Investments
Take-privates: Going large
Large GPs are screening public companies more carefully so they can get comfortable with elevated valuations for public-to-private deals. At what point does discomfort become the default option?
Chinese restaurant robot supplier raises $28m Series B
Keenon Robotics, a Chinese manufacturer of robots for use indoors, has raised a RMB200 million ($28 million) in Series B funding led by Source Code Capital, Walden International and Shanghai Kechuang Fund, an investment arm of state-owned Shanghai International...
PEP's secure assets fund to buy Australia-listed Zenith Energy
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to acquire 100% of Australia-listed off-grid power company Zenith Energy in deal that values the company at A$250 million ($163 million).
Coronavirus in Asia: Ongoing analysis
Coronavirus concerns among GPs not solely focused on China vary based on their direct or indirect exposure to China, but gauging private equity responses to the crisis is like chasing a moving target
Coronavirus in China: Back from the brink
China GPs are trying to navigate the coronavirus uncertainty and help portfolio companies pick up the pieces, whether that means cutting costs or realizing new revenue streams
Deal focus: Linctex makes SaaS pay in China
Vision Plus Capital identified Linctex after conducting a deep dive into China's textile industry supply chain. It believes the company has the right model - and is in the right industry - to make software-as-a-service work
Deal focus: Vogo pursues transformation on two wheels
Vogo and Bounce are both scooter rental start-ups targeting the Indian market, but they are going about it in very different ways. Lightstone Aspada is backing the former's more inclusive approach
Macro factors not slowing private debt in Australia - AVCJ Forum
Leveraged lenders focusing on Australia and New Zealand continue to see strong demand from financial sponsors, with the impact of global macroeconomic volatility likely to be delayed and perhaps muted.
China’s GenFleet Therapeutics raises $50m Series B
CDH Investments and Shenzhen Capital Group have co-led a $50 million Series B round for GenFleet Therapeutics, a Chinese drug developer.
China’s Billionhome leads $14m round for space tech player
Chinese private equity firm Billionhome Capital has led a RMB100 million ($14.4 million) investment in local satellite technology supplier Mino Space.
Sequoia warns founders not to underestimate coronavirus impact
Sequoia Capital has advised founders and CEOs of its portfolio companies to “question every assumption” about their business in response to mounting global concern over the coronavirus outbreak, which it describes as the “black swan of 2020.”
China EV charging operator secures $190m Series A
Telaidian, which claims to operate China's largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network, has raised RMB1.35 billion ($190 million) in Series A funding.
Japan Post Capital joins $26m round for Singapore’s AnyMind
Japan Post Capital and Sparx Group have provided $26.4 million in funding to AnyMind, a Singapore-based marketing technology start-up focused on entertainment.
Motilal Oswal invests $32m in Indian TB diagnostic player
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) has committed INR2.4 billion ($32.4 million) to Molbio Diagnostics, a molecular diagnostics manufacturer that specializes in low-cost diagnosis of tuberculosis and other diseases.
Chinese autonomous mining vehicle provider raises $14m
Cathay Capital has led an extended tranche of Series A funding worth RMB100 million ($14 million) for Waytous, a Chinese autonomous driving start-up focused on the mining industry.
CITIC, CDH, Legend invest $300m in China freight business
CITIC Capital, CDH investments and Legend Capital have invested $300 million in SF Freight, a sub-brand of Chinese courier company SF Express, through a convertible note issue.
Profile: Baring Asia's Jean Eric Salata
Jean Eric Salata has built Baring Private Equity Asia from a one-man-shop into a firm with $20 billion in assets, negotiating financial crises and changing economic realities. He has never been one to stand still
US GP joins Series C for India’s Stanza Living
US-based Equity International has joined a Series C round of undisclosed size for India’s Stanza Living, a technology-enabled hospitality and student housing services provider.
Indian cardiac analytics firm Tricog raises $10.5m
Tricog, an India-based cardiac analytics firm, has raised $10.5 million in Series B funding from a group of domestic and international VCs.
Australia fintech player InDebted raises $9m Series A
Carthona Capital and MassMutual Ventures have led a A$14 million ($9.2 million) Series A round for Australian financial technology provider InDebted.
Mongolia start-ups: Steppe forward
Unlike most frontiers, Mongolia is more talent hub than consumer market. There is no systemic hindrance to start-up investment but few mechanisms to sufficiently organize it
India technology: The Jio effect
Nearly three months have passed since Reliance Industries launched Jio Platforms as a holding company for its digital and telecom businesses. Is it poised to reshape India’s technology landscape?
Sequoia leads $14m Series B for China’s Mech-Mind Robotics
Mech-Mind Robotics, a provider of intelligent solutions for industrial robots, has raised a RMB100 million ($14 million) Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China.
Paragon leads $30m Series B for Indian fintech player
SMEcorner, an Indian online lender to small businesses, has closed a $30 million round comprising equity and debt led by Paragon Partners.