Japan
India's Z3 Partners invests in cybersecurity firm
Indian technology-focused private equity firm Z3 Partners has invested in Cyfirma, an analytics platform that helps enterprise clients identify potential cyber threats.
Portfolio: Unison Capital and CHCP
Through its Community Healthcare Coordination Platform, Unison Capital wants to bring efficiencies and economies of scale to parts of Japan’s healthcare sector that have been isolated from private markets
Deal focus: Counterintuition pays off for NSSK
Japanese mid-market buyout firm NSSK has executed a partial exit of Vati, a small but strong performer in the country’s competitive nursing care space
Japanese advisor matching network set for $54m IPO
VisasQ, a Japanese matchmaking platform that connects companies with relevant advisors, is looking to raise approximately JPY5.97 billion ($54 million) through a Tokyo IPO that will provide partial exits for several VC backers.
Polaris pursues take-private of Japan's Sogo Medical
Polaris Capital Group has made an offer to privatize Sogo Medical Holdings, a Japanese pharmacy chain operator and B2B healthcare management platform, at a valuation of JPY76.3 billion ($694 million).
Capital Dynamics loses Asia primaries head
Kazushige Kobayashi (pictured), a Tokyo-based managing director at Capital Dynamics and head of primaries coverage in Asia, is departing the firm after nearly 10 years.
NSSK sells Japan nursing care business
Japanese mid-market buyout firm NSSK has secured a partial exit from nursing care provider Vati through a sale of the business to an investor group that includes Neuberger Berman.
Samsung Ventures backs Japan tourism operator
Samsung Ventures has led a group of Korean investors in a Series B round for H2O Hospitality, which claims to be Japan’s largest vacation rentals provider.
Japan's SBI seeks $920m for technology fund
SBI Investment has launched a technology-focused VC fund, known as 4+5 Fund, with a target of JPY100 billion ($920 million).
Advantage-owned Japanese funeral services business to go public
Advantage Partners is set to make a partial exit from Kizuna Holdings Corporation, a Japanese funeral services business it acquired for around JPY2 billion ($18 million) in 2016, through an IPO.
Integral pursues $316m buyout of Japanese software developer
Integral Corporation has won management support for a tender offer for Japanese software development and IT consulting business Mamezou Holdings at a valuation of JPY34.4 billion ($316 million).
Bain pursues $824m buyout of Japan's Showa Aircraft Industry
Bain Capital has submitted a tender offer for Showa Aircraft Industries, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in paneling for aircraft interiors, that values the business at JPY90 billion ($824 million).
Japan's J-Star agrees IT jobs platform acquisition
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has agreed to acquire Gino, a local IT industry job search platform, for an undisclosed sum.
Japanese professional services marketplace raises $36m
Japanese start-up Minma, which operates P2P jobs and services marketplace Curama, has raised a JPY4 billion ($36.5 million) Series C round led by Nissay Capital, the VC unit of Nippon Life Insurance.
Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform raises $48m
Inagora - operator of an e-commerce platform that sells Japanese premium products to Chinese customers - has raised JPY5.3 billion ($48m) from SBI holdings, pharmacy chain Sugi Holdings and Xinjin Holding, the cross-border alternative investment arm of...
Longreach buys another Japanese coffee shop chain
The Longreach Group has made its second foray into Japan’s coffee shop space with an agreement to acquire Chat Noir, operator of more than 190 stores nationwide, primarily under the Caffe Veloce brand.
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2020
Industry experts weigh in as a range of macro factors promise to reshape markets across the region. Political, demographic, and scientific variables loom large
2019 in review: Falling short
Fundraising, investment and exits in Asia are unlikely to match last year as pan-regional funds take a back seat, large-cap buyouts remain in short supply, growth-stage tech loses its edge, and IPOs flounder
Singapore's Vertex receives $180m for global fund-of-funds
Vertex Ventures, a VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has received commitments of $180 million from Japanese investors for a fund-of-funds that will support its global portfolio of VC vehicles.
Apollo appoints ex-Bain executive to head up Japan
Apollo Global Management has appointed Tetsuji Okamoto, previously of Bain Capital, as head of Japan to lead the buildout of its private equity business in the country.
Japan's J-Star closes fourth fund at $443m
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has closed its fourth middle-market fund at the hard cap of JPY48.5 billion ($433 million), up from JPY32.5 billion in the previous vintage.
Japan health tech player SmartScan gets $10m Series A
SmartScan, a Japanese medical technology supplier focused on software for diagnostics equipment, has raised a JPY1.3 billion ($10.3 million) Series A round from domestic VCs.
PE & QSR: Selling pizza in Japan
From delightfully indulgent pizza toppings to delivery world records, Domino’s Japan has added a splash of color to the food and beverage space. It also served up robust private equity returns
Japan's SmartNews secures $92m Series E
Japan-based news app SmartNews has closed its Series E round at $92 million with contributions from Japan Post Capital and Globis Capital Partners.