Japan
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.
Japan’s Freee raises $30m Series C round
DCM, Recruit Holdings and Japan Co-Invest have committed $30 million in Series C funding to Freee, a Japan-based provider of automated online accounting software.
Softbank's Nikesh Arora commits $482 million to the firm
Softbank President and COO Nikesh Arora has invested JPY60 billion ($482 million) in the firm in a personal stock market transaction.
Samurai Incubate launches Israel accelerator
Tokyo-headquartered start-up accelerator Samurai Incubate is recruiting Japanese companies to participate in its three-month Israel accelerator program.
Japan bitcoin exchange raises $4m
Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange platform bitFlyer has raised a JPY510 million ($4 million) round of funding from a group of Japanese investors.
Chinese investors acquire Japan’s SNK Playmore for $63.5m
Shenzhen-listed gaming firm Wuhu Shunrong Sanqi Interactive Entertainment and brokerage Orient Securities have acquired Japanese video game publisher SNK Playmore for $63.5 million.
INCJ, AXA invest $5m in Japan's Smartdrive
The state-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan has joined Axa Direct Japan - the Japanese unit of the French insurer AXA - to invest JPY660 million ($5.3 million) in Smart Drive, a Tokyo-based start-up providing automobile data analytics.
Japan sportswear firm buys PE-backed UK brand
Japanese sportswear company Descente has bought an 80% stake in UK sports brand Inov-8, providing an exit for the firm's private equity backer Livingbridge. The financial details were not disclosed.
Japan's Dentsu backs US social robot start-up Jibo
Dentsu Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the eponymous Japanese advertising giant, has invested $3 million in US social robot start-up Jibo.
Japan's Lemonade Lab raises $5.8m
Japanese sport analytics platform Lemonade Lab has raised $5.8 million from FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn International, and several angel investors.
Adenium Energy, Hudson Clean Energy form $300m Japan solar JV
Dubai-based Adenium Energy Capital and US PE firm Hudson Clean Energy Partners have set up a joint venture that will invest $300 million in Japanese solar power projects.
SoftBank: Venture legacy
SoftBank’s direct investment activity has shifted towards later-stage deals and it is expected to remain there. But the Japanese technology giant has not given up on its VC affiliates and subsidiaries in Asia