North Asia
Hahn & Co to buy Hanjin’s bulk carrier business
Hahn & Co. will pay KRW400 billion ($380 million) for a 76% stake in Hanjin Shipping’s bulk carrier business. This is the South Korean private equity firm’s second foray into the shipping sector following an aborted attempt earlier this year to buy...
Longreach agrees Japan manufacturing carve-out
The Longreach Group has agreed to buy Sol-Plus Group, a Japanese plastics manufacturer with production facilities in Thailand, for an undisclosed sum.
VIDEO: Steve Koltes of CVC Capital Partners
CVC Capital Partners has completed two control deals in China in 2013 and Steve Koltes, the firm's co-founder and co-chairman, expects more to follow. This evolution of opportunities in existing markets - plus the opening up of new markets - will see...
Sprott, Woori win Korean mandate for $750m global resources fund
South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) will lead a consortium of institutional investors in putting up half the capital for a $750 million private equity fund to be managed by Canadian asset manager Sprott and Woori Asset Management. The 10-year...
Japan's Sompo agrees purchase of Bregal-owned insurer Canopius
Sompo Japan Insurance has agreed to acquire Canopius Group, a UK insurer which is 84%-owned by London-headquartered private equity firm Bregal Capital.
Hahn & Co invests $190m in South Korea's Woongjin Foods
Hahn & Co has paid $190 million for a 57% stake in Woongjin Foods, Korea's third largest non-alcoholic beverage company and subsidiary of ailing conglomerate Woongjin Group.
Darby exits South Korea’s Leadcorp
Darby Private Equity, a subsidiary of Franklin Templeton Investments, has exited its stake in South Korean consumer finance company Leadcorp through sales on the Kosdaq Market of Korean Exchange. The financial details were not disclosed.
Osaka prefecture blocks Lone Star bid for Japan rail asset
US private equity firm Lone Star has seen its winning bid for Japan rail operator Osaka Prefectural Urban Development (OPUD) blocked by the Osaka prefectural government.
Japan's Sompo mulls $1b purchase of Bregal-owned insurer Canopius
Sompo Japan Insurance is looking to acquire Canopius Group, a UK insurer which is 84%-owned by London-headquartered private equity firm Bregal Capital.
Japan's GPIF to make infra investments with OMERS, DBJ - report
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) will join Canada's Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) and the government-owned Development Bank of Japan to invest in infrastructure projects abroad.
SMBC to buy US rail lessor from Perella Weinberg
Perella Weinberg Partners will exit Chicago-based Flagship Rail Services to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) in a transaction valued at $1.1 billion.
PAG invests $250m in Universal Studios Japan
PAG has invested $250m in theme park operator Universal Studios Japan (USJ). The firm will be joining Goldman Sachs, MBK Partners and Owl Creek as shareholders of the Company.
Bain to acquire Japan's Macromill for $501m
Bain Capital is set to acquire Tokyo-listed Macromill, a Japanese online market research firm, after offering to buy all shares in the company for JPY51.4 billion ($501 million).
South Korea’s Vogo raises $350m for Fund II
Vogo Investment has raised $350 million for its second South Korea-focused fund. A final close is expected early in 2014 once final negotiations on terms with a few LPs, including domestic heavyweight the National Pension Service, are completed.
Globis, Intel-backed V-Cube raises $43m in Tokyo IPO
V-Cube, a Japanese developer of web-conferencing and webinar systems backed by Intel Capital and Globis Capital Partners, saw its stock open at JPY5,010 per share - a 51% premium on the offering price - on its first day of trading. This followed a JPY4.4...
Crystal ball: Predictions for 2014
From fundraising and secondaries to deal flow and exit strategies, private equity professionals from across the region give their perspective on the year to come
2013 in review: Mixed fortunes
Bifurcation in the fundraising market as LPs play it safe with managers they know; South Korea and India emerge as buyout bright spots; positive signs for IPOs after a difficult 12 months
PE firms in the hunt for Tyco's Korea business - report
KKR, Bain Capital and CVC Capital Partners are reportedly among the preliminary bidders for the South Korean unit of US-based security systems specialist Tyco International. The unit is known as ADT Caps.
Japan’s VC-backed Oncolys Pharma raises $64m in Tokyo IPO
Oncolys Pharma, a VC-backed developer of drugs targeting cancer and serious infectious diseases, saw its stock open at JPY3,500 per share - a 34.6% premium on the offering price - on its first day of trading in Tokyo. This followed a JPY6.6 billion ($64.4...
Tokio Marine to launch $294m mezz fund
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance is to launch a new mezzanine fund with a target of JPY 30 billion ($294 million).
BootstrapLabs launches Korea accelerator
Silicon Valley-based accelerator program BootstrapLabs, and Coolidge Corner Investment (CCVC), a Korean technology venture firm, have together formed BootstrapAccelerator Korea, a Seoul-based six-month accelerator program.
Jafco Asia leads Series B round for US games developer
Japanese venture capital investor Jafco Asia has led a Series B round of funding for US games developer Playnery. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
Tokio Marine sells Barneys Japan stake to 7 Eleven parent
Tokio Marine Capital Partners has agreed to sell its 49.9% stake in luxury department store operator Barneys Japan to Seven & i Holdings, the parent of 7 Eleven convenience stores and department store operator Sogo & Seibu, for around JPY6 billion ($58...
Korea to broaden retail exposure to domestic private equity
South Korean regulators will make it easier for domestic retail investors to participate in private equity as part of a series of reforms designed to boost the country’s capital markets.