North Asia
Samsung backs Korea autonomous delivery start-up
Samsung Venture Investment has invested in Korea’s Neubility, a robot maker aiming to “automate urban sidewalks” via autonomous rolling boxes capable of on-demand deliveries.
Altos, Mirae Asset re-up Korea's Kream in $39m round
Altos Ventures and Mirae Asset Capital have each made their third investment in the past 18 months in Korean e-commerce player Kream, with the latest round amounting to KRW 50.6bn (USD 38.8m).
Asia PE compensation set for downward adjustment in 2023
Compensation for private equity professionals at most levels of seniority in Asia Pacific continued its upward trend in 2022 despite a weaker economic outlook and a slowdown in deal flow, but executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles expects some kind...
Japan's Aspirant announces third exit in three weeks
Aspirant Group has sold Japan’s only offshore drilling contractor, Japan Drilling (JDC), to JX Nippon Oil Exploration Corporation for an undisclosed sum, marking its third exit in as many weeks.
Japan's Anri leads $27m round for start-up lending platform
Japanese venture capital firm Anri has led a JPY 3.6bn (USD 27m) Series D round for local start-up lending platform Funds.
Deal focus: K-wave media savvy explores new markets
Korean audience interaction technology provider Bemyfriends hopes a sizeable Series A round led by Cleveland Avenue, a lifestyle-focused VC firm in the US, will jumpstart a global expansion
Korea audience engagement platform Bemyfriends gets $29m
Korea’s Bemyfriends, an audience engagement platform for brands and creators, has raised USD 29m in Series A funding, with the latest tranche provided by US-based VC firm Cleveland Avenue.
Japan's Keio Innovation targets $109m for Fund III
Keio Innovation, a VC arm of Keio University, is aiming to raise JPY 15bn (USD 109.2m) for its third fund, more than its first two vintages combined.
Japan construction software supplier gets $8.5m
Japan’s Ballas, a software provider focused on metals procurement for the construction industry, has raised an approximately JPY 1.2bn (USD 8.5m) round led by Global Brain.
NIC buys Japan dental consultancy, Jafco exits
Japanese private equity firm Nippon Investment Corporation (NIC) has acquired 100% of local dental industry services provider Medical Support Consulting, facilitating an exit for Jafco.
EQT buys Korean security services provider
EQT has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Korea-based security monitoring business SK Shieldus from an affiliate of SK Group and Macquarie Asset Management, through an investment under its core-plus infrastructure strategy.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Exit of the Year – Small Cap: CosmoLife
When selling CosmoLife, Advantage Partners prioritised strategics with existing customer bases that could help the Japanese drinking water company in its next chapter. This coincided with a healthy valuation
Investcorp opens Japan office
Investcorp has opened a Tokyo office to serve as a staging post for direct private equity and real estate investments Japan.
Japan enterprise blockchain supplier LayerX raises $40m
Japan’s LayerX, an enterprise technology supplier that incorporates blockchain into functions such as expense management, has raised JPY 5.5bn (USD 40m) from a mostly local VC syndicate.
Asia co-investment: Gun-shy LPs?
Overallocation, risk aversion, and troubleshooting existing deals have prompted some LPs to pull back from co-investment in Asia. Others are willing to step in, but the market is selective
Japan's Astroscale raises $76m Series G
Japan’s Astroscale, a start-up specialising in on-orbit space debris removal, has raised USD 76m in Series G funding featuring Mitsubishi Corporation.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Operational Value-add: Owndays
L Catterton’s investment in Japanese eyewear brand Owndays demonstrated a hands-on approach to sharing commercial networks, expertise in omnichannel scaling, and operating capabilities
Alibaba-backed eWTP pursues $1bn in VC fundraise
EWTP Arabia Capital, an investment arm of the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) backed by Alibaba Group and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has raised nearly USD 1bn for an Asia-Middle East fund.
JIP submits buyout offer for Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation has confirmed the receipt of an acquisition proposal from Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), a local private equity firm best known for its expertise in corporate carve-outs.
Advantage exits Japan dental supplier to local strategic
Japan’s Advantage Partners has agreed to sell Dental Holding, a local dental industry equipment distribution company, to Askul, an office equipment supplier, after a 2.5-year hold.
Japan's Baseconnect gets $41m Series B
Japanese corporate contact and recruitment database provider Baseconnect has raised a JPY 5.4bn (USD 41m) Series B round led by Z Venture Capital (ZVC), formerly YJ Capital.
Carlyle launches tender offer for Japan's Iwasaki Electric
Iwasaki Electric, a Japanese lighting solutions provider that has worked on projects ranging from sports stadiums to hospitals, is set to be acquired by The Carlyle Group through a tender offer at a valuation of JPY 34.9bn (USD 266m).
Japan's Global Brain, Meiji Yasuda launch $39m VC fund
Japan’s Global Brain has further extended a string of corporate VC partnerships, teaming up with Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance to launch a JPY 5bn (USD 39m) fund.
MBK buys Japan aged care business
MBK Partners has acquired Unimat Retirement Community (URC), a Japan-based company that primarily provides in-home and residential nursing care services.