North Asia
Gaw Capital acquires London property for Korean investors
Gaw Capital Partners, a Hong Kong-based private equity real estate firm, has acquired Waterside House - an office building in London - on behalf of a pool of South Korean institutional investors.
SMBC Venture, Adways invest in Japan e-commerce site
SMBC Venture Capital and strategic investor Adways have together backed Flask Park, a Japanese gift e-commerce company. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Korea, Russia sovereign funds launch investment platform
Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) has agreed to form an investment platform with fellow sovereign wealth fund the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Each side will contribute an initial $250 million and it is hoped the fund will reach $1 billion...
PAG real estate arm raises $1.5b Asia fund
Secured Capital, the Japan-based real estate investment arm of PAG, has reached a $1.5 billion final close on its fifth fund - Secured Capital Real Estate Partners V - exceeding its $1 billion target.
Riverside acquires Japan bicycle retailer
The Riverside Company has acquired Y. International, a Japanese bicycle retail chain. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Lone Star approved to buy Osaka train, warehouse operator - report
US-based distress-focused GP Lone Star has reportedly won the rights to acquire Japan train operator Osaka Prefectural Urban Development (OPUD) for JPY78 billion ($783 million)
North Asia GPs cautiously optimistic on economic reforms – AVCJ Forum
Government-driven reforms in Japan and South Korea have the potential to deliver more buyout opportunities, although industry participants told the AVCJ Forum in Hong Kong that their optimism is cautious rather than wholehearted.
Carlyle set for another partial exit from Japan's Chimney
The Carlyle Group is set to reap up to JPY14.3 billion ($145 million) through another partial exit from Japanese casual restaurant chain Chimney Corp, after agreeing to subscribe to a tender offer by liquor retailer Yamaya Corp. to acquire a 48.66% stake....
Blackpeak adds to Japan team
Blackpeak Group, an Asia-focused strategic advisor to corporate and investment clients, has appointed Kohtaro Miyagi as a senior consultant, based in Tokyo.
H&Q invests $90m Monster-owned JobKorea
H&Q Korea has agreed to buy a 49.9% interest in JobKorea, the South Korean operation of Monster Worldwide, for an aggregate purchase price of $90 million. Monster will retain management control of the business, with H&Q supporting regional expansion efforts....
Japan's Polaris exits Nippon Oil Pump to Wendel
Japanese buyout firm Polaris Capital Group has agreed to exit its entire share in Nippon Oil Pump Group (NOP) - a maker of hydraulic pumps and motors - to French listed investment group Wendel.
KIC president resigns
Korea Investment Corp’s (KIC) president and CEO, Chong-Suk Choi, has resigned for personal reasons.
Alvarez & Marsal opens Korea office
Turnaround management and business advisory specialist Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has opened an office in Seoul and appointed Jay Kim as managing director to lead its business activities in South Korea.
Five trends worth watching
When we look back at 2013 it will probably be described as a slow year for Asian private equity. Statistics on all major PE activities in the region have fallen substantially.
Globis, Intel-backed V-Cube files for Tokyo IPO
V-Cube,a Japanese developer of web-conferencing and webinar systems backed by Intel Capital and Globis Capital Partners, has filed for its Tokyo IPO.
SMBC, NEC-backed VC fund backs US semiconductor firm
Innovative Venture Fund, an early stage investment fund set up by Japan's NEC Capital and SMBC Venture Capital, has a led a round of investment in SiTime Corp, a US-based semiconductor company. Additional participants in the round included Hercules Technology...
Globis backs online stock photo site Pixta
Globis Capital Partners has invested JPY70 million ($700,000) in Pixta, the Japanese company behind stock photo and online storage service site Pixtastock.com.
Taiwan's Chinatrust to buy Tokyo Star Bank for $530m
CTBC Financial, the parent company of Taiwan's Chinatrust Commercial Bank, is to buy a 98.16% stake in Tokyo Star Bank for JPY52 billion ($530 million) from US private equity firm Lone Star and other creditors-turned-shareholders. It will be the first...
Bamboo Finance sees 2x return on Mongolia XacBank exit
Emerging markets-focused private equity firm Bamboo Finance has exited its stake in TenGer Financial Group (TFG), the holding company of Mongolia's XacBank, to Japan's Orix Corp. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but it is said...
Ant Capital acquires Japanese shoe maker MoonStar
Ant Capital has acquired a majority stake in 140-year-old Japanese shoe maker MoonStar from the founding family and other shareholders. Financial details were not disclosed.
J-Star makes sweet exit from Tokachi
Gifts are a big part of Japanese tradition. Whether you are making an introduction, expressing thanks or simply marking a change in the seasons, an exchange of gifts is usually required. A large section of the country’s consumer sector relies on providing...
Asia real assets: Need returns, will travel
Interest in Asian real assets has surged as investors look to higher growth emerging markets for income and upside. Opportunities run from real estate to infrastructure, and in some cases offer a bit of both
Ant Capital exits cream puff maker Beard Papa
Ant Capital is exiting its 100% stake in Muginoho Holdings, the company behind Japanese cream puff brand Beard Papa, to instant food giant Nagatanien for JPY9.44 billion ($96 million).
Polaris-backed apparel supplier files for bankruptcy
Fusen-Usagi Corporation,a children's apparel supplier backed by Polaris Capital Group, has filed for bankruptcy at Osaka Regional Court with JPY3 billion ($30 million) in debt.