GBP90 million ($129.3 million).
VCs commit $33m to Japan's Bizreach
Japanese online talent search platform Bizreach has raised a JPY3.7 billion ($33 million) Series A round led by YJ Capital, the investment arm of Yahoo Japan.
J-Star completes buyout of Japan's Aisei Pharmacy
J-Star has completed its takeover of Japanese drugstore chain Aisei Pharmacy in a deal valued at JPY11.4 billion ($101 million).
Japan's Colopl VR Fund leads $11m round for VR specialist
Colopl VR Fund has led a $11 million Series A round of funding for Fove, a virtual reality (VR) technology company founded in Japan and headquartered in the US.
Japan's GPIF appoints new president
Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has appointed Norihiro Takahashi, a long-standing executive at Norinchukin Bank, as its president.
Portfolio: Unison Capital and Gong Cha
Bubble tea chain Gong Cha’s Korean franchise started out with an entrepreneurial approach that suited its needs. Now Unison Capital is transforming management style and building a regional lifestyle brand
Altos closes second Korea VC fund at $110m
US-based venture capital firm Altos Ventures has closed its second Korean Opportunity Fund (KOF) at the hard cap of $110 million.
Baring, Glenwood to buy LafargeHolcim's Korea business
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to buy LafargeHolcim’s Korea-based cement business in a joint deal with local GP Glenwood Private Equity worth approximately KRW560 million ($482 million).
US PE firm leads $41m round for Japan's Takeda
US-based GP Frazier Healthcare Partners is leading a $41 million Series A round for Japanese medical research and development company Takeda Pharmaceutical.
Polaris acquires Japanese power sector supplier
Polaris Capital has acquired Japanese power generation equipment and services company Yodogawa Transformer with a view to leveraging increased electricity demand related to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
VC-backed Gunosy commits $5m to Indonesia's Kurio
Gunosy, a listed Japanese news app backed by VC firms Jafco and B Dash Ventures, has committed IDR67 billion ($5 million) to Kurio, a similar company based in Indonesia.
Japan hiking app provider Yamap raises $1.5m
Japan-based Hiking app provider Yamap has raised JPY170 million ($1.5 million) in a Series A funding round led by mobile gaming services company Colopl.
Korea's POBA to double offshore PE allocation
South Korea’s Public Officials Benefit Association (POBA) plans to double its allocation to offshore private equity funds this year to $200 million.
Japan design firm Goodpatch raises $3.5m
Goodpatch, a Japan-based user interface design company that focuses on digital products, has received a Series A round of funding worth JPY400 million ($3.5 million).
Carlyle buys Japanese software group WingArc1st
The Carlyle Group has agreed to take a 100% stake in Japanese enterprise output management (EOM) and business intelligence (BI) software provider WingArc1st.
Carlyle invests in Japan's GGC Group
The Carlyle Group will support overseas expansion efforts for western Japan’s biggest bean sprout manufacturer, GGC Group, through a strategic business and capital alliance.
Q&A: L Capital Asia's Ravi Thakran
Following the announcement of L Capital's merger with Catterton, Ravi Thakran, managing partner and chairman of L Capital Asia, discusses the implications of the deal and shares his views on the investment climate
Japan e-commerce: Shopping for fun
Mercari has become Japan’s first unicorn on the back of an innovative approach to e-commerce. Can the company blaze a trail for others to follow by replicating its domestic success overseas?