Japan
Bain launches tender offer for Japan marketing business
Bain Capital has launched a tender offer for Japan-based television and direct marketing business Tri-Stage that values the company at approximately JPY 17.2bn (USD 137.3m).
Japan's MPower backs pet devices maker
Japan’s MPower Partners, which was set up last year to make environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments, has joined a USD 10.5m Series B round for local pet devices maker Rabo.
Japan's Drone Fund closes third vintage on $85m
Japan’s Drone Fund has closed its third air mobility-dedicated vehicle at JPY 10.5bn (USD 85m), beating a target of JPY 10bn.
Carlyle sells Japan construction materials supplier to Lone Star
The Carlyle Group has sold Senqcia Corporation, a Japanese construction materials supplier formerly known as Hitachi Metals Techno, to Lone Star Funds for an undisclosed sum.
Effissimo pledges to support Bain buyout of Toshiba
Bain Capital appears to be preparing a take-private bid for Toshiba Corporation, having secured the support of the company’s largest activist shareholder for a potential tender offer.
GP profile: DCM
Investing in China, Japan, and the US out of a single global fund, DCM sticks to a formula of small funds, concentrated portfolios, early-stage deals, and collaborative cross-border teams
Japan mobile banking player Kyash gets $41m Series C
Altos Ventures, Goodwater Capital, Greyhound Capital, and StepStone Group are part of an investor group that has committed JPY 4.9bn (USD 41m) in Series D funding to Tokyo-based mobile banking start-up Kyash.
J-Star exits Japan nursing care provider
J-Star has exited dementia-focused nursing care provider Platia to Bain Capital-owned counterpart Nichii Gakkan for an undisclosed sum.
Farallon calls on Toshiba to reconsider PE buyout
Farallon Capital Management, a minority shareholder in Toshiba Corporation, has called on the company to reconsider bringing in a private equity investor amid mounting opposition to a two-way spinoff.
Portfolio: Aspirant Group and Yamato Group
Improving cost controls and realising efficiencies underpinned Aspirant Group’s investment thesis for Japanese fish retailer Yamato Group, and they have helped the company withstand external pressures
CLSA acquires Japan childcare operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has acquired a majority stake in Japanese childcare facility operator Task-Force for an undisclosed sum.
Hong Kong game developer 6Waves bought by European strategic
6Waves, a Hong Kong-based mobile game developer that previously received funding from Insight Partners, has been acquired by Swedish gaming studio Stillfront Group for USD 201m, comprising cash and shares.
LP interview: Adams Street Partners
Adams Street Partners believes having a close-knit Asia team, which cuts across geographies, sectors, and stages, informs a big-picture view that enables it to look beyond near-term dislocations
Longreach expands Japan coffee shop footprint
The Longreach Group has completed a third investment in Japan’s coffee shop space with the acquisition of Pokka Create Corporation, which operates more than 200 stores under the Café de Crie brand.
VCs invest in Japan sports analytics start-up
Global Brain has joined a JPY 770m (USD 7m) pre-Series B round for Japan’s Run.Edge, a sports video search and analytics platform.
Longreach expands partner group to six - update
North Asia-focused mid-market buyout firm The Longreach Group has promoted Keitaro Tsuda, Sonny Chan, and Ken Law to partner, expanding its leadership group to six.
Deal focus: ACA seeks Asia-Europe sporting synergies
Japan’s ACA Group has acquired a Belgium-based KMSK Deinze as part of a multi-club investment strategy that will – in part – bring Asian players into the middle tiers of European football
Global Brain, Mitsubishi launch $44m VC fund
Japan’s Global Brain and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation have established a corporate VC fund that aims to invest JPY 5bn (USD 43.7m) globally over the next 10 years. Global Brain will act as manager.
Bain exits Japan hot spring operator to Lone Star
Bain Capital has sold Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Resorts & Hotels, a Japan-based traditional inn and hot spring chain operator it acquired nearly seven years ago, to Lone Star for an undisclosed sum.
Japan's ACA buys Belgian football club
Japanese fund manager ACA Investments has created a football-focused unit under its Singapore-based subsidiary and acquired a club that competes in the second tier of the Belgian league.
Carlyle agrees $419m exit from Japan healthcare business
The Carlyle Group has agreed to sell Sunsho Pharmaceuticals, a Japan-based contract manufacturer of dietary supplements, to Towa Pharmaceutical for JPY47.7 billion ($419.5 million).
KKR to buy Japan SME software provider from Orix
KKR has agreed to buy Yayoi, a Japan-based software developer that serves small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Orix Corporation.