Japan
J-Star owned medical insurer makes bolt-on acquisition
Nihon Hoken Service (NHS), a Tokyo-based insurance agency and insurance solicitation business bought by J-Star earlier this year, has completed the bolt-on acquisition of industry peer Sokisha Corporation.
Japan skills platform gets $4.4m in funding
Coconala, a Japanese skills marketplace formerly known as WelSelf, has raised JPY540 million ($4.4 million) in funding from Jafco, Nissay Capital, SMBC Venture Capital and Voyage Ventures.
Global Brain, Dentsu, Mitsui in $6.1m round for Japan's Kabuku
Japan-based Kabuku, manager of 3-D printing service Rinkak, has closed a JPY750 million ($6.1 million) Series A round with participation by Global Brain, Dentsu Digital Holdings and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital.
Japan Post Bank to launch private equity division
Japan Post Bank, a unit of the recently-privatized Japan Post Holdings, will create a division to explore private equity investment opportunities.
Bain makes part-exit as Japan's Bellsystem24 goes public
Bain Capital has made a partial exit from Bellsystem24 as the Japan-based call center business raised JPY48.1 billion ($391 million) through an IPO. The company plans to broaden its service offering and expand into Southeast Asia.
Rakuten launches $100m fund for global fintech investments
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has launched a $100 million fund for investments in financial technology start-ups worldwide.
HarbourVest makes two promotions in Asia
HarbourVest Partners has promoted two Asia-based professionals – Minjun Chung and Kanji Takenaka, who focus on South Korea and Japan, respectively – to principal.
Fortress raises $1.1b for third Japan special situations fund
Fortress Investment Group has closed its third Japan-focused special situations fund at the hard cap of $1.1 billion. Ten deals have already been completed with more than JPY17 billion ($140 million) deployed.
Ability to change management key to value creation - AVCJ Forum
Having the ability to change the management team in a portfolio company remains a critical factor for private equity investors as they place greater emphasis on the value-add process.
Japan female-focused video ad network raises $6.6m
Jafco, TBS Innovation Partners and strategic investors iStyle and Excite Japan have invested JPY800 million ($6.6 million) in Open8, a Tokyo-based start-up that a video ad platform targeted at women.
CITIC Capital buys Japan-based footwear brand
CITIC Capital Partners has acquired Japanese footwear company Akakura for an undisclosed sum.
Nippon Life to raise stake in India's Reliance Capital
Japanese life insurance firm Nippon Life will pay INR12 billion ($184 million) to increase its stake in Indian asset manager Reliance Capital Asset Management (RCAM).
SoftBank backs US-based Cybereason, supports Japan expansion
SoftBank Corp. has led a $59 million Series C round of funding for US-based Cybereason and will help the company distribute its cyber-security platform in the Japanese market.
Profile: Phronesis Partners' Tomoya Shiraishi
Having worked on one of Japan’s biggest-ever deals with Permira, Tomoya Shiraishi returned to his small-cap growth buyout roots with Phronesis Partners – with a bit of venture philanthropy in between
SoftBank leads $1b round for Renren-backed US online lender
Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group has led a $1 billion Series E round of funding for Social Finance (SoFi), a Silicon Valley online lending marketplace also backed by China social networking site Renren.
Japan virtual currency player gets $2.3m from VC backers
Orb, a Japanese start-up that has developed an authentication technology to facilitate the use of virtual currencies, has raised JPY274 million ($2.28 million) from a group of investors.
Comcast to buy majority stake in PE-owned Universal Studios Japan
Comcast Corp. has agreed to pay JPY183 billion ($1.5 billion) for a 51% stake in Universal Studios Japan (USJ), a theme park operator controlled by MBK Partners, Goldman Sachs, PAG, and US hedge fund Owl Creek Asset Management.
Hudson commits $100m to Japan, Latin America solar partnership
Hudson Clean Energy Partners has teamed up with independent power producer Sky Solar to develop solar projects in Japan and Latin America. The PE firm will contribute $100 million to the partnership.
Fund focus: LPs renew Carlyle's Japan mandate
Carlyle closes Japan fund at just under $1 billion, eyes corporate carve-outs, succession planning deals
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi commits $30m to Asia climate fund
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) has committed $30 million to Asia Climate Partners, a fund set up by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan’s Orix Corp, and Robeco Institutional Asset Management.
Carlyle closes third Japan fund at $1b
The Carlyle Group has closed its third Japan-focused fund at JPY119.5 billion ($1 billion), exceeding the target of JPY100 billion.
500 Startups to raise Japan seed fund
US-based accelerator 500 Startups has extended its Asia footprint with the launch of a $30 million fund dedicated to early-stage Japanese technology companies.
Founder of Japan's Beenos launches $60m Asia VC fund
The founder of Japanese e-commerce company Beenos, Teruhide Sato, has a launched a $60 million venture capital fund that will support internet and mobile start-ups in India, Southeast Asia, Japan and the US.
Global Brain backs Japan 3D printing start-up
Global Brain has committed JPY400 million ($3.3 million) to Japan-based Kabuku, which runs the 3D printing service Rinkak.