Japan
CyberAgent invests $1.6m in Japan flea market app
Japanese internet firm CyberAgent has invested JPY160 million ($1.6 million) in VC-backed mobile flea market app 10sec.
WM Partners in debut secondary deal
When Moriyoshi Matsumoto spun out from JAIC to form WM Partners (WMP) last year it was with a view to targeting a very specific need.
UTEC invests $2m in Japan broadband service
University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) has invested JPY200 million ($1.9 million) in Nabiq, a Japanese provider of wireless broadband services for businesses, as part of Series A round of funding.
Carlyle, Unison seek buyer for Covalent Materials - report
The Carlyle Group and Japan's Unison Capital are reportedly seeking a buyer for semiconductor parts manufacturer Covalent Materials Corp.
RRJ, Temasek back ING insurance unit
RRJ Capital and Temasek Holdings have agreed to invest EUR1.28 billion ($1.8 billion) in NN Group (NNG), the insurance unit of Dutch lender ING Group.
Japan's WM Partners secures debut deal
Japanese secondaries investor WM Partners (WMP) has completed the debut transaction from its first fund, acquiring a 12% interest in B2B marketing platform Shanon.
Japan's AIC appoints Yasufumi Hirao as CEO
Japanese fund-of-funds Alternative investment Capital (AIC) has appointed Yasufumi Hirao as its new president and CEO.
Placement agents: Tapping tomorrow's investors
Asian LPs are a small but increasingly conspicuous part of the global institutional investor community. How can placement agents nurture pockets of growth in a potentially lucrative yet hugely imbalanced market?
J-Star's Kugami deal fits the mold
If anything is to be learnt from J-Star's acquisition of Japanese plastic-molded auto parts maker Kugami, it is that when one door closes another opens.
Japan VCs invest $4m in game developer Aiming
Japanese gaming company Aiming has received a JPY450 million ($4.3 million) round of investment from YJ Capital, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and Mizuho Capital.
INCJ-backed JV acquires NZ-based packaging business
A Japanese joint venture - 40% owned by the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) - has acquired the pulp, paper and packaging (PPP) unit of New Zealand-based forest products company Carter Holt Harvey (CHH) for just over NZ$1 billion ($857 million)....
Cerberus-backed Seibu gains 11% on trading debut
Seibu Holdings, which counts Cerberus Capital Management as its largest shareholder, saw its stock rise 11% on its trading debut in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Baring Asia exits Net Japan to Orix
Baring Private Equity Asia has sold its stake in jewelry recycler Net Japan to Japanese financial services group Orix Corp.
J-Star buys majority stake in Japan plastic parts manufacturer
Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star has acquired a 70% stake in Kugami, a Yokohama-based plastic parts manufacturer serving the auto and electronics industries, for an undisclosed sum.
Japan set for first Sharia-focused PE fund
Tokyo-based technology investor Inspire Corp. has partnered with Malaysian asset manager Permodalan Nasional to form Japan's first Sharia-compliant PE fund targeting Malaysian businesses.
Jafco reaches $260m final close on fifth global VC fund
Jafco Ventures has reached a final close on its latest global fund at $260 million for its latest global fund. The vehicle, which was originally targeting $250 million, is the largest the firm has ever raised.
Cerberus refuses to sell shares in Seibu IPO
Cerberus Capital Management pulled out of the Tokyo IPO of Japanese railway and hotel operator Seibu Holdings after the conglomerate slashed the estimated price of the offering by as much as a third.
Japan's B Dash Ventures backs photo curation site Iemo
Japanese VC firm B Dash Ventures has invested an undisclosed sum in Iemo, an interior design-focused photo site.
INCJ exits 5% stake in UK's Seajacks to Marubeni
State-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has sold a 5% stake in UK offshore energy services provider Seajacks to its Japanese co-owner Marubeni Corporation.
Japan regulation: Taxing tactics
Investors are concerned about the potential repercussions for the economy – and their portfolio companies – of Japan’s staged consumer tax hike. Could it really derail the country’s fragile recovery?
Japan Industrial Partners exits Yutaka Electric
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has exited electrical component manufacturer Yutaka Electric to GlassOne, a manufacturer of touch screen panels for tablets and smart phones.
KKR completes Panasonic Healthcare deal, eyes bolt-ons
KKR has completed the acquisition of an 80% stake in Panasonic Healthcare, its biggest buyout in Japan to date. According to a source familiar with the situation, operations unit KKR Capstone is already working with the company and a number of bolt-on...
Jafco invests $2m in Japan leisure booking site
Globis Capital Partners and Jafco Ventures have invested JPY200 million ($1.95 million) in Catarizm, the Japanese start-up behind online leisure booking site Asoview.
Fidelity, Gree invest $5m in Japan's Kaizen Platform
Fidelity Growth Partners and Gree Ventures have together invested $5 million in Japan's Kaizen Platform, the start-up behind PlanBCD, a platform that crowd-sources web design services.