North Asia
Japan Industrial Partners eyes $666m Biglobe deal - report
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) could acquire Biglobe, Japan's fourth-largest internet service provider (ISP) by number of customers, from IT giant NEC in a deal worth JPY70 billion ($666 million).
Tokio Marine invests $9.5m in furniture maker Asplund
Tokio Marine Capital has acquired a majority stake in Japanese furniture maker Asplund for around JPY1 billion ($9.5 million).
Japanese VCs invest $1.5m in ad platform Logly
Voyage Ventures, Mizuho Capital, SMBC Venture Capital and strategic investor CA Mobile have together invested JPY120 million ($1.15 million) in Logly, a Japan-based start-up running an internet ad platform.
SC Lowy, Yuil PE buy Korea’s Shinmin Mutual Savings Bank
Hong Kong-based investing and trading firm SC Lowy has teamed up with a South Korean private equity fund known as Yuil PE to buy Shinmin Savings Bank. The institution’s name will change to Choeun Mutual Savings Bank.
KKR, Affinity exit Oriental Brewery to AB InBev for $5.8b
KKR and Affinity Equity Partners have agreed to sell South Korea’s Oriental Brewery to Anheuser-Busch InBev for $5.8 billion. The money multiple is more than 5x, sources close to the deal said.
Tyco shortlists PE firms for Korean unit - report
KKR, Bain Capital, IMM Private Equity and The Carlyle Group are reportedly among those shortlisted by US security specialist Tyco International as potential buyers for its South Korean unit - ADT Caps - in deal worth as much as $1.4 billion.
Wakabayashi Fund invests in MIT Holding
Wakabayashi Fund, a private equity firm based in Tokyo and New York, has invested in US healthcare firm MIT Holdings. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
PE investors rue lost Japan carve-out opportunities
The lack of corporate carve-outs relative to the size of the opportunity in the space has been among the biggest disappointments for Japanese private equity, investors say.
Cerberus set for exit as Japan’s Seibu agrees to Tokyo listing
Seibu Holdings, the Japanese conglomerate that had a bitter falling out with leading shareholder Cerberus Capital Management over a planned IPO three years ago, is finally expected to list in Tokyo in the first half of 2014.
IMM to support T-Broad in cable TV battle
Thanks to the rapid emergence of internet protocol TV (IPTV), South Korea’s cable TV operators are expected to broadcast across the country regardless of regulatory hurdles.
Big brother: Japan's government LPs
The government is becoming an increasingly significant LP in Japanese private equity funds. Smaller GPs can’t live without it but there are wider concerns about sustainability and long-term economic impact
Japan and India to launch joint investment fund
Japan and India are to launch a joint investment fund to help finance Japanese companies operating in India.
Korea sovereign fund's CIO resigns
Dong-Ik Lee, the CIO of Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), has resigned. This comes less than three months after Chong-Suk Choi, president and CEO of the sovereign wealth fund, resigned for personal reasons.
JAIC spin out WM Partners reaches first close on maiden secondaries fund
WM Partners, a venture capital secondaries fund launched last year by former JAIC CEO Moriyoshi Matsumoto, has reached a first close on its JPY5.25 billion ($50.1 million) first fund.
Japan IPOs: Rising sun
On the back of a cautious economic recovery Japan witnessed a boom in IPOs in 2013 as a host of venture capital-backed companies went public. How long will the good times last?
Longreach agrees Christmas carve-out
Christmas was delayed at the Longreach Group as the North Asia-focused private equity firm finalized an agreement to buy Japanese molded plastics manufacturer Sol-Plus Group on December 25, bringing to an end several weeks of negotiations.
Hahn & Co agrees $380m Hanjin deal
Of the four leading Korean dry bulk carriers, Hanjin Shipping and Hyundai Merchant Marine are raising capital through asset sales and restructurings, while STX Pan Ocean and Korea Line have already filed for bankruptcy.
IVFA to exit UEM India as Toshiba buys 26% stake - report
Japanese electronics giant Toshiba Corp. is looking acquire a 26% stake in Indian water treatment specialist UEM Group from existing shareholders, including private equity investor India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA).
IMM PE invests $190m in Korean cable TV operator T-Broad
IMM Private Equity has acquired an approximately 21% stake in T-Broad Holdings, South Korea’s second-largest cable operator by subscriber numbers, for KRW200 billion ($190 million).
South Korea orders KT Corp to buy back satellite from Permira-owned ABS
The South Korean government has ordered telecom operator KT Corp. to buy back a satellite it sold to Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS), a Hong Kong-based company owned by Permira.
INCJ joins Japanese companies to form $300m start-up fund
The Innovation Corporation Network of Japan (INCJ) has joined a consortium of 10 Japanese companies to set up a $300 million start-up fund to be managed by Silicon Valley-based venture firm WiL.
Nissay, SMBC, Incubate invest $1m Japan budget app
Nissay Capital, SMBC Venture Capital and Incubate Fund have together invested JPY100 million ($955,000) in BearTail, the Japanese start-up behind the cloud-based household accounting app Dr. Wallet.
Dream Incubator leads $2m round for Japan mobile video network
Dream Incubator has led a $2 million round of investment for Breaker, a Japanese start-up that distributes mobile video content. Seimer Ventures also took part in the round alongside an number of undisclosed investors.
Fortress to raise $1.9b for Japan's first infra fund - report
Fortress Investment Group is said to be targeting JPY200 billion ($1.9 billion) for a new Japan-focused infrastructure fund.