North Asia
Asia start-ups: The SoftBank effect
SoftBank has laid down a marker in Asia’s technology space over the past six months, investing nearly $2 billion and promising much more. What does this say about the Japanese giant’s broader ambitions?
Japan's Mitsui Global backs clinical SaaS start-up
Japan’s Mitsui Global Investment and Dolby Family Ventures have together invested $12 million in cloud-based, clinical study software start-up goBalto.
Deal focus: Macro headwinds weigh on Peoplebank exit
Not every investment works out as planned - often for reasons beyond the investor's control. Navis Capital Partners recently sold Australia-based IT and specialist recruiting firm Peoplebank to Japan's Recruit Holdings for A$68.6 million ($56.6 million)....
Portfolio: J-Star and Primagest
Primagest is a long-standing leader in Japan's document-scanning industry, but it faces challenges in terms of a transition in leadership and staying relevant as technology evolves. J-Star is providing support
Japanese entrepreneurs' big data start-up raises $15m
Treasure Data - a Silicon Valley-based big data start-up founded by two Japanese entrepreneurs - has raised a $15 million Series B round of funding led by Scale Venture Partners with participation from AME Cloud Ventures.
Navis exits Australia's Peoplebank to Recruit Holdings
Navis Capital Partners has sold Australia-based IT and specialist recruiting firm Peoplebank to Japan’s Recruit Holdings for A$68.6 million ($56.6 million).
Samurai Incubate targets Tel Aviv
When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe travels to Israel later this month it will be the first time a Japanese leader has visited the country since Junichiro Koizumi in 2006.
Japan's GPIF: Situations vacant
Hiro Mizuno is an intriguing choice as the first CIO of Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). His qualifications are not about to be questioned here, but rather what his appointment means as the Japanese behemoth prepares to add helpings...
Samurai Incubate launches Japan, Israel-focused fund
Japanese incubator and early-stage investor Samurai Incubate has launched a JPY1 billion ($8.3 million) fund with a new focus on Israeli start-ups.
Japanese 3D printing start-up raises $3.6m
A consortium of venture capital investors has committed JPY400 million ($3.6 million) to JMC, a Japanese casting and 3D printing services firm.
VIDEO: Advantage Partners' Richard Folsom
With an increasing number of Japanese companies looking to expand overseas, strategies to support these efforts feature more prominently in Advantage Partners' investment theses, according to Richard Folsom, the Tokyo-based GP's representative partner...
Carlyle promotes Hiroyuki Otsuka to partner in Japan
The Carlyle Group has promoted Hiroyuki Otsuka, a member of its Japan buyout team, to partner as part of global round of 59 appointments, including five in Asia.
Japan's NTT Docomo Ventures backs France-based Sunpartner
NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the eponymous Japanese telecom giant, has taken part in a EUR4 million ($4.7 million) round for Sunpartner Technologies, a French solar panel manufacturer.
Japan's GPIF targets new hires as part of investment strategy shift
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) is trying to attract more talent with better pay in order to meet the demands of its changing investment strategy.
Japan's REVIC, NCB, DBJ set up $42m fund
Japan's Nishi-Nippon City Bank (NCB) has set up a JPY5 billion ($42 million) fund in cooperation with Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and Regional Economy Vitalization Corporation of Japan (REVIC).
Jafco exits shredder maker to Japan Industrial Solutions
Jafco has exited Meiko Shokai, a Japanese manufacturer of document shredders, to turnaround specialist Japan Industrial Solutions (JIS) for an undisclosed sum.
December deals: A Christmas story
JKL Partners and a unit of South Korean conglomerate Harim Group were named by a local court as the preferred bidder for bankrupt shipper STX Pan Ocean on December 17. This was slightly more generous to those looking forward to a seasonal break than the...
CVC returns $2b to investors from Asia deals in 2014
CVC Capital Partners returned $2 billion to investors from Asia-based investments in 2014 after completing three full or partial exits – which contributed $1 billion of the proceeds – in December.
Japan's Incubate Fund forms $92m Internet of Things vehicle
Tokyo-based early-stage VC firm Incubate Fund has raised JPY11 billion ($91.2 million) for a vehicle that will support Japanese companies involved in the Internet of Things (IoT).
CITIC Capital exits Japanese bone china maker Narumi
CITIC Capital Partners has exited Japanese bone china and tableware manufacturer Narumi Corporation to Ishizuka Glass for JPY4.3 billion ($36.2 million).
TPG's Japan team spins out as NSSK
Several members of TPG Capital's Japan team, led by former country head Jun Tsusaka, have launched a new private equity firm called Nippon Sangyo Suishin Kiko (NSSK).
JKL, Harim Group named preferred bidder for Korea's Pan Ocean
JKL Partners and a unit of South Korean agricultural conglomerate Harim Group have been named by a local court as the preferred bidder for bankrupt shipper STX Pan Ocean.
Hahn & Co leads $3.6b acquisition of Visteon's Korean unit
US auto parts maker Visteon Corp. has agreed to sell a 70% stake in its South Korea-based subsidiary Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp. (HVCC) to Hahn & Co. and Hankook Tire for around $3.6 billion.
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2015
From China and India to Southeast Asia and Japan, private equity professionals give their perspectives on the year to come for fundraising, investments and exits