Japan
Japan fundraising: Getting bigger
Will the rapid increases in fund size for the likes of Japan Industrial Partners and Polaris Private Equity turn out to be the exception or the rule in Japan's middle market?
BaltCap, JBIC launch $113m Europe-Japan VC fund
Estonian private equity firm BaltCap and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have launched a EUR100 million ($113 million) Europe-Asia cross-border VC fund with a focus on Japan.
J-Star's Japan Hospice Holdings set for Tokyo IPO
Japan Hospice Holdings, a hospice care platform created by J-Star through a series of acquisitions, is looking to raise JPY1.48 billion ($13.4 million) through a Tokyo IPO.
MBK to buy Asia retail assets from chocolate maker Godiva
MBK Partners has agreed to buy Belgian chocolate maker Godiva’s distribution operations in Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand in a deal reportedly worth more than $1 billion.
Polaris exits Japanese timber company
Japan’s Polaris Capital has agreed to sell its 100% stake in domestic timber and building materials company Hivic for JPY8.5 billion ($77.4 million).
Advantage buys Vietnam's Elise Fashion
Advantage Partners has made its first acquisition in Vietnam, buying women’s fashion brand Elise Fashion for an undisclosed amount.
Japan's J-Will set for $272m buyout of ND Software
J-Will Partners has won board support for its proposed acquisition of ND Sofware, a Japanese software developer that serves the healthcare sector, through a tender offer at a valuation of JPY29.9 billion ($272 million).
CVC exits Japanese care provider to Polaris
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to sell Hitowa Holdings, a Japan-based provider of cleaning, assisted living and childcare support services, to Polaris Private Equity.
Korea's Orchestra buys electronic darts machine maker
Korean middle market investor Orchestra Private Equity has completed the KRW122 billion ($109 million) acquisition of Hong International, the largest global manufacturer of electronic darts machines.
Longreach promotes Takuya Sato to partner
The Longreach Group, a mid-market North Asia buyout firm that has a particular focus on Japan, has promoted Takuya Sato (pictured) to partner.
Japan Airlines launches $70m VC fund
Japan Airlines (JAL) has provided $70 million for a venture capital fund focused on transportation technology start-ups. It will be managed by US-based TransLink Capital.
VCs commit $15m to Japanese AI specialist
A group of venture capital firms, including SBI Investment, have invested $15 million in a Series B round for Cinnamon, a Japanese artificial intelligence (AI) company focused on office automation.
Nomura, Carlyle bid for Japan's Orion Breweries
Japanese investment bank Nomura and The Carlyle Group have made a JPY52.1 billion ($477 million) tender offer as part of a proposed management buyout of Japan-based beer maker Orion Breweries.
Jafco acquires Japanese manufacturer from China SOE
Jafco has acquired Japanese construction equipment manufacturer Nagano Industry (NKK) from Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Holding (Jingcheng).
Japan's SBI invests $15m in Swiss blockchain player
SBI Crypto Investment, a unit of Japan’s SBI Holdings formed to back digital asset-focused start-ups, has invested $15 million in Tangem, a Switzerland-based producer of blockchain smart card wallets.
Bain makes tender offer for Japan's Kosaido
Bain Capital Private Equity has launched a tender offer for Japan-listed printing and IT solutions provider Kosaido that values the target company at approximately JPY15.2 billion ($139 million).
American Express buys Japan's Pocket Concierge
American Express has acquired Pocket Concierge, a Japanese digital services provider for the restaurant industry backed by several domestic venture capital firms.
Japan's Mitsui backs $100m VC fund in Israel
Japan’s Mitsui & Co has invested in Israel-based Magenta Venture Partners’ debut fund, which is targeting $100 million and to date backed entirely by Japanese corporates.
AVCJ Awards 2018: Firm of the Year - Large Cap: Bain Capital
Bain Capital’s recent investment and exit activity underlines the importance of cross-border competencies. The GP also won the awards for Deal of the Year - Large Cap and Exit of the Year - Large Cap
SunBridge exits Marketo's Japan JV to Adobe
SunBridge Partners, a US-based VC firm that helps companies access Japan, has exited its position in a Japanese joint venture (JV) with B2B cloud technology provider Marketo to Adobe.
CLSA buys Japan parking lot operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has acquired 100% of Ecolo Holdings, a Japanese parking lot business that operates primarily under the name Ecolocity.
Polaris buys filling station technology business from Hitachi
Japan’s Polaris Capital Group has agreed to buy Hitachi Automotive Systems Measurement (HASM), an automotive components subsidiary of Hitachi Corporation.
AVCJ Awards 2018: Fundraising of the Year - Mid Cap: Japan Industrial Partners
With $1.4 billion in dry powder at its disposal, Japan Industrial Partners has the firepower to target a wider variety of corporate carve-out opportunities
Deal focus: Cool Japan helps Spiber spin chic new web
Cool Japan has taken a new angle on its cultural investment thesis with Spiber, a biotechnology developer bringing next-generation materials to the apparel industry