Articles by Winnie Liu
Artesian Ventures, University of Queensland to launch start-up fund
Artesian Capital Management, an alternative investment arm spun out of ANZ Banking Group, has partnered with University of Queensland to create a A$1.5 million ($1.4 million) Accelerate Investment Fund. The vehicle will invest in graduates from the university’s...
Google buys stake in VC-backed Taiwan glass supplier
Google has taken a 6.3% stake in Himax Display, a subsidiary of Taiwanese company Himax Technologies, which manufactures liquid crystal silicon (LCOS) chips used in Google Glass and other products. The company also counts KPCB Holdings, Khosla Ventures...
Media entrepreneurs to create China alternative investment group
Chinese media entrepreneur Bruno Wu and Thomas Middelhoff, former CEO of German media group Bertelsmann and Arcandor, are to form a China-focused media and investment joint venture, pooling assets with revenues of $1-2 billion.
New Zealand’s Rangatira takes 12% stake in Magritek
New Zealand PE firm Rangatira has acquired a 12% stake in Magritek, which manufactures nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, for an undisclosed sum. It has the option of increasing its holding to 18% in a year.
HomeAway acquires VC-backed vacation rental startup Travelmob
US-based vacation rentals site HomeAway has bought a controlling stake in Singapore-based Travelmob in a bid to boost its online rental accommodations business in Asia. Early investors of the start-up include Accel Partners and Jungle Ventures, alongside...
Shuanghui plans HK IPO after Smithfield deal - report
China’s Shuanghui International - which is backed by CDH Investments and Goldman Sachs - intends to list US pork producer Smithfield Foods on the Hong Kong stock exchange following its planned takeover.
Baidu pays $1.9b for VC-backed 91 Wireless
Chinese search engine giant Baidu is to acquire 91 Wireless - the mobile app store business of online gaming company NetDragon Websoft - for $1.9 billion.
France approves Fosun ClubMed takeover
The French financial markets authority, Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), has approved the takeover of France-based vacation resort operator Club Méditerranée (Club Med) by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International and Axa Private Equity.
Cloudary halts IPO as Goldman, Temasek enter
Cloudary Corp., one of the largest of the largest online literacy platforms in China, has acted quickly to withdraw its IPO after receiving a new round of funding led by Goldman Sachs and Temasek Holdings. These developments took place in the space of...
China medical devices: Climbing the value chain
Driven by government policy, China's medical devices industry is growing rapidly and VC capital is flowing in. Picking winners requires a keen eye for new technology and potential distribution obstacles
China’s PE-backed Cloudary withdraws US IPO
Cloudary, an online literacy platform controlled by Chinese internet company Shanda Interactive Entertainment, has withdrawn its US IPO, which expected to raise $200 million. The move came after the company raised $110 million from Goldman Sachs and Temasek...
Century Bridge makes first investment via China fund
Century Bridge Capital has invested $44.4 million in a joint venture with Coastal Greenland for the development of a residential project in Wuhan, Hubei province. It is the first investment from the firm's China fund.
L capital Asia invests in Chinese cosmetics firm
L Capital Asia, a private equity firm sponsored by LVMH Group, has invested in Guangdong Marubi Biological Technoloy Stock, becoming the second-largest shareholder in the cosmetics company. The deal is reportedly worth more than $100 million.
CNEI invests $9.7m in leading Chinese prawn player
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has committed $9.7 million to Zhanjiang Newpro Food, a leading integrated operator in China's prawn farming industry.
Riverside buys controlling stake in NZ animal drug delivery group
Riverside has acquired a controlling interest in Hamilton-based animal drug delivery company Simcro for a undisclosed sum.
Investors commit another $26m to Australia fashion site The Iconic
Australian fashion online retailer The Iconic has picked up A$28 million ($26 million) through a new round of funding led by Verlinvest, a Belgium-based investment firm set up by the founding families of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Existing shareholders Investment...
Markit launches private equity valuations service
Financial information services company Markit has launched a service for investors to value their assets held by private equity funds. It comes in anticipation of Europe’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), which requires alternative...
China’s Capital Today invests in Home Original Chicken
Capital Today has committed RMB129 million ($21 million) for a 10% stake in Home Original Chicken, a Chinese fast food chain.
Hong Kong launches start-up program
Hong Kong has launched a start-up program intended to attract local and global entrepreneurs to set up or expand their businesses in the city.
Goldman, Temasek invest $110m in Shanda’s Cloudary unit
Goldman Sachs and Temasek Holdings have committed $110 million for a minority stake in Cloudary, an online literacy platform controlled by Chinese internet company Shanda Interactive Entertainment.
China’s Sailing Capital supports $400m round for Mobileye
China’s Sailing Capital participated in a $400 million round of funding round for Mobileye, a Netherlands-based operator of driver assistance systems, valuing the company at about $1.5 billion. It is one of five investors that will between them own...
Microsoft Ventures enters China market
Microsoft has launched Microsoft Ventures in China to provide seed funding and other resources to local start-ups.
China appoints Ding Xuedong chair of CIC
China has named Ding Xuedong, a deputy secretary general of the State Council and former vice finance minister, as head of China Investment Corporation (CIC).
Qiming promotes Nisa Leung to managing partner
Qiming Venture Partners has promoted Nisa Leung, the head of its healthcare practice, to managing partner.