USA
Korea’s Memebox gets extended Series C round
South Korean beauty products e-commerce company Memebox has raised another $60 million in an extended Series C round of funding.
PE-backed Claris exits division to US strategic
Claris Lifesciences, an Indian drug maker with several PE backers, has agreed to exit its injectables division to US-based generic pharmaceutical developer Baxter International.
Singapore’s GIC backs $2.9b US IT take-private
GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, is set to take a minority stake in New York-listed IT services provider Neustar as part of a take-private led by US-based Golden Gate Capital that values the company at $2.9 billion.
H&Q brings insurers into $20m round for US-based One Inc
H&Q Asia Pacific has participated in a $20 million round of funding for its US-based portfolio company One Inc, a maker of software-as-a-service (SaaS) products for the insurance industry.
Q&A: Bain Capital's Steven Barnes
Steven Barnes, a US-based managing director in Bain Capital Private Equity, on how GPs can stay ahead in investment environment characterized by high valuations, low growth, and a degree of uncertainty
Q&A: Värde's George Hicks
George Hicks, CEO and CIO of global credit investor Värde, on looking beyond big default cycles, taking advantage of bank retrenchment opportunities, and the importance of building strong local teams
Australia's GO1 raises $3m for global push
Australia-based education technology start-up GO1 has received a A$4 million ($3 million) round of funding from a group of domestic and US VCs for its expansion efforts in Asia, North America and Europe.
Taiwan's Wistron, Fenox launch $20m VC fund
Taiwan-based IT hardware manufacturer Wistron has partnered with US investor Fenox Venture Capital to launch a $20 million fund to help international technology start-ups access Asian markets.
Rui Ma leaves 500 Startups to launch US-focused fund-of-funds
Rui Ma, Greater China partner at Silicon Valley-based investor 500 Startups, has left the firm and set up her own early-stage fund-of-funds to invest in US GPs.
Tsing Capital, SVC Angel back US-China IoT platform
China cleantech-focused VC firm Tsing Capital and US-based SVC Angel Fund have formed a partnership with IngDan, an internet-of-things (IoT) platform that aims to connect hardware start-ups with supply chain resources in China.
China Angel Plus raises $100m to back US start-ups
Angel Plus, a Chinese early-stage VC fund established by Michael Yu, co-founder of New Oriental Education, has launched a debut US dollar-denominated fund worth $100 million.
Singapore's Leonie Hill Capital backs aerospace VC fund
Singapore’s Leonie Hill Capital is backing a $200 million venture fund for the aviation and aerospace industry alongside US-based Starburst Accelerator.
Asia Climate Partners backs US-based Fluidic Energy
Asia Climate Partners, a fund set up by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Orix Corp, and Robeco Institutional Asset Management, has committed $20 million to US-based energy storage technology developer Fluidic Energy.
WI Harper forms Sino-US fund with Chinese investors
Early-stage VC firm WI Harper Group has teamed up with two Chinese investment funds – Luxin Venture Capital Group and Shandong Leader Equity Investment Fund – to launch a cross-border fund that will invest in start-ups in China and the US.
Draper Nexus raises $175m for US-Japan fund
US-Japan cross-border investment firm Draper Nexus Venture Partners has closed its second fund at $175 million.
Thailand's Charoen Pokphand buys Bellisio from US GP
Thai agro-industrial giant Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has acquired frozen meals specialist Bellisio from US private equity firm Centre Partners for $1.1 billion.
Deal focus: Treasure Data helps businesses reach the cloud
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan ventured outside its domestic comfort zone to support Treasure Data, and thereby help Japanese corporates get to grips with big data
China’s Advantech leads $15m round for AI start-up
Advantech Capital, one of two parallel funds launched by executives from Chinese GP New Horizon Capital, has led a $15 million Series A round of funding for Petuum, a US-based artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solution developer.
Japan's Future Venture Capital expands into US
Tokyo-listed VC firm Future Venture Capital (FVC) has entered the US market, establishing a presence in Fort Collins, Colorado.
China-backed PE firm buy Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3b
Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, a newly-formed US-based buyout firm backed by Chinese LPs, has agreed to acquire NASDAQ-listed chip maker Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3 billion.
China Film, Pegasus Media launch $100m movie fund
China Film, the country's largest movie distributor, and Pegasus Media Group have joined Hong Kong’s Co-High Investment Management to launch a $100 million film fund focused on US-China co-productions.
Singapore's Jubilee Capital in $30m first close on tech fund
Jubilee Capital, a newly formed venture investment firm based in Singapore, has reached a first close of $30 million on an early-stage technology fund targeting $100 million.
Sequoia leads $55m round for India, US-based Freshdesk
Sequoia Capital has led a $55 million Series F round of funding for India and US-based customer support platform provider Freshdesk.
Blockchain: Ethereal frontiers
As blockchain segments mature in Asia, private equity and venture capital investors will benefit from a range of new entry points. Pitfalls related to the technology’s obscure nature, however, will persist