North Asia
Japan's Lixil acquires TPG-backed faucet maker Grohe
Lixil Group, a Japanese toilet manufacturer, has agreed to acquire Grohe, a German maker of faucets backed by TPG Capital and the private equity arm of Credit Suisse (formerly CSFB Private Equity), for JPY400 billion ($4 billion).
Japan's KDDI, Cisco lead $10m Series A for Moxtra
Japanese telecom firm KDDI Corp and US tech giant Cisco Systems have led a $10 million Series A round of investment for Silicon Valley-based app developer Moxtra. Other investors include China's Innovation Works and Starwood Capital's Barry Sternlicht.
Ant Capital invests $11m in construction software firm Kozo Keikaku
Japanese private equity firm Ant Capital Partners has agreed to acquire a 30.4% stake in Japan-listed construction software developer Kozo Keikaku Engineering from existing shareholders for JPY1.15 billion ($11 million).
SMRJ, Daiichi Sankyo, Mitsubishi UFJ launch $10m pharma fund
The Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation Japan (SMRJ), pharmaceutical firm Daiichi Sankyo and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital are together launching a new JPY1 billion ($10 million) fund to invest in pharmaceutical start-ups working...
NTT Docomo Ventures, Livesense lead $5.5m investment in Japan's Aratana
NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the Japanese mobile giant, and internet media firm Livesense have together led a JPY550 million ($5.5 million) investment round for Aratana, a social e-commerce platform developer. Existing VC backers JAFCO,...
Mediaflag moves to acquire J-Star-owned sweets maker Tokachi
Mediaflag - a company which provides distribution support services to consumer goods manufacturers - has offered to acquire a 100% stake in Tokachi, a traditional Japanese sweets maker owned by Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star. The financial terms...
Henry Kravis on Asia
KKR co-founder Henry Kravis recently briefed a group of reporters on his firm's investment strategy in Asia, offering glimpses of a business that is rooted in private equity yet stretches well beyond it.
MSPEA-backed Hyundai Rotem to raise up to $575m in IPO
Hyundai Rotem, a South Korean train maker backed by Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), intends to raise as much as KRW622.4 billion ($575 million) in what is set to be the country's biggest IPO so far this year.
Japan Private Equity holds $30m first close on Fund IV
Japan Private Equity (JPE) has held a JPY3 billion ($30 million) first close on its fourth buyout fund, JPE Private Equity No.4.
KKR considers teaming with Japan state fund for Panasonic unit - report
KKR may partner with a Japanese state-backed investment fund in a bid to secure a stake in Panasonic's healthcare unit.
Advent, CDIB, Mirae back The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Advent International has joined Taiwan's CDIB Capital and Japan's Mirae Asset Private Equity to acquire a significant stake in International Coffee and Tea, the company behind US specialty coffee and tea retailer - The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. The largest...
Toshiba expands in India with 3i’s Vijai Electricals acquisition
Japan’s Toshiba Corporation will acquire the majority of Vijai Electricals’ electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) business for approximately $200 million. 3i bought a minority stake in Vijai for $25.8 million in 2006.
Orion Partners to launch $250m Japan care homes fund
Hong Kong-headquartered Orion Partners, formerly known as Ajia Partners, is looking to raise as much as JPY25 billion ($250 million) for its third Japan care homes investment fund.
Japan's Dogan closes Kyushu SME fund at $34m
Japanese GP Dogan Advisors has reached a JPY3.3 billion ($34 million) close on its latest regional fund, Kyushu BOLERO (Buyout for local enterprise and reform organization) Fund 2.
Nissay Capital invests $1.9m in towel company
Nissay Capital has invested JPY199 million ($1.9 million) in Japanese towel maker, Ikeuchi Towel. The size of the stake acquired was not disclosed.
KKR leads race for Panasonic healthcare unit - report
KKR is said to have taken the lead in the bidding for a majority stake in Panasonic's healthcare unit - a potential $1.5 billion deal that would represent the firm's largest Japanese buyout to date.
Nissay Capital leads $1.5m round for Japan skills marketplace
Nissay Capital has a led a JPY150 million ($1.5 million) round of investment in WelSelf, the Tokyo-based start-up behind online skils marketplace Coconala. Other investors include internet marketing companies Opt and Adways, and the CEO of cosmetics site...
Japan's Future Venture Capital raises $5m venture fund
Japan's Future Venture Capital has raised a JPY500 million ($5 million) venture fund, Ehime Venture Fund 2013.
Japan's Rakuten acquires VC-backed video site Viki
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has acquired Viki, a VC-backed global video streaming platform.The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
INCJ invests $6m in Japan's UniZeo
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY600 million ($6 million) in UniZeo, a Japanese company which is focused on commercializing new methods of producing synthetic zeolite.
L Capital Asia eyes bigger deals, mature markets for Fund II
Larger deals, including a few buyouts, are likely to feature more prominently in L Capital Asia’s second regional fund as the GP expands its attention to the more developed markets of Australia, Japan and South Korea, as well as bringing to bear the...
SMBC, IGPI invest $1.3m in Japanese game design platform
SMBC Venture Capital and Industrial Growth Partners (IGPI) have invested JPY130 million ($1.3 million) in Mugenup.com, a start-up that crowd-sources design talent to work on projects for game developers.
Japan's Rakuten leads $23m Series B round for e-commerce app Slice
Rakuten Group - Japan's largest e-commerce firm - has led a $23 million financing round for the Silicon Valley-based start-up behind online shopping app Slice.
Korea launches fund class to support overseas contractors
South Korea plans to launch specialist private equity funds as a means of encouraging financial institutions to support local firms competing for overseas construction contracts. The government hopes that $8.6 billion can be raised through these funds...