Investments
Sinovation's consulting unit hits $1b valuation with Series C
AInnovation, an artificial intelligence (AI) consulting business established by Sinovation Ventures, has joined the ranks of China’s AI unicorns following a Series C round of funding.
2020 in review: Surprise guest
The coronavirus pandemic has played havoc with Asian private equity, contributing to a resurgence in IPOs, increased bifurcation in fundraising, a rush for healthcare, and a generally staggered revival
Advantage, Tokyo Century agree Japan health foods deal
Advantage Partners has teamed up with Tokyo Century Corp. and Japanese strategic Euglena to acquire Q’Sai, a local health foods and cosmetics business, from Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Holdings.
ClearVue backs China-focused pet lifestyle brand
ClearVue Partners has led a $20 million Series B round for Vetreska, a US-headquartered and China-focused pet lifestyle brand.
J-Star acquires Japan drug wholesaler Genex
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has taken a controlling stake in local pharmaceuticals wholesaler Genex for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Everstone secures 3x return on outsourcing play
Everstone Group helps outsourcing specialist Everise adapt to the work-at-home realities of the day before exiting the business to Brookfield Asset Management
Q&A: Hamilton Lane's Collwyn Tan
Collwyn Tan, Hamilton Lane’s co-head of Asia investment and key point person for everything transactional in the region, unpacks the mixed signals of 2020
AMP Capital acquires Australian prison
Australia’s AMP Capital has acquired 100% of Hopkins Correctional Centre 200 kilometers west of Melbourne for an undisclosed sum.
CVC backs Philippines logistics provider
CVC Capital Partners has invested an undisclosed sum in The Fast Group, which claims to be the largest third-party logistics provider in the Philippines.
China's Yonghui gets $153m for fresh produce spin-out
Tencent Holdings and CICC Capital have led a RMB1 billion ($153 million) round for Caishixian, a B2B supply chain platform incubated by Yonghui Superstores, a leading Chinese supermarket chain.
China digital services player Deepexi raises $40m
Deepexi, a Chinese start-up that provides digital transformation solutions to enterprise customers, has raised $40 million in the fourth tranche of a Series A funding round.
Blackstone agrees $1b acquisition of India's Piramal Glass
The Blackstone Group has agreed to buy Piramal Glass, a glass packaging business owned by Indian conglomerate Piramal Group, for an enterprise valuation of INR75 billion ($1 billion).
China healthtech player gets $100m Series C extension
Weimai, a Chinese healthcare-focused big data platform that primarily serves hospitals and clinics in lower-tier cities, has raised $100 million in an extended Series C round led by Baidu Capital.
CVC acquires Myanmar telecom towers business
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to buy Irrawaddy Green Towers (IGT), Myanmar’s largest independent telecommunications infrastructure provider.
SoftBank joins $60m Series B for Korean payments player
SoftBank Ventures Asia has joined a $60 million Series B round for Korean payments technology start-up Chai.
Infratil rejects $3.8b AustralianSuper takeover offer
New Zealand-listed infrastructure investor Infratil has rejected a takeover offer from AustralianSuper that values it at around NZ$5.4 billion ($3.8 billion).
Deal focus: Japan GPs see upside in specialized staffing
CLSA Capital Partners’ sale of Japanese staffing services player Qit to Advantage Partners reveals enduring private equity interest in potentially shaky categories made sturdy by specialization
Government funds back Chinese online grocer Miss Fresh
Chinese online grocer Miss Fresh has raised RMB2 billion ($305 million) from three Qingdao government-related funds to support expansion in the city on China's eastern seaboard.
LAV, Arch lead $100m round for China's SciNeuro
SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals, a China and US-based drug developer specializing in treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, has announced its formal launch with a $100 million funding round.
Everstone exits Singapore BPO business to Brookfield
Everstone Group has agreed to sell Everise, a business process outsourcing (BPO) company it formed through the amalgamation of several existing assets, to Brookfield Asset Management.
Japan's JIC invests four local start-ups
Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) has backed four local start-ups via its new VC unit. This includes a JPY3 billion ($29 million) commitment to business digitization consultant Monstar Lab.
Portfolio: VIG Partners and Joun Life/Preed Life
By merging Joun Life with Preed Life, VIG Partners’ groundbreaking venture into Korean funeral services is reimagining an industry beyond its core ceremonies
Asia Partners leads $30m Series D for Malaysia's Carsome
Singapore-based Asia Partners has a led a $30 million all-equity Series D round for Malaysian used car trading platform Carsome.
China HR software start-up GaiaWorks gets $76m Series D
China-based GaiaWorks, an workforce management software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider, has raised RMB500 million（$76 million) in an extended Series D round led by GGV Capital.