Japan
Japanese LPs: Conservative investors
With Japanese LPs still wary of private equity investing amidst ongoing global economic uncertainty, GPs find it difficult to secure commitments
Japan's Murata Manufacturing acquires VTI Technologies
Private equity fund EQT III will divest its 100% stake in Finish motion sensor parts maker VTI Technologies to Japanese electronic parts maker Murata Manufacturing for JPY20 billion ($261 million).
Bain set to acquire Japan's Skylark for $3.4b
Bain Capital is finally set to acquire Japanese restaurant chain operator Skylark from Nomura Holdings for approximately JPY260 billion ($3.4 billion) including debt, after more than six months of delays.
Bain gets $1.1b recapitalization loan for Japan's Bellsystem24
Bain Capital has completed a JPY87.5 billion ($1.1 billion) recapitalization for portfolio company Bellsystem24, a telemarketing firm specializing in call centers, according to Basis Point.
Advantage, KKR, Olympus line up for MBK-owned Yayoi
Advantage Partners, KKR and Olympus Capital are reportedly among the potential bidders for Japanese accounting software developer Yayoi from MBK Partners.
Yahoo examines options for exiting Japanese business – report
Yahoo is close to unloading its 35% stake in Yahoo Japan and it is thought that a sale could happen relatively quickly, potentially simplifying decisions about the US firm’s wider prospects.
SBI makes first foray into Cambodia
Japanese Financial Group SBI Holdings has entered Cambodia through the creation of a private equity fund in partnership with Royal Group, the country’s largest conglomerate. It is SBI’s second overseas joint venture vehicle this year, following the formation...
Helix-backed Hi-Rel Electronics sold to Hitachi
India’s Hi-Rel Electronics, backed by Helix Investor Advisors, has been acquired by Japan’s Hitachi for an undisclosed price.
PE-backed Affle gets $10m from Japan's D2 Communications
Japanese mobile advertising company D2 Communications (D2C) has invested more than $10 million in Singapore-headquartered Asian mobile media firm Affle. It joins existing backers Microsoft, Itochu Corp., Bennett Coleman & Company and Centurion Private...
Blackstone's GSO exits Stolle to Japanese strategic buyer
GSO Capital Partners, Blackstone Group’s credit business, will sell Stolle Machinery to Japan’s Toyo Seikan for $775 million. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2011, subject to regulatory approvals.
Sumitomo Mitsui looks to acquire distressed lender Promise Co.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Japan’s second-largest lender, will make a $2.6 billion tender offer for all shares it does not already own in distressed consumer lender Promise Co.
Mitsubishi, Creat JV fund closes in on first deal
Mitsubishi Corp-backed Kizuna Capital Partners has identified 5-6 potential companies for the debut investment of its $120 million private equity fund and plans to close a transaction by the end of the first quarter of 2012. The alternative energy, medical...
Mobeam gets venture capital from Asian, US funds
Mobile coupon and scanning technology developer Mobeam has closed a $4.9 million Series A venture round from Samsung Ventures, the investment arm of Korean tech giant Samsung, Mitsui, a Japanese corporate conglomerate, and US-based yet2Ventures.
Dysentery delays Bain's buyout of restaurant chain Skylark
Bain Capital’s acquisitions of Japanese restaurant chain Skylark from Nomura Principal Finance has been put on hold after an outbreak of dysentery led to the closure of 120 outlets in late August.
AXA buys $500m in LP interests from Mizuho – report
AXA Private Equity has agreed to buy LP interests worth $500 million from Mizuho Financial Group. The commitments concern about 20 US and European buyout funds managed by the likes of Blackstone Group, KKR, BC Partners and EQT Partners.
Hisense unit makes two for Advantage in China
Japanese buyout firm Advantage Partners has made its second investment in a Chinese company, injecting approximately JPY1.5 billion ($19.7 million) into Hisense Broadband Multimedia Technologies (HBMT).
Nisshinbo buys Germany's TMD Friction from Pamplona Capital
London-based PE firm Pamplona Capital Management has exited its stake in German friction materials manufacturer TMD Friction to Japanese auto component maker Nisshinbo Holdings (NISH) for an undisclosed sum.
Hiroyuki Watanabe to launch tech-focused venture fund
Former general manager of internet services firm NGI Group Hiroyuki Watanabe has spun out to launch a maiden venture fund.
Aeon nears acquisition of bankrupt Incubator Bank of Japan
Aeon Bank, a unit of the retail and financial conglomerate Aeon Group, is in the final round of talks to purchase the bankrupt Incubator Bank of Japan, The Nikkei reported.
Japan's SBI Holdings launches Cambodia investment fund
Japanese financial group SBI Holdings has teamed with Cambodia’s largest conglomerate Royal Group to launch a private equity investment vehicle predominantly targeting Cambodian companies.