North Asia
Human Resources: Hiring for growth
When building the next Baidu or Facebook, finding the right team is as important as raising the next round of capital, if not more so. Early-stage investors can play an active role in the process.
CLSA wins Korea outbound mandate
Nexen Tire Corp. posted net sales of KRW1.73 trillion ($1.7 billion) in 2013 and is responsible for 20% of tire sales in South Korea, the fifth-largest market globally both for auto production and auto exports. The company has an established global presence...
Arbor leads $3.3m Series A round for Japan e-payments service
Arbor Ventures has led a $3.3 million Series A round for Exchange Corporation (ExCo), the Japanese start-up behind e-commerce payment and instant credit service Paidy, with participation from CyberAgent Ventures and Recruit Strategic Partners. Exisiting...
Bain sells Japan's Bellsystem24 stake to Itochu
Bain Capital has sold a 49.9% stake in Bellsystem24 Holdings to trading house Itochu Coporation for an undisclosed amount.
Inflexion Point launches $15m Japan-focused game fund
Singapore venture capital firm Inflexion Point Capital (IPC), has launched a $15 million fund to focus on investments in Japan's mobile gaming start-ups.
Global Brain, others lead $4m Series C round for Japan photo app
Japanese early stage investor Global Brain Corp. has joined Energy and Environment Investment and publishing firm Kodansha to invest JPY400 million (about $4 million) in Toyko-based Mind Palette, the start-up behind fashion-focused photo sharing app Snapeee....
Shunfeng commits $74m in Japan power project PE fund
Hong Kong-listed solar cell manufacturer Shunfeng Photovoltaic International has commited JPY7.5 billion ($74 million) to an unnamed Japanese solar power-focused fund.
CLSA, Korean corporate launch $295m global co-invest fund
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSACP) launched a KRW300 billion ($295 million) global co-investment fund in partnership with South Korean tire manufacturer Nexen. The primary LP is the National Pension Service of Korea (NPS).
VC firm launches $13.6m Anglo-Japanese agri fund
Japanese venture capital firm Tsukuba Technology Seed (TTS) has teamed up with the UK's Adapt Low Carbon Group to launch an Anglo-Japanese VC fund focusing on agricultural innovation.
Coller's Mizuno joins GPIF investment committee
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has appointed Hiromichi Mizuno, a partner at secondaries specialist Coller Capital, to its investment committee.
Japan fish app start-up raises $4.5m
Hachimenroppi, a Japanese start-up that operates an IT-enabled fresh fish distribution platform, has secured JPY450 million ($4.4 million) in funding from Recruit Holdings, YJ Capital, DeNA, and Monex Ventures.
Orix-led consortium to buy Hyundai logistics unit
A consortium led by Japanese financial group Orix Corp. has agreed to acquire a majority stake in South Korea's Hyundai Logisitics.
Control deals cast light on Asia GPs' value creation credentials - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors are seeing more control deals in emerging Asian markets traditionally dominated by growth capital, which in turn gives LPs greater visibility as to GPs’ operational capabilities.
WiL aims high with Japan's 'next Nintendo'
From Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. all the way through to Sony PlayStation’s Final Fantasy, there was a time when Japan ruled the gaming industry. Microsoft’s Xbox and recent Western successes such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto have dented this...
KDDI joins corporates to launch incubator
Japanese telecoms giant KDDI will partner with 13 other corporates to create a start-up incubator targeting internet-related businesses.
PE-backed Universal Studios Japan targets IPO - report
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) - a theme park operator backed by Goldman Sachs, PAG, MBK Partners and US hedge fund Owl Creek - is looking to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Japan's Gree leads $4.5m round for HotelQuickly
Japanese tech giant Gree has led a $4.5 million Series A-1 round of funding for HotelQickly, a Hong Kong-headquartered last-minute hotel booking platform.
INCJ, Fidelity in $24m round for cloud storage provider
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ and Fidelity Growth Partners have taken part in $24 million round for US-based Cloudian, a hybrid cloud storage solutions provider.
JBIC, Mitsubishi take stake in Middle East water company
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has joined Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in acquiring a stake in Middle Eastern water treatment firm Metito.
Morgan Stanley PE Asia closes Fund IV at $1.7b
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has closed its fourth Asian fund at approximately $1.7 billion. The vehicle launched in mid-2012 with a target of $1.5 billion and reached a first close later that year of around $750 million.
Goldman Sachs leads $400m investment in Korean gas producer
A Goldman Sachs-led consortium has acquired a controlling stake in the industrial gas business of South Korean conglomerate Daesung Group for $400 million, including $200 million in convertible bonds.
WiL leads $50m round for Japan gaming start-up
Silicon-Valley based Japanese early-stage investor World Innovation Lab (WiL) has a led a JPY5 billion ($49 million) round of funding for Tokyo-based gaming company Gumi.
VC-backed Japan lunch delivery site raises $27m
Japan's Star Festival, the VC-backed start-up behind lunchbox delivery and catering site Gochikuru.com has raised JPY2.8 billion ($27.4 million) from strategic investor Askul, one of the country's largest office supply mail-order companies.
Carlyle to acquire Japan's SBI Mortgage
The Carlyle Group has made a tender offer to acquire 100% of Japanese mortgage bank SBI Mortgage in deal valued at approximately JPY43.2 billion ($423 million).