Japan
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.
Japanese space rental platform files for IPO
SpaceMarket, a Japanese start-up that lists vacant spaces available for rent for corporate events, is looking to raise up to JPY933.2 million ($8.5 million) through a domestic IPO.
Unison agrees $526m Japan pharma carve-out
Unison Capital has agreed to buy Kyowa Pharmaceutical Industry, a Japanese subsidiary of India-headquartered drug manufacturer Lupin for an enterprise valuation of JPY57.4 billion ($526 million).
Japan's WealthNavi secures $37m funding round
A fund launched by Sony Financial Ventures and Global Brain is among the participants in a JPY4.1 billion ($37.5 million) funding round for Japanese financial technology start-up WealthNavi.
SoftBank founder admits to lapses on WeWork
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son admitted to a lapse in judgment on WeWork while disclosing that SoftBank Vision Fund and SoftBank Group have written down their positions in the beleaguered co-working space provider by a combined $7.7 billion.
PE & QSR: Ambition on a bun
Many private equity investors think they can make a fast buck from fast dining, but rolling out a Western-style brand in Asia requires discipline on valuation and competence in execution
HQ hires AB Value's Kitamura for Japan coverage
Motoya Kitamura, previously managing partner of Japanese secondaries investor AB Value Capital Partners, has joined HQ Capital as a managing director.
Japan's Paidy secures $143m in funding
Paidy, one of Japan’s largest financial technology start-ups, has confirmed $143 million in new funding, comprising an extended Series C round and debt financing.
Aspirant scales up for third Japan buyout fund
Aspirant Group, a Japanese middle-market buyout firm, has closed its third fund at the hard cap of JPY50 billion ($463 million). It is nearly twice the size of the GP’s previous vehicle.
GP profile: J-Star
J-Star’s measured approach to Japan’s middle-market buyout space has tracked a slowly unfolding opportunity set with an uncommon sense of patience
Japan's J-Star forms media platform with three acquisitions
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has acquired three local internet media companies with a view to bundling them into an acquisition platform for the sector.
Advantage seeks $690m for sixth Japan buyout fund
Advantage Partners is looking to raise around JPY75 billion ($690 million) for its sixth Japan-focused middle-market buyout fund, up from JPY60 billion in the previous vintage.
Japan succession planning: The generation game
By selling a stake in the GP, Advantage Partners has broken new ground in Japanese private equity. The move is designed to facilitate ownership transition, accumulate balance sheet capital
Deal focus: Fast fashion strategy pays off for Worldtool
CLSA Capital Partners backed Japan's Worldtool having been won over by a Uniqlo-inspired business model. It turned into a domestic and overseas expansion story
Advantage sells GP stake to Japanese strategic
Japanese mid-market private equity firm Advantage Partners has agreed to sell a minority stake in its fund management entity to domestic financial services company Tokyo Century Corporation.