Japan
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.
KDDI incubator announces five start-ups for new program
KDDI Mugen Labo, an incubator backed by Japanese telecoms giant KDDI, has revealed the next batch of five start-ups to enter its boot camp program.
Japan flea market app raises $14m for US expansion
Mercari, the Japanese start-up behind the mobile flea market app of the same name, has raised JPY1.45 billion ($14.1 million) from Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, Itochu Technology Venture, GMO Venture Partners, and other unnamed investors.
Japan's Cyberdyne raises $89 million in Tokyo IPO
Cyberdyne, a VC-backed Japanese robotics company that makes exoskeleton suits, more than doubled on its Tokyo trading debut following a JPY7.8 billion ($76 million) IPO on the MOTHERS (market of the high-growth and emerging stocks) section of the Tokyo...
GVFL eyes $1b fund for Japanese ventures in India
Indian private equity investor Gujarat Venture Finance Limited (GVFL) will launch a $1 billion fund targeting Japanese enterprises in Gujarat - its largest vehicle to date.
Japanese banks commit to CVC's fourth Asia fund
CVC Capital Partners has received $100 million in commitments from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (SMTB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for its fourth Asia fund, which is expected to close above its $3.5 billion hard cap.
Shares in INCJ's Japan Display fall two days straight
Japan Display - the world's biggest maker of screens for tablets and smart phones and a portfolio company of Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) - saw its stocks fall for two days in a row this week after following its JPY318.5 billion ($3.1...
Jafco-backed Fixsters, Shirohato file for Tokyo IPOs
Japanese venture capital investor Jafco will see two portfolio companies - software firm Fixstars and online lingerie retailer Shirohato - launch their Tokyo IPOs on the same day next month.
Japan's J-Star appoints new operating principal
Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star has appointed former biotech professional Yuki Kashiyama as its operating principal.
Cerberus-backed Seibu eyes April Tokyo listing
Japanese railway and hotel operator Seibu Holdings is targeting a JPY186 billion ($1.8 billion) IPO in Tokyo next month, potentially ending a three-year battle between the management and shareholder Cerberus Capital Management.
Placement agent Monument Group opens in Hong Kong
Monument Group, a Boston-headquartered placement agent with a presence in the US and UK, has expanded into Asia, with a Hong Kong office now in operation. A Tokyo base will follow later this year.
Unison Capital targets $581m for Japan fund
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Unison Capital is targeting JPY60 billion ($581 million) for its fourth Japan fund. The fund - which launched in early February - is scheduled for a first close by the summer.