VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Japan's Nomura Holdings Inc. and British Intermediate Capital Group Plc agreed to form a joint venture to provide mezzanine debt to be used for acquisitions.

The purchase of Baton Rouge-based Edgen Group Inc was finally completed by Japan's Sumitomo Corp and Sumitomo Corporation of America in an acquisition deal valued at USD520 million.

An article on Bloomberg provided its observations on how the stock rally had influenced the increasing number of initial public offerings on the Japan bourse starting this year.

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd, the second-largest casino operator in Macau, announced its intention to invest USD5 billion in Japan and China if the gambling markets open in those countries.

Vietnam-based Ho Chi Minh City Housing Development Commercial Joint-Stock Bank (HDBank) revealed an on-going discussion with three Japanese firms about the sale of 30% of its stake.

Siem Industries and Topcon Corporation raised the bid for Norwegian satellite positioning system firm Veripos. Siem and Topcon offered NOK30 in cash for each Veripos share.

Chicago-based marketing technology BrightTag secured USD27 million funding from Yahoo! Japan. The Japanese internet company's investment brought BrightTag's fund total its has raised so far to USD50 million.

Japan-based Secured Capital, the real estate arm of private equity firm PAG, raised USD1.5 billion to invest in real estate and debt opportunities in Asia.

Despite continued speculations that it would go public, Japan-based messaging app Line said it did not see the need to hold an initial public offering.

Chinese M&A activity was slow due to its country's leadership change while Japan and Thai tycoons led the way in 2013.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit Japan's east coast early Saturday morning but no immediate land damage was reported.

Orient Corp, a Japanese consumer credit company, had been probed by authorities for lending to crime groups with Mizuho Financial Group Inc.

Tokyo Gas said it would looking at majority stake purchases for mid-sized LNG projects in Southeast Asia or Africa to bring down import costs.

Japan, stretched to the limit because of the increase in foreign exchange funds, is studying to have the private sector manage the funds.

Last Tuesday, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso urged the United States to settle its budget issues for Japan to be spared from fiscal trouble, reported Reuters.