Japan
Japanese mobile games developer MyNet raises $6.2m
MyNet, a Japanese mobile games developer, has raised JPY730 million ($6.2 million) from a slew of investors including B Dash Ventures, SMBC Venture Capital, Shinsei Corporate Investment, and Sumitomo Mitsui Bank.
Carlyle makes $248m takeover bid for Hitachi metals unit
The Carlyle Group has made a tender offer to acquire Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Hitachi Metals Techno, a second-tier subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Hitachi, for JPY29.3 billion ($248 million).
Longreach puts a ring on it
Is the spirit of romance ebbing away in Japan? Naoki Sawano, president of bridal jewelry specialist Primo Japan, suggested as much a couple of years ago. He held a trend among young people “to think of the proposal and the engagement ring as two separate...
Longreach buys jeweler Primo Japan from Baring Asia
North Asia-focused GP The Longreach Group has acquired Primo Japan from Baring Private Equity Asia, with a view to expanding the bridal jewelry specialist into mainland China.
Japan's Integral to refinance bankrupt airline
Japanese GP Integral Corp. has agreed to refinance ailing domestic airline Skymark which filed for bankruptcy protection this week.
Japan's Gumi Ventures reaches a $16.9m close on Fund II
Gumi Ventures - the corporate venture arm of the Japanese mobile gaming company of the same name - has reached a JPY2 billion ($16.9 million) final close on its second fund.
YJ Capital launches Fund II, backs Indonesia fashion site
YJ Capital - the corporate VC arm of Yahoo! Japan - has announced the launch of its second fund, which has made its first investment in Indonesia fashion flash sale site VIP Plaza.
Japan's Wizpra raises $2m from VCs
A consortium of Japanese investors including Gree Ventures, Mobile Internet Capital, SMBC Venture Capital, and Mizuho Capital has invested JPY230 million ($1.9 million) in internet-based market research platform Wizpra.
Asia start-ups: The SoftBank effect
SoftBank has laid down a marker in Asia’s technology space over the past six months, investing nearly $2 billion and promising much more. What does this say about the Japanese giant’s broader ambitions?
Japan's Mitsui Global backs clinical SaaS start-up
Japan’s Mitsui Global Investment and Dolby Family Ventures have together invested $12 million in cloud-based, clinical study software start-up goBalto.
Deal focus: Macro headwinds weigh on Peoplebank exit
Not every investment works out as planned - often for reasons beyond the investor's control. Navis Capital Partners recently sold Australia-based IT and specialist recruiting firm Peoplebank to Japan's Recruit Holdings for A$68.6 million ($56.6 million)....
Portfolio: J-Star and Primagest
Primagest is a long-standing leader in Japan's document-scanning industry, but it faces challenges in terms of a transition in leadership and staying relevant as technology evolves. J-Star is providing support
Japanese entrepreneurs' big data start-up raises $15m
Treasure Data - a Silicon Valley-based big data start-up founded by two Japanese entrepreneurs - has raised a $15 million Series B round of funding led by Scale Venture Partners with participation from AME Cloud Ventures.
Navis exits Australia's Peoplebank to Recruit Holdings
Navis Capital Partners has sold Australia-based IT and specialist recruiting firm Peoplebank to Japan’s Recruit Holdings for A$68.6 million ($56.6 million).
Samurai Incubate targets Tel Aviv
When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe travels to Israel later this month it will be the first time a Japanese leader has visited the country since Junichiro Koizumi in 2006.
Japan's GPIF: Situations vacant
Hiro Mizuno is an intriguing choice as the first CIO of Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). His qualifications are not about to be questioned here, but rather what his appointment means as the Japanese behemoth prepares to add helpings...
Samurai Incubate launches Japan, Israel-focused fund
Japanese incubator and early-stage investor Samurai Incubate has launched a JPY1 billion ($8.3 million) fund with a new focus on Israeli start-ups.
Japanese 3D printing start-up raises $3.6m
A consortium of venture capital investors has committed JPY400 million ($3.6 million) to JMC, a Japanese casting and 3D printing services firm.
VIDEO: Advantage Partners' Richard Folsom
With an increasing number of Japanese companies looking to expand overseas, strategies to support these efforts feature more prominently in Advantage Partners' investment theses, according to Richard Folsom, the Tokyo-based GP's representative partner...
Carlyle promotes Hiroyuki Otsuka to partner in Japan
The Carlyle Group has promoted Hiroyuki Otsuka, a member of its Japan buyout team, to partner as part of global round of 59 appointments, including five in Asia.
Japan's NTT Docomo Ventures backs France-based Sunpartner
NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the eponymous Japanese telecom giant, has taken part in a EUR4 million ($4.7 million) round for Sunpartner Technologies, a French solar panel manufacturer.
Japan's GPIF targets new hires as part of investment strategy shift
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) is trying to attract more talent with better pay in order to meet the demands of its changing investment strategy.
Japan's REVIC, NCB, DBJ set up $42m fund
Japan's Nishi-Nippon City Bank (NCB) has set up a JPY5 billion ($42 million) fund in cooperation with Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and Regional Economy Vitalization Corporation of Japan (REVIC).
Jafco exits shredder maker to Japan Industrial Solutions
Jafco has exited Meiko Shokai, a Japanese manufacturer of document shredders, to turnaround specialist Japan Industrial Solutions (JIS) for an undisclosed sum.