North Asia
Skylake, Laird buy Korea's Model Solution
A consortium led by Skylake Investment has partnered with UK-based technology company Laird to buy Model Solution, a South Korean company that specializes in prototype design, for KRW70 billion ($67 million).
1Q analysis: Big fish, small fish
Country fund stars, China VCs make their mark on fundraising; the trade sale spike won't be sustained and the IPO surge may falter too; South Korean buyouts continue to create headlines
Japan set for first Sharia-focused PE fund
Tokyo-based technology investor Inspire Corp. has partnered with Malaysian asset manager Permodalan Nasional to form Japan's first Sharia-compliant PE fund targeting Malaysian businesses.
Jafco reaches $260m final close on fifth global VC fund
Jafco Ventures has reached a final close on its latest global fund at $260 million for its latest global fund. The vehicle, which was originally targeting $250 million, is the largest the firm has ever raised.
Cerberus refuses to sell shares in Seibu IPO
Cerberus Capital Management pulled out of the Tokyo IPO of Japanese railway and hotel operator Seibu Holdings after the conglomerate slashed the estimated price of the offering by as much as a third.
Japan's B Dash Ventures backs photo curation site Iemo
Japanese VC firm B Dash Ventures has invested an undisclosed sum in Iemo, an interior design-focused photo site.
INCJ exits 5% stake in UK's Seajacks to Marubeni
State-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has sold a 5% stake in UK offshore energy services provider Seajacks to its Japanese co-owner Marubeni Corporation.
Japan regulation: Taxing tactics
Investors are concerned about the potential repercussions for the economy – and their portfolio companies – of Japan’s staged consumer tax hike. Could it really derail the country’s fragile recovery?
Japan Industrial Partners exits Yutaka Electric
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has exited electrical component manufacturer Yutaka Electric to GlassOne, a manufacturer of touch screen panels for tablets and smart phones.
Taiwan's Hon Hai in talks to buy MBK-owned cable TV network – report
Hon Hai Precision Industry, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer best known as Foxconn, is said to be in talks with MBK Partners to buy China Network Systems (CNS).
Siguler Guff closes BRIC fund at $650m
Siguler Guff has raised around $650 million for its third BRIC opportunities fund. The total includes three separate accounts for large institutions.
KKR, Affinity complete Oriental Brewery exit
KKR and Affinity Equity Partners have completed their exit of Korea's Oriental Brewery (OB) to previous owner Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) for $5.8 billion.
KKR completes Panasonic Healthcare deal, eyes bolt-ons
KKR has completed the acquisition of an 80% stake in Panasonic Healthcare, its biggest buyout in Japan to date. According to a source familiar with the situation, operations unit KKR Capstone is already working with the company and a number of bolt-on...
LeapFrog invests $29m in India's IFMR Capital
LeapFrog Investments, a US-based specialist investor in financial services in growth markets, has invested $29 million in Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) IFMR Capital.
Jafco invests $2m in Japan leisure booking site
Globis Capital Partners and Jafco Ventures have invested JPY200 million ($1.95 million) in Catarizm, the Japanese start-up behind online leisure booking site Asoview.
Rabo Equity invests in Indian biotech firm
Rabo Equity Advisors' India Agribusiness Fund has invested INR750 million ($13 million) in Beloorbayir Biotech, a Bangalore-based drug developer.
Fidelity, Gree invest $5m in Japan's Kaizen Platform
Fidelity Growth Partners and Gree Ventures have together invested $5 million in Japan's Kaizen Platform, the start-up behind PlanBCD, a platform that crowd-sources web design services.
PE-backed Tongyang Life bids for LIG Insurance
Tongyang Life Insurance, a South Korean insurer majority-owned by Vogo Investment, is among the preliminary bidders for a controlling stake in LIG Insurance.
KDDI incubator announces five start-ups for new program
KDDI Mugen Labo, an incubator backed by Japanese telecoms giant KDDI, has revealed the next batch of five start-ups to enter its boot camp program.
Japan flea market app raises $14m for US expansion
Mercari, the Japanese start-up behind the mobile flea market app of the same name, has raised JPY1.45 billion ($14.1 million) from Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, Itochu Technology Venture, GMO Venture Partners, and other unnamed investors.
Japan's Cyberdyne raises $89 million in Tokyo IPO
Cyberdyne, a VC-backed Japanese robotics company that makes exoskeleton suits, more than doubled on its Tokyo trading debut following a JPY7.8 billion ($76 million) IPO on the MOTHERS (market of the high-growth and emerging stocks) section of the Tokyo...
GVFL eyes $1b fund for Japanese ventures in India
Indian private equity investor Gujarat Venture Finance Limited (GVFL) will launch a $1 billion fund targeting Japanese enterprises in Gujarat - its largest vehicle to date.
Japanese banks commit to CVC's fourth Asia fund
CVC Capital Partners has received $100 million in commitments from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (SMTB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for its fourth Asia fund, which is expected to close above its $3.5 billion hard cap.
Altius, Castling team up to target Korean institutional investors
Castling Investment Group has formed a strategic alliance with Altius Associates to jointly distribute private equity, real assets and infrastructure products to South Korean investors.