North Asia
VC-backed Japanese gaming start-up files for Tokyo IPO
Gumi, the VC-backed Japanese game developer, has filed for its Tokyo IPO, which could value the company at JPY100 billion ($900 million).
CITIC Capital exits Japan's Higashiyama Film to Otsuka Chemicals
CITIC Capital Partners has exited Japan's Higashiyama Film, a maker of coated films for touch screens and flat panel displays, to Otsuka Chemical.
Baring Asia buys Japanese drug maker from Tokio Marine
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to buy Japan-based Bushu Pharmaceuticals from Tokio Marine Capital at an enterprise valuation of JPY77.3 billion ($670 million).
Tencent, Line invest $110m in South Korean game developer
Chinese internet company Tencent Holdings and Japanese messaging app Line Corp. have invested $110 million in 4:33 Creative Labs, a South Korean, VC-backed mobile games developer.
MBK sells Japan-based Yayoi to Orix for $692m
North Asia-focused buyout firm MBK Partners has exited Japanese accounting software firm Yayoi to Orix Corp. for JPY80 billion ($692 million).
Japan's J-Star buys two healthcare providers
Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star has acquired two new care providers - Nagoya-headquartered Nurse Call and Kanagawa-based Kairos & Company - within weeks of its 5x exit from similar business HCM Corporation.
CLSA raises $210m for second Japan fund
CLSA Capital Partners has reached a final close of $210 million on its second Japan-focused fund - Sunrise Capital II.
Infinity Venture launches third China, Japan fund
Japanese tech-focused investor Infinity Venture Partners has launched its third fund - Infinity e.venture Asia III - which will focus on start-ups in Japan and China.
Bain-backed Macromill acquires MetrixLab
Macromill, the Japanese online research firm controlled by Bain Capital, has bought Dutch marketing analytics firm MetrixLab. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Asian start-up hubs: Global mandates
Innovation hubs have traditionally been defined by the size of their immediately addressable market. But with better access to capital, information and technology, some Asian jurisdictions are going global
Private equity firm names: A brand apart
As private equity becomes more of a mainstream asset class, brand-consciousness kicks in. Finding a suitable name can be a challenge, particularly when operating in multiple markets and languages
Succession-planning deals: A matter of legacy
Long a feature of the developed markets private equity, succession-planning opportunities are beginning to pop up in emerging Asia. Regardless of geography, convincing a founder to sell his business is a challenge
India's GHV forms partnership with Japan's WiL
India's Green House Venture (GHV) Accelerator has teamed up with Japan and US-based early-stage investor World Innovation Labs (WiL) to back Indian start-ups with the potential to go global.
SCPE backs acquisition of Korean packaging business
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) is participating in the KRW415 billion ($396 million) acquisition of South Korean conglomerate Hyosung Corporation’s packaging business.
J-Star secures 5x exit from healthcare firm HCM - update
Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star has exited Tokyo-based healthcare service provider HCM Corporation to Alshok Group at an enterprise value of JPY8.88 billion ($78.7 million), generating a 5x cash multiple and a 60% IRR.
Japan's MegaChips to buy VC-backed SiTime
MegaChips Corp, a Tokyo-listed semiconductor maker, is to acquire SiTime Corporation, a VC-backed US semiconductor company for $200 million.
Carlyle crosses $600m threshold on Japan fund
The Carlyle Group has crossed the halfway mark on its third Japan buyout fund, with approximately $600 million raised predominantly from domestic investors.
Mizuho Capital to launch $300m SME mezzanine fund
Mizuho Capital Partners is set to launch a new JPY30 billion ($277 million) mezzanine fund which will support Japanese small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the form of subordinated loans and preferred shares.
IFC proposes investment in Temasek's India NBFC
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of INR4.5 billion ($75 million) in Fullerton India Credit Company (FICC), a non-bank financial company owned by Temasek Holdings.
Korea's KnowRe raises $6.8m Series A from VC backers
SoftBank Venture Korea (SBVK) has a led a $6.8 million Series A investment in Seoul-based education technology start-up KnowRe.
Japanese mobile app Quan gets VC backing
Japanese mobile game developer Quan has received an undisclosed sum from a group of domestic VC investors.
Permira exits Japan's Arysta LifeScience to US strategic for $3.5b
Permira has exited its investment in Japanese agricultural chemicals maker Arysta LifeSciences to US chemicals firm Platform Specialty Products (PSP) for about $3.51 billion.
Japan online home-hunter service bags $2m from VCs
Japan's YJ Capital and Incubate Fund have invested JPY200 million ($1.9 million) in Ietty, a Tokyo-based start-up that runs an online platform for home-hunters.
Neuberger Berman Japan, Korea PE commitments top $1b
Japanese and South Korean investors now account for more than $1 billion of the committed capital managed by Neuberger Berman’s private equity division.