Japan
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.
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.
Globis, WiL, Japan Post back Series B for AI Medical
AI Medical Service, a Japanese healthcare technology start-up working on what it claims is the world’s first artificial intelligence-enabled endoscopic diagnosis system, has raised JPY4.6 billion ($43 million) in Series B funding.
CLSA exits Japanese automotive tools retailer
CLSA Capital Partners has exited Worldtool, a Japanese automotive tools retailer that primarily operates under the Astro Products brand, to domestic home improvement chain Royal Homecenter.
Japanese flying car developer receives $14m
Japanese flying car developer SkyDrive has raised a $14 million funding round from a group including Itochu Technology Ventures and Strive.
Japan's GPIF reappoints Hiro Mizuno as CIO
Hiro Mizuno (pictured) has been reappointed CIO of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) following the conclusion of his first term leading the world’s largest retirement savings pool at the end of September.
Bain buys Japanese email business from Cheetah Digital
Bain Capital Private Equity has acquired the Japanese email services business of Cheetah Digital, a US marketing firm backed by San Francisco-based Vector Capital.
Japan Industrial Partners agrees manufacturing carve-outs
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) is poised to complete two carve-outs in the copper tube manufacturing space, having agreed to acquire a majority stake in a Kobe Steel-Mitsubishi Material joint venture and buy a division from Furukawa Electric.
Japan investors back US token player Securitize
Japanese investors are supporting efforts to bring token-based economic infrastructure to Japan with participation in a $14 million round for US-based digital securities technology player Securitize.
VC-backed Japanese e-commerce player files for IPO
Base, a Japanese e-commerce services platform that helps small-scale vendors establish online shops, has filed for an IPO in Tokyo. It will facilitate partial exits for multiple venture capital investors.
Japan carve-out opportunity moves beyond conglomerates
Japan’s corporate carve-out opportunity set is expanding as smaller firms begin to follow the example of conglomerates, according to domestic mid-market GP Integral Corporation.
Japan's Tokio Marine Capital spins out from parent
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Tokio Marine Capital is spinning out from its corporate parent to form an independent investment manager known as T Capital Partners.
CITIC joins $34m round for Japanese e-commerce platform
CITIC Capital has participated in a JPY3.6 billion ($34.1 million) funding round for Active Sonar, operator of Reclo, a Japanese online re-selling platform for luxury brands.