Japan
Japan's Creema raises $10m round
Globis Capital Partners has led a JPY1.1 billion ($10 million) round for Japan-based Creema, the operator of an online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace specializing in handmade items.
INCJ leads $10m round for Japan robotics start-up
Japanese robotics company 3D Media has received a JPY1.1 billion ($10 million) investment from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), Sparx Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital.
MBK-owned Komeda Coffee wins approval for Japan IPO
Komeda Coffee, a coffee shop chain owned by North Asia-focused MBK Partners, has won approval for a Tokyo IPO. The indicative price suggested the offering will be worth up to JPY60.2 billion ($547.4 million).
Deal focus: CITIC exits a bigger Tri-Wall
CITIC Capital Partners overcame strategic competition to buy a majority stake in Tri-Wall. After six years and significant financial and geographic expansion, it is exiting to a strategic player
Fund focus: Geodesic helps US start-ups go big in Japan
The former US ambassador to Japan and the ex-head of Andreessen Horowitz's growth investment practice have joined forces to help US start-ups gain traction in Japan
Permira buys John Masters Organics, Japanese distributor
Permira will buy a controlling stake in John Masters Organics (JMO), owner of the eponymous personal care brand, and its exclusive distributor in Japan and East Asia for an enterprise valuation of JPY37 billion ($336 million).
CITIC Capital exits Tri-Wall to Japan's Rengo
CITIC Capital Partners has agreed to sell its majority stake in Tri-Wall Holdings, an Asia-focused heavy duty packaging business, to Japanese packaging manufacturer Rengo for $221.7 million.
Geodesic closes $335m VC fund to bridge US, Asia
Geodesic Capital, a US-based venture capital firm focused on helping start-ups drive Japanese expansion, has closed its first fund at $335 million.
Deal focus: WiL chisels start-up gold from corporate Japan
Having previously developed its technology under the wing of NTT Docomo, Soracom went independent with World Innovation Lab's assistance and is now targeting global expansion
Deal focus: CLSA CP school deal breaks new ground
CLSA Capital Partners makes what is likely the first-ever private equity investment in a Japanese cram school
Japan's AbbaLab launches $14m start-up fund
AbbaLab, a Japanese start-up incubator focused on hardware prototyping in the internet-of-things (IoT) space, has launched a JPY1.5 billion ($14 million) fund.
CLSA Capital Partners backs Japan school operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has invested in Japanese school operator BC Ings through its Sunrise II buyout fund.
Japanese pharma group launches global VC arm
Japanese oncology specialist Taiho Pharmaceutical has launched a VC arm that will invest an initial pool of $50 million in global start-ups focused on cancer therapies.
Japan's Gree reaches $37m first close on second fund
Gree Ventures – the VC arm of Japanese online media and gaming company Gree - has achieved a first close of its second fund with about $37 million in commitments.
WiL, Infinity join $22m round for Japan's Soracom
World Innovation Lab (WiL) and Infinity Venture Partners are among the participants in a JPY2.4 billion ($22 million) round of funding for Soracom, a Japan-based internet of things (IoT) communications platform.
Singapore's Tagit receives $8.8m from Japanese IT group
Singapore mobile technology company Tagit has secured S$12 million ($8.8 million) for an international expansion effort from SRA Group, a Japanese IT systems developer and operator.
AID in $13m round for Japan home rental site
AID Partners and Cool Japan Fund have contributed to a JPY1.4 billion ($13 million) round for Japan’s Hyakusenrenma, an online vacation rentals platform.
New kids on the block: Accessing Asia's emerging LPs
Patience is a virtue when looking for allocations from Asian institutions that are either new to private equity or planning to increase commitments to the asset class
Asian LPs eye more alternatives – UBS
Large institutional Asian LPs are looking to boost allocations to alternative assets, including private equity, as they seek to diversify portfolios in response to economic volatility, according to UBS Asset Management.
Japan Post targets higher-yield assets
The new CEO of Japan Post Holdings has underlined his commitment to targeting riskier asset classes, including private equity and direct M&A opportunities. This comes as several local insurers are branching out into higher-return investments overseas...
SoftBank defends under fire COO Nikesh Arora
Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank has spoken out in defense of Nikesh Arora, its president and COO - and presumed successor to CEO Masayoshi Son - who has been accused of conflict of interest and poor investment performance.
Japan's Gree raises $12m fund for VR start-ups
Japan's Gree has launched a $12 million fund to support virtual reality (VR) start-ups focusing on both gaming and non-gaming software and content.
Fund focus: Globis gets traction with pension LPs
Japanese pension funds show stronger interest in latest fund from Tokyo's Globis
Deal focus: VCs back Kyulux to be leading light
VCs and strategic investors demonstrate confidence in Kyulux to produce energy-efficient digital displays with higher quality at a lower price