North Asia
2023 preview: Japan middle market
Confidence in Japan’s middle market is whipping up new deal flow, new funds, and new exit channels that will play out in 2023. This includes the possible reanimation of a dormant IPO market
Q&A: Bain Capital’s David Gross-Loh
David Gross-Loh, a managing director and a founding member of the Asia business at Bain Capital, on expanding into Osaka, targeting large-cap carve-outs in Japan, and the availability of deal financing
2022 in review: End of the party?
Fundraising favours the few; deployment becomes progressively slower as investors agonise about valuations, macro prospects, and financing costs; sponsor-to-sponsor deals prop up exits
Korea's Google-backed Mathpresso raises $70m
Seoul-based education technology start-up Mathpresso has closed its Series C round on USD 70m following an investment of undisclosed size last year from Google.
Korea's Bespin Global gets $100m Series D
Korea-headquartered cloud services company Bespin Global has raised a USD 100m Series D round led by a unit of Emirates Telecoms Group.
BPEA EQT cancels purchase of Korea's PI Advanced Materials
BPEA EQT – formerly Baring Private Equity Asia – has pulled out of its planned acquisition of a majority stake in Korea-based industrial films producer PI Advanced Materials from Glenwood Private Equity.
Northleaf launches Tokyo office, targets Asian LPs
Northleaf Capital Partners, a Canada-based asset manager that invests in private equity, private credit, and infrastructure, has opened a Tokyo office to spearhead fundraising activity in Asia and is considering the addition of a Korea presence.
Carlyle sells Japanese snacks maker to D Capital
The Carlyle Group has exited its 100% stake in Japanese snack maker Oyatsu Company for an undisclosed sum to D Capital after a more than eight-year hold.
Korea's Daesung Private Equity raises $85m metaverse fund
Daesung Private Equity, an affiliate of Korean conglomerate Daesung Group, has launched a metaverse-focused fund with KRW 110bn (USD 84.6m) in commitments.
KKR completes tender for Japan's Hitachi Transport Systems
KKR has completed its tender offer for Hitachi Transport Systems, having secured a 51.1% stake in the third-party logistics (3PL) provider at a valuation of JPY 749.5bn (USD 5.4bn).
Japan's Jafco launches buybacks to thwart activist threat
Japanese venture capital firm Jafco has announced a JPY 42bn (USD 305m) share buyback programme that will take out positions held by investors with ties to activist investor Yoshiaki Murakami.
ACE Equity-backed SPAC acquires US electronics player
ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Korean PE firm ACE Equity Partners, has completed a merger with US-based electronics manufacturer Tempo Automation. The equity valuation of the business was cut...
Unison Korea targets $680m for Fund III
Unison Capital is targeting KRW 800bn-KRW 900bn (USD 603m-USD 680m) for its third Korea fund, nearly twice what was raised in the previous vintage.
Korea laundry start-up gets $36m Series C
H&Q Korea has led a KRW 49bn Series C round for Korean laundry app provider Laundrygo with support from SoftBank Ventures and Altos Ventures.
ESG: The case for convergence
With ISSB pursuing pre-eminence in sustainability-related financial disclosures and TCFD emerging as a preferred climate framework, investors and investees will have to get more serious about reporting
One size does not fit all in Asia value creation – AVCJ Forum
Replacing portfolio company CEOs is not part of buyout firms’ value creation playbook in emerging markets, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum heard.
Japan PE sees digitalisation as national imperative – AVCJ Forum
Digital transformation is an urgent social issue as much as an operational one, Japan-focused investors told the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum.
Bain buys Japan fashion business
Bain Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Mash Group, a Japan-based fashion label, for an undisclosed sum.
BPEA EQT, Blackstone, PEP claim top prizes at AVCJ Awards
Baring Private Equity Asia – now BPEA EQT – retained the large-cap firm of the year prize at the 2022 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards as it, Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), and The Blackstone Group claimed two victories apiece.
Glenwood invests $514m in Hanwha's advanced materials unit
Korean carve-out specialist Glenwood Private Equity has agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in the advanced materials unit of Hanwha Solutions, a listed subsidiary of Hanwha Group, for an enterprise valuation of KRW 680bn (USD 514.2m).
Fortress to buy Sogo & Seibu from Japan's Seven & i
Seven & i Holdings, a Japanese retail conglomerate best known as the parent company of 7-Eleven, has agreed to sell department store operator Sogo & Seibu to Fortress Investment Group.
Japan-based microfinance player gets $47m Series E
Gojo & Company, a Japan-headquartered microfinance institution that operates across Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, and Tajikistan, has raised USD 47.6m in Series E funding.
Carlyle pursues take-private of Japan's Totoku Electric
The board of Japan-based electric wire manufacturer Totoku Electric has endorsed a tender offer from The Carlyle Group that values the company at approximately JPY 38.2bn (USD 261m).
Q&A: BlackRock’s Michael Dennis
Michael Dennis, managing director and head of alternatives strategy and capital markets for Asia Pacific at BlackRock, on co-investment, customisation, and what Asian investors want from alternatives
