Japan
Deal focus: Partners Group-backed IT play ripens early
Partners Group is set to generate a 5x return on the sale of its 45% stake in GlobalLogic to Hitachi as momentum in corporate digital transformation makes the IT services player a hot commodity
CVC proposes acquisition of Japan's Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation has confirmed it received a buyout offer from CVC Capital Partners. Based on a reported valuation of $20 billion, it would be the largest acquisition by a private equity firm in Asia.
Japan's YJ Capital, Line Ventures merge, launch $274m fund
Japan’s YJ Capital, recently rebranded as Z Venture Capital (ZVC), has launched a JPY30 billion ($274 million) following a merger with Line Ventures.
L Catterton invests $182m in Japanese healthcare business
L Catterton has invested JPY20 billion ($182 million) in PHC Holdings Corporation, a Japanese healthcare business – formerly known as Panasonic Healthcare – backed by KKR.
Japan payments start-up Paidy closes $120m Series D
Japanese payments start-up Paidy has raised $120 million in Series D funding from JS Capital Management, Soros Capital Management, Tybourne Capital Management, and Wellington Management.
Partners Group, CPPIB exit GlobalLogic to Hitachi
Partners Group and Canada Pension Plain Investment Board (CPPIB) are exiting a combined 90% stake in US-headquartered GlobalLogic to Japan’s Hitachi at an equity valuation of $8.5 billion.
Unison makes two Japan healthcare acquisitions
Japan’s Unison Capital has confirmed two local healthcare deals in the space of a week with pharmacy chain Reliance and outpatient nursing provider N Field.
Applied terminates acquisition of Japan's Kokusai Electric
KKR’s $3.5 billion sale of Japanese semiconductor industry supplier Kokusai Electric to US-listed Applied Materials has fallen through due to regulatory approval issues in China.
JC Flowers exits Asia trading platforms business
JC Flowers has agreed to sell Hong Kong-based Chi-X Asia Pacific, which operates equity trading platforms in Australia and Japan, to US-based Cboe Global Markets.
DCM set for partial exit from Japan's Freee
Tokyo-listed accounting software provider Freee is set to raise up to JPY42.5 billion ($391 million) through an offering of new shares and the sale of shares held by DCM Ventures.
China biotech makes Asia global healthcare PE leader
A more than 100% year-on-year increase in deal volume saw Asia Pacific overtake North America to become the most active global private equity healthcare market for the first time in 2020.
WingArc raises $179m in Japan IPO, Carlyle makes full exit
The Carlyle Group has completed a full exit from Japanese enterprise software developer WingArc1st via the company’s JPY19.4 billion ($179 million) IPO.
Ant Capital seeks $461m for sixth Japan fund
Ant Capital Partners has set a hard cap of JPY50 billion ($461 million) for its sixth Japan buyout fund, with a first close on as much as half that total provisionally scheduled for the end of April.
Deal focus: Gitai turns robot economics on its head
Japanese start-up Gitai eschews conventional wisdom that industrial-use robots must be specialized. Its Series B round will be used to build general-purpose robots for use in space
US-Japan VC hits $75m first close on cross-border fund
SIP Global Partners, a US and Japan-headquartered VC firm, has reached a first close of $75 million on its debut cross-border fund. The target is $150 million.
Polaris buys mapping business from Japan's Pioneer
Japanese technology conglomerate Pioneer Corporation has agreed to sell Increment P Corporation – its car navigation and mapping business – to Polaris Capital Group.
Singapore’s East Ventures takes over EV Growth
EV Growth, a joint venture between Singapore’s East Ventures, Indonesia’s SMDV and Japan’s YJ Capital, is dissolving its co-GP structure, with East Ventures taking over as the sole manager.
Japan space robotics start-up gets $17m
Gitai, a Japanese start-up developing a humanoid general-purpose work robot for use in space, has secured a JPY1.8 billion ($17 million) Series B round from local VCs.
New Frontier Japan targets $94m for second fund
New Frontier Japan Investment (NFJI), a lower middle-market Japanese private equity firm, is looking to raise JPY10 billion ($94.4 million) for its second fund.
VC-backed Appier files for Japan IPO
Appier, a Taiwan-based advertising technology provider, has filed for a JPY26.4 billion ($250 million) Japan IPO. It sets up exits for several VC investors, including Sequoia Capital.
Japan's Kyulux raises $34m extended Series B
Japan-based Kyulux, which develops advanced lighting technology used in digital screens, has raised JPY3.6 billion ($34.3 million) from a group of VCs and strategic investors.
Carlyle abandons pursuit of Japan Asia Group
The Carlyle Group and the chairman of Japan Asia Group (JAG) have abandoned their bid for the company after a tender offer failed to generate sufficient shareholder support.
MBK targets $639m acquisition of Japan aged care business
MBK Partners has joined the list of private equity firms pursuing deals in Japan’s aged care and healthcare space, having launched a tender offer for Tsukui Holdings Corporation at a valuation of JPY66.9 billion ($639 million).