North Asia
Softbank's Nikesh Arora commits $482 million to the firm
Softbank President and COO Nikesh Arora has invested JPY60 billion ($482 million) in the firm in a personal stock market transaction.
Samurai Incubate launches Israel accelerator
Tokyo-headquartered start-up accelerator Samurai Incubate is recruiting Japanese companies to participate in its three-month Israel accelerator program.
Japan bitcoin exchange raises $4m
Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange platform bitFlyer has raised a JPY510 million ($4 million) round of funding from a group of Japanese investors.
CVC appoints Steve Lim as South Korea chairman
CVC Capital Partners has hired Steve Lim, former CEO and managing director of JP Morgan in South Korea, as its chairman in the country.
INCJ, AXA invest $5m in Japan's Smartdrive
The state-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan has joined Axa Direct Japan - the Japanese unit of the French insurer AXA - to invest JPY660 million ($5.3 million) in Smart Drive, a Tokyo-based start-up providing automobile data analytics.
Japan sportswear firm buys PE-backed UK brand
Japanese sportswear company Descente has bought an 80% stake in UK sports brand Inov-8, providing an exit for the firm's private equity backer Livingbridge. The financial details were not disclosed.
Japan's Dentsu backs US social robot start-up Jibo
Dentsu Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the eponymous Japanese advertising giant, has invested $3 million in US social robot start-up Jibo.
Japan's Lemonade Lab raises $5.8m
Japanese sport analytics platform Lemonade Lab has raised $5.8 million from FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn International, and several angel investors.
Adenium Energy, Hudson Clean Energy form $300m Japan solar JV
Dubai-based Adenium Energy Capital and US PE firm Hudson Clean Energy Partners have set up a joint venture that will invest $300 million in Japanese solar power projects.
SoftBank: Venture legacy
SoftBank’s direct investment activity has shifted towards later-stage deals and it is expected to remain there. But the Japanese technology giant has not given up on its VC affiliates and subsidiaries in Asia
VCs invest $4.4m in Japanese filter technology start-up
The state-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), shipping conglomerate investment arm Tsuneishi Partners and Future Venture Capital (FVC) have together invested JPY550 million ($4.4 million) in NanoMist Technologies, creator of a filtering...
Japan's VC-backed Metaps files for IPO
Metaps, a Japanese mobile software developer and IT services start-up backed by a slew of VC investors, has filed for its Tokyo IPO and is expected to raise as much as JPY3.8 billion ($30.6 million).
Carlyle registers $775m for third Japan fund
The Carlyle Group has registered just over $775 million for its third Japan fund - Carlyle Japan Partners III.
Korea launches another attempt to sell Woori Bank stake
The South Korean government is once again trying to sell its controlling stake in Woori Bank, this time dividing the asset into multiple tranches so that there is no one dominant shareholder.
DCM closes second Android fund at $100m
DCM has raised $100 million for its second Android-focused fund, which will target start-ups building apps for Google’s mobile operating system.
Former Japan Exchange head joins KKR as chairman
KKR has named Atsushi Saito, former head of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and the Japan Exchange Group (JPX), as the non-executive chairman of KKR Japan.
Japanese tech entrepreneurs form Tokyo Founders Fund
A group of Japanese tech entrepreneurs have formed a new start-up-focused fund called Tokyo Founders Fund, styled after Silicon Valley’s own Founders Fund.
SoftBank leads $20m Series B round for US ad analytics start-up
Japan's SoftBank Corp. has led a $20m Series B round of funding for US-based ad analytics start-up Cinarra Systems.
Permira hires former KKR deal-maker as head of Japan
Permira has chosen former KKR deal-maker Ryotaro Fujii as managing director and head of Japan. Yoichiro Furuse has been made chairman of Japan.
PE-backed Cath Kidston buys back Japan business
Cath Kidston, the UK lifestyle retailer controlled by Baring Private Equity Asia and TA Associates, has bought back its Japan operations - its largest outside the UK - from local conglomerate TSI holdings for an undisclosed sum.
Japan's Recruit Holdings invests $7.5m in US-based HackerRank
Japan's Recruit Holdings has paid $7.5 million for a stake in HackerRank, a US technical recruitment platform owned by Interviewstreet, via its $20 million corporate venture capital fund - HR Technology Fund.
Q&A: Advantage Partners' Emmett Thomas
Emmett Thomas, head of Asia at Advantage Partners, explains why helping Japanese firms enter other markets in the region and bringing Asian companies into Japan has become an important investment thesis.
2Q analyisis: The bulls hesitate
China's equities wobble is unlikely to discourage companies from local listings, and a rise in renminbi fundraising could result; Asia investment hits record high; public market sales dominate exit activity
Japan's Jafco invests $2.5m in traffic analytics tool
Japanese venture capital firm Jafco has invested JPY3 million ($2.5 million) in Wacul, a Tokyo-based start-up that offers website improvement consulting.