North Asia
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.
Shares in INCJ's Japan Display fall two days straight
Japan Display - the world's biggest maker of screens for tablets and smart phones and a portfolio company of Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) - saw its stocks fall for two days in a row this week after following its JPY318.5 billion ($3.1...
Jafco-backed Fixsters, Shirohato file for Tokyo IPOs
Japanese venture capital investor Jafco will see two portfolio companies - software firm Fixstars and online lingerie retailer Shirohato - launch their Tokyo IPOs on the same day next month.
Japan's J-Star appoints new operating principal
Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star has appointed former biotech professional Yuki Kashiyama as its operating principal.
Cerberus-backed Seibu eyes April Tokyo listing
Japanese railway and hotel operator Seibu Holdings is targeting a JPY186 billion ($1.8 billion) IPO in Tokyo next month, potentially ending a three-year battle between the management and shareholder Cerberus Capital Management.
Korea M&A: Regulatory relief
The Korean government’s recently announced M&A stimulation package includes a relaxation of restrictions on domestic private equity firms. But how much change are these reforms likely to bring?
Placement agent Monument Group opens in Hong Kong
Monument Group, a Boston-headquartered placement agent with a presence in the US and UK, has expanded into Asia, with a Hong Kong office now in operation. A Tokyo base will follow later this year.
Unison Capital targets $581m for Japan fund
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Unison Capital is targeting JPY60 billion ($581 million) for its fourth Japan fund. The fund - which launched in early February - is scheduled for a first close by the summer.
Jafco-backed EnBio raises $7.2m in Toyko IPO
EnBio, a Japanese soil decontamination business backed by Jafco, saw its stock open at JPY1311 - a 126% premium on the offering price - on its first day of trading. The company, which listed the Mothers (market of the high-growth and emerging stocks)...
CyberAgent leads $12m round for Korean food delivery app
Japan's CyberAgent Ventures has been joined by previous investors Altos Ventures, IMM Investment and Stonebridge Capital for a $12 million investment in Woowa Bros, the start-up behind Korean food delivery app Baedalui Minjok.
INCJ-backed Japan Display IPO prices at bottom of range
Japan Display, the world's biggest maker of screens for tablets and smart phones, has priced its IPO at the bottom of indicative range following a lukewarm response from overseas investors.
Korean sovereign fund KIC appoints new CIO
Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) has appointed Heung-Sik Choo, formerly director general at Bank of Korea’s reserve management group, as its new CIO. He replaces Dong-Ik Lee, who resigned in January.
INCJ invests $6m in copper paste business
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY600 million ($6 million) in Material Concept, a manufacturer of copper paste for use in electrical components and solar panels. Daiwa Corporate also invested an undisclosed amount in the...
Japan's Globis re-ups in UK educational app developer
Globis Capital Partners, the Japanese venture capital firm, has returned to lead a GBP3.4 million ($5.8 mllion) Series B round for Quipper, a UK company that develops educational mobile applications.