North Asia
Altos, Mirae join $85m round for Korea sneaker trading platform
Kream, a Korea-based sneaker reselling business controlled by domestic internet giant Naver, has announced plans to raise KRW 170bn (USD 84m) from Altos Ventures, Mirae Asset, and its parent company.
Deal focus: NSSK builds out drugstore empire
NSSK found a rare succession-driven special situations deal in Japan’s prosperous healthcare space with pharmacy operator Kraft. It is the eight-year-old private equity firm’s largest deal to date
Axiom, Pavilion back Japan climate tech start-up Asuene
Axiom Asia and Temasek Holdings-controlled Pavilion Capital have joined a USD 20m Series B round for Asuene, a Japan-based climate technology start-up that helps companies track carbon emissions.
Bain-led consortium closes tender for Japan's Hitachi Metals
A Bain Capital-led consortium has completed its tender offer for Hitachi Metals – at a valuation of JPY 816.8bn (USD 5.6bn) – 18 months after first submitting a bid for the Japan-based industrial components manufacturer.
CDPQ invests $474m in Japan energy programme
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) has committed JPY 70bn (USD 474m) to a Japanese energy transition programme led by local renewables developer Shizen Energy.
Deal focus: Elevation makes Korea healthcare debut
Adverse fundraising conditions didn’t deter deal-by-deal player Elevation Private Equity from investing in Korea healthcare turnaround, and by extension, aligning with a key domestic partner
Permira shuts down Japan office
Permira is closing its Japan office, 17 years after establishing its first Asian foothold in Tokyo.
Globis leads $22m Series C for Japan's Trend Express
Globis Capital Partners has led JPY 3.3bn (USD 22.1m) Series C round for Japan’s Trend Express, a cross-border marketing and data analysis platform focused on Japan-China tourism.
Advantage recruits partner, co-head for Asia ex-Japan
Japan’s Advantage Partners has hired Rahul Bhargava, previously of ADV Partners, as a partner and co-head of Asia ex-Japan. It coincides with the acquisition of a Japanese jewellery industry supplier.
Korea pizza chain raises $25m for India push
Korea-headquartered pizza chain Gopizza has raised USD 25m in Series C funding from new and existing backers to drive an India expansion.
Japan's NSSK buys Sakura pharmacy chain
Japanese middle-market private equity firm NSSK has acquired 100% of Kraft, a local pharmacy chain that operates under the Sakura brand, for an undisclosed sum.
Asia PE investment sees significant drop-off in third quarter
PE investment in Asia reached USD 36.8bn in the third quarter of 2022, its lowest level since activity seized up in the early stages of COVID-19, with notable declines in India and Southeast Asia.
Japan digital bank Nudge raises $16m Series A
Japanese digital bank Nudge has completed a USD 16m Series A round led by One Capital, a VC firm led by the former head of Salesforce Ventures Japan.
3Q analysis: Lean times
A flicker in India fails to disguise a miserable quarter for exits; a handful of fast fundraises snap Asia out of its slump; investment gravitates towards developed markets and manufacturing
Investors call on Japanese start-ups to pursue overseas capital - AVCJ Forum
Japanese start-ups must attract more institutional capital from overseas given the paucity of local investors, especially in the growth stages, the AVCJ Japan Forum heard.
Polaris buys Japan care home operator
Polaris Capital Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Social Inclu, a Tokyo-based operator of more than 150 group homes for people with disabilities. The size of the investment was not disclosed.
Japan healthcare start-up Ubie closes $43m Series C
Japanese healthcare technology start-up Ubie has closed its Series C round on JPY6.3bn (USD 43.2m) with the latest tranche featuring PE-owned pharmacy chain operator Sogo Medical.
Japanese LPs: Expectation vs reality
Japan’s LP community is an alluring target for global private equity managers, even as currency depreciation and a cultural aversion to risk remain obstacles in the short and long term
Currency, exit, labour issues worry Japanese GPs - AVCJ Forum
Currency depreciation, dwindling domestic IPO opportunities, and labour shortages are all their toll on the portfolios of middle-market Japanese private equity firms, the AVCJ Japan Forum heard.
Japan’s D Capital hits third close on debut fund
D Capital, a recently established Japanese middle-market private equity firm, has achieved a third close of JPY 27bn (USD 186.4m) on its debut fund. The target is JPY 30bn.
Japanese GPs should target incremental gains on ESG - AVCJ Forum
Japanese private equity firms should be very targeted in implementing environment, social, and governance (ESG) policies at the portfolio company level even if the payoffs are small and accumulate over time, the AVCJ Japan Forum heard.
LP interview: Partners Capital
Nearly a decade after establishing a foothold in Asia, Partners Capital has acquired a string of local clients and devised a distinct, middle market-oriented approach to deploying capital in the region
Polaris exits Japan LCD panel business
Polaris Capital Group has fully exited Aimechatec, a supplier of LCD panel manufacturing equipment it carved out from Hitachi in 2016 and took public last year, with proceeds of JPY 3.96bn (USD 27.6m).
Japan flying car player SkyDrive gets $67m Series C
Japanese flying car developer SkyDrive has raised JPY 9.6bn (USD 67m) in Series C funding featuring US-based Pegasus Tech Ventures and local strategics such as Suzuki Motor.
