Japan
Japanese corporate pension funds boost alternatives exposure – J.P. Morgan
Japanese corporate pension funds are looking to increase their exposure to alternative assets - including private equity - according an annual survey by J.P. Morgan.
Fortis, Next Invest exit Belgian ink maker to Japan’s Toyo
Fortis Private Equity and Next Invest have sold their 100% stake in Belgian ink manufacturer, Arets International, to Japan’s Toyo Ink Group for EUR10 million ($13 million).
JAIC spin-out seeks VC secondaries
Private equity secondary exits have seen a resurgence in Japan in the last two years, with more than $5.3 billion transacted. In only one year previously - 2007 - has deal value surpassed $1.3 billion. For two groups of industry participants, the prospects...
Fenox, IMJ to invest in SE Asian, Japanese start-ups
Silicon Valley's Fenox Venture Capital and Japanese mobile solution provider IMJ Corporation have jointly established IMJ Fenox Pte with a view to investing in mobile, Internet and software technologies in Southeast Asia, Japan and the US.
Ex-JAIC boss to launch Japan secondaries fund
Former JAIC CEO Moriyoshi Matsumoto, who was responsible for the group’s secondaries business, has spun out to create an independent secondary investment platform. WM Partners is targeting up to JPY10 billion ($102 million) for its debut fund, with...
The Abe effect: Japan's economic reforms
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has unveiled aggressive economic reforms, sending the country's stock market up and its currency down. PE can benefit but longer-term change would be even more helpful
Capital Dynamics to launch $154m Japan-focused fund-of-funds
Switzerland-headquartered asset manager Capital Dynamics plans to launch a JPY15 billion ($154 million) Japan-focused fund-of-funds. A source familiar with the matter said Japanese corporate pension funds will be among the investors in the new vehicle,...
MGPA announces second close on Asia real estate fund
MGPA has held a second close of EUR50 million ($65 million) on its latest Asia property fund with a further commitment from a German insurance company. The vehicle, MGPA Asien Speziafonds, which specifically targets German investors, has so far received...
KKR appoints turnaround specialist as Japan CEO
KKR has hired Hirofumi Hirano, who led the AlixPartners team that advised on the turnaround of Japan Airlines, as managing director and CEO for its Japan operations. Current CEO Shusaku Minoda has been promoted to chairman.
MGPA buys two Tokyo office buildings
MGPA has acquired two office buildings in Tokyo – South Shin Otsuka building in Otsuka and Shinjuku TX building in Shinjuku - through its Asia–focused German fund MGPA Asien Speziafonds.
Cerberus boosts Seibu tender offer, intensifies row with management
Cerberus Capital Management wants to increase its stake in Seibu Holdings by as much as 12% to 44.7% and nominate nine members of the Japanese rail and hotel operator’s 18-strong board. The move has escalated a row between the private equity firm and...
Polaris acquires Japanese salon operator
Polaris Capital has acquired a majority stake in Japanese salon and sports club operator Socie World for a reported JPY3 billion ($32 million). The capital came from the private equity firm’s third vehicle, which has so far raised JPY36 billion, just...
Phoenix Capital exits Japan’s TEAC to Gibson Guitar
Phoenix Capital has agreed to sell its entire holding in Japanese-listed audio equipment manufacturer TEAC to Gibson Guitar for 4.88 billion yen ($51.9 million).
Q&A: Baring Private Equity Asia's Jean Eric Salata
Baring Private Equity Asia closed its fifth fund at $2.46 billion in early 2011. CEO Jean Eric Salata tells AVCJ why the firm has taken its time investing the capital and where he now sees value emerging in the market
KKR sees 5x return on Japan's Intelligence Holdings - Update
KKR will sell Japanese recruitment services provider Intelligence Holdings to Temp Holdings for JPY68 billion ($721 million), including debt. The PE firm's equity exit is worth JPY51 billion ($537 million), putting it on course for a more than 5x money...
JAFCO invests $5.3m in group buying site Luxa
JAFCO has invested JPY500 million ($5.3 million) in Luxa, a Japanese group buying site, as part of a Series B round.
AVCJ at 25: David Gross-Loh & Jim Hildebrandt of Bain Capital
David Gross-Loh and Jim Hildebrandt, managing directors at Bain Capital, guided the firm’s Japan-heavy Asia portfolio through the global financial crisis. Acting fast without overreacting was central to their approach
AVCJ at 25: Michael B. Kim of MBK Partners
Michael B. Kim, founding partner of MBK Partners, left The Carlyle Group in 2005 to set up his own private equity firm. The time was right, the capital was available, and there was a desire to become more local
Development Bank of Japan launches $1.5b fund
The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) has launched a JPY150 billion ($1.5 billion) growth fund for investing in domestic companies.
Longreach adds to Tokyo team
North Asia mid-market buyout firm The Longreach Group has appointed Takuya Sato as executive director and Kishin Ryu as an associate.
Cerberus to boost stake in Japan's Seibu
Cerberus Capital Management wants to raise its stake in Japanese railways and property group Seibu Holdings by around 4% as the company plans to re-list.
PE firms call for limit on Japan's government-backed funds
KKR, The Carlyle Croup and Bain Capital are part of a group of private equity firms urging the Japanese government to rein in its state-backed funds.
Mitsubishi unit seeks $750m for shipping PE fund
MC Asset Management Holdings, a unit of Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi, is seeking to raise a $750 million fund that will take advantage of depressed prices in the shipping industry.
Fidelity Growth Japan leads Metaps series B round
Fidelity Growth Partners Japan has led a JPY1 billion ($10 million) Series B round of investment in Metaps, a Tokyo-based mobile software developer. Existing investors have also taken part in the round.