North Asia
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.
Japan's Genesis Healthcare raises $5.1m from Founders Fund, Mitsui
US early stage investor Founders Fund and Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co have together invested JPY620 million ($5.1 million) in Genesis Healthcare, a Tokyo-based start-up that develops genetic testing kits, in exchange for a 6% stake.
Deal focus: VCs dine on Korea's MangoPlate
Nothing illustrates South Korea's obsession with food better than a new foodie craze called Mukbang.
Former Cyberagent Ventures Beijing head forms $30m China fund
Joei Dai, the former general manager of CyberAgent Ventures China in Beijing, has formed a venture capital firm Gravity Venture Capital (GVC) and is looking to raise $30 million to back Chinese start-ups.
Japan's Recruit Holdings acquires UK edutech startup Quipper
Japan's Recruit Holdings has acquired VC-backed UK edutech start-up Quipper for $40 million.
Korea's KIC targets 50% alternatives allocation
Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), which is expected to surpass $100 billion in assets this year, wants to increase its allocation to alternative assets to 50% from the current level of 8%.
Korean restaurant site MangoPlate raises $6.1m
South Korean restaurant discovery platform MangoPlate has raised $6.1 million from a group of corporate VC backers including Qualcomm Ventures, SoftBank Ventures Korea, and Yahoo Japan's YJ Capital.
Bespoke solutions offer path into Japan's local private debt space - AVCJ Forum
Low interest rates have restricted the scope for foreign private debt and mezzanine funds in Japan, though offering bespoke solutions to local businesses is an attractive opportunity, say industry participants.
Japan pension funds have out-dated view on PE risk - AVCJ Forum
Japan's pension fund industry needs to reevaluate its perception of private equity as a risky alternative asset, domestic LPs told the AVCJ Japan Forum.
MBO no longer a 'dirty word' in Japan - AVCJ Forum
The term management buyout (MBO) is no longer considered a "dirty word" among Japanese company founders, according to local GPs who are eyeing more succession deals.
India to create trading platform for technology start-ups
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has provided details on plans for a trading platform for technology start-ups as it seeks to make it easier for companies to go public domestically. The regulator has also decided on measures to streamline...
Portfolio: Advantage Partners and Riraku
By undercutting its competition, massage salon Riraku was able access a broader segment of the domestic market. But achieving growth on a national scale required support from Advantage Partners
Mitsubishi UFJ to buy UBS' alternative fund services unit
MUFG Investor Services, the asset servicing group of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, will buy UBS Global Asset Management's Alternative Fund Services (AFS) business.