Investments
Q&A: Pomona Capital's Michael Granoff
Michael Granoff, founder and CEO of Pomona Capital, discusses raising capital from Asian LPs, how GPs can be differentiated in a crowded secondaries market, and why he’s not keen on fund restructurings
PE consortium makes $4.6b take-private bid for China Biologic
Centurium Capital, CITIC Capital and Hillhouse Capital are part of an investor group targeting a $4.6 billion take-private of China Biologic – just over a year after committing new equity to the US-listed company to protect it from other would-be acquirers.
Indian fintech player Groww raises $21m
Groww, an Indian financial technology provider focused on mutual fund investment services, has raised a $21.4 million Series B round led by US-based Ribbit Capital.
Korea fintech player Tera Funding gets $18m
Korean financial technology provider Tera Funding has secured an $18 million Series B round from a group including SBI Investment Korea and KB Investment.
Deal focus: China’s CRCI targets industrial upgrades
In teaming up with China-based Estun Automation to acquire a European industrial technology asset, China Renaissance Capital Investment is pursuing a different kind of growth capital deal
VCs invest $11m in Singapore talent agency
Gushcloud International, a digital talent agency based in Singapore, has received $11 million from a group of regional VCs and US hip-hop mogul Russel Simmons (pictured).
China healthcare AI: A learning process
Most healthcare-focused artificial intelligence start-ups in China focus on image-based diagnosis assistance, but deep learning-based drug discovery might be the key application
LPs and infrastructure: Custom connections
LPs are mixing up their approaches to infrastructure as shifts in supply-demand dynamics converge with increased specialization requirements in next-generation projects. Asia remains the unproven goldmine
Lightspeed, Tiger lead $67m Series B for India's OkCredit
Lightspeed Venture Partners and Tiger Global Management have led a $67 million Series B round for Indian financial technology player OkCredit.
Khazanah sells Malaysian hospital for $244m
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has agreed to sell the Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur to local operator IHH Healthcare for about MYR1 billion ($244 million).
CDH joins Series D for Chinese AI truck player
CDH Investments has participated in the $120 million second tranche of a Series D round for TuSimple, a China and US-based developer of autonomous driving technology for trucks.
YBF Ventures, Honeywell launch real estate tech accelerator
Australia’s YBF Ventures and US conglomerate Honeywell have teamed up to launch a Sydney-based technology start-up accelerator for the real estate sector.
Australia's Quadrant buys control of online beauty retailer
Quadrant Private Equity has completed the fourth investment in six months from its newly established growth fund, with the purchase of a majority interest in Australian online beauty retailer Adore Beauty.
China SOE investment: Uphill battles
Reform efforts in China’s state-owned enterprise space have experimented in mixed ownership with mixed results. Private equity investors see significant opportunity but must proceed with caution
Baidu Ventures joins Series B for China retail AI player
Baidu Ventures has joined a Series B round of undisclosed size for SandStar, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) developer focused on the retail sector. It brings total investment to date to $25 million.
TPG teams up with Malaysian strategic for SE Asia hospital buyout
TPG Capital and Malaysian conglomerate Hong Leong Group have agreed to buy Columbia Pacific Management’s Southeast Asia hospital business for approximately $1.2 billion.
OPIC commits $185m to India SME sector
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development finance arm of the US government, will invest $185 million in India’s small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.
500 Startups, UN launch Indonesia accelerator
500 Startups has teamed up with a unit of the United Nations to launch an impact-focused start-up accelerator in Indonesia.
Qiming leads $37m round for Hong Kong biotech player
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $37 million Series B round for Insilico Medicine, a Hong Kong-based drug development company that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
Thailand's Pomelo gets $52m Series C
Thailand-based fashion retailer Pomelo has raised a $52 million Series C round from a group including Hong Kong’s Provident Growth. It is being called the first-ever Series C for a Thai start-up.
Tencent, Sequoia lead $100m Series C for China’s Smart Fabric
Smart Fabric, a start-up that seeks to digitize China’s textile industry, has received a $100 million Series C round jointly led by Tencent Holdings and Sequoia Capital China.
Deal focus: Jingling seeks to stand out from the crowd
China’s Jingling contemplates an expansion of its social e-commerce strategy after securing a $100 million Series C round and de-risking its business model
Tencent joins $300 million round for second-hand trading platform
Tencent Holdings has joined a $300 million Series B round for Zhuanzhuan, a Chinese second-hand goods trading platform controlled by US-listed online classifieds marketplace 58.com.
Hong Kong's WHub launches crowdfunding platform
WHub, a Hong Kong-based start-up services provider and accelerator, has launched the territory’s first licensed equity crowdfunding platform for technology entrepreneurs.
