North 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
Globis invests $6.7m in Japan's Neo Career
Globis Capital Partners has led a JPY800 million ($6.7 million) round of investment in Neo Career, a Japanese firm that offers online staffing and recruitment services.
BlackRock PE leads $300m round for Korea's Coupang
BlackRock Private Equity Partners has led a $300 million round of funding for Coupang, South Korea’s largest online retailer. It has now raised nearly $500 million from private investors.
AVCJ Awards: Exit of the Year - Mid Cap: United Cinemas
United Cinemas was struggling in the face of macro headwinds and low consumer confidence, but Advantage Partners’ saw the bigger picture and delivered blockbuster returns
AVCJ Awards: Operational Value Add & Exit of the Year - Large Cap: Oriental Brewery
Affinity Equity Partners and KKR made Oriental Brewery the market leader in Korea’s beer industry, then exited via Asia’s largest-ever trade sale. For this and other activities, Affinity was also named Firm of the Year
Carlyle, Unison to exit Japan semiconductor firm Covalent
The Carlyle Group and Unison Capital are to exit their stake in Covalent Materials, a Japanese semiconductor materials manufacturer, to US ceramics group CoorsTek.
Cool Japan funds invest $16.7m in ramen chain
The Japanese government-backed Cool Japan Fund has agreed to invest JPY2 billion ($16.7 million) in Chikaranomoto Holdings, the restaurant operator behind international ramen noodle chain Hakata Ippudo.
CITIC launches tender offer for Japan's Schott Moritex
CITIC Capital Partners has launched a tender offer to acquire a controlling stake in Schott Moritex Corporation, a Japan-based manufacturer of vision lenses for machines.
Japan PE acquires plastics manufacturer, elderly care business
Mid-market GP Japan Private Equity has acquired plastics manufacturer Sekisui Chemicals and care home services business Healthy Service via its third buyout fund.
Japanese crowdsourcing platform gets $8.5m from VCs
Lancers, a Japanese crowdsourcing platform, has raised JPY1 billion ($8.5 million) from six VC and strategic investors, including Gree Ventures, Globis Capital Partners and GMO Venture Partners.
TPG to exit stake in Japanese toy maker
TPG will exit Japanese toymaker Tomy through a buyback by the company. Tomy has agreed to acquire the private equity firm’s entire equity holding and also redeem its convertible bond holdings.
Samyang named as SCPE partner in Korean packaging deal
South Korean conglomerate Samyang Corporation has emerged as Standard Chartered Private Equity’s (SCPE) in the acquisition of a packaging business from another conglomerate, Hyosung Corporation.
Korean government's Woori Bank sale flounders again
The South Korean government will make another attempt to sell its controlling stake in Woori Bank early next year following the collapse of the latest in a string of sale processes last week.