Investments
Secondary buyouts: Peer to peer
Maligned by some investors, sponsor-to-sponsor deals are gradually becoming more prevalent in Asia as the private equity industry matures. What is the early verdict?
India's Snapdeal calls off merger with Flipkart
Indian online marketplace Snapdeal has called off a planned merger with rival Flipkart and will pursue a restructuring plan to allow it to survive as an independent entity. Both companies have substantial PE and VC backing.
China First Capital to acquire Korean online education platform
Hong Kong-listed investment group China First Capital plans to acquire 54% of SJW International, a Korea-based online video English training platform, for about $135 million.
J-Star completes Japanese veterinary bolt-on
J-star has acquired Japanese veterinary chain VIS Corporation for an undisclosed amount in a bolt-on to existing portfolio company JVCC.
Fosun, Sanyuan to buy margarine maker from European GP
Chinese conglomerate Fosun Group has teamed up with Beijing Sanyuan Foods to buy French margarine maker St Hubert from Montagu Private Equity for EUR625 million ($734 million).
I Squared agrees $1.9b deal for Hutchison's fixed-line business
Infrastructure specialist I Squared Capital has agreed to buy the fixed-line telecom business of Hong Kong’s Hutchison Telecommunications, which is controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, for approximately HK$14.5 billion ($1.85 billion).
China’s Xiaomi confirms $1b debt deal
Chinese PE-backed smart phone maker Xiaomi has raised a new $1 billion loan to support global expansion and the build-out of its offline retail network.
Expedia invests $350m in Indonesia's VC-backed Traveloka
Expedia has paid $350 million for an unspecified minority stake in Traveloka, an Indonesian online travel services company backed by a number of venture capital firms.
Advent buys stake in India's Dixcy Textiles
Advent International has invested an undisclosed amount in Indian innerwear maker Dixcy Textiles.
Joy Capital leads $105m round for China’s Shopex
Joy Capital, a Chinese VC firm that spun out from Legend Capital, has led a RMB700 ($105 million) Series D round for Shanghai ShopEx Network Technology, an e-commerce software and services provider.
Platinum to buy Singapore electronics industry supplier
US private equity firm Platinum Equity has agreed to acquire Fischer Tech, a Singapore-based components manufacturer for the electronics industry.
KKR backs auto parts spin-out from Korea's LS Group
KKR has agreed to back automotive parts maker LS Automotive (LSA), a spin-out from Korean conglomerate LS Group, and to acquire the copper foil and flexible copper clad laminate business of LS Group affiliate LS Mtron.
Hony, SoftBank commit $500m to WeWork China unit
US-based co-working space operator WeWork has raised $500 million from investors led by Hony Capital and Japan’s SoftBank to create a dedicated Chinese entity as part of efforts to compete with local rivals.
Deal focus: VCs see potential in karaoke booths
Telephone booth-sized karaoke units in shopping malls are the latest penchant among China's emerging middle-class millennials. A group of VCs has invested $15 million in MiniKTV to support a nationwide roll-out
Korea's SK invests $334m in PE-backed e-Shang Redwood
Korean conglomerate SK Group has agreed to invest KRW372 billion ($334 million) in pan-Asian logistics player e-Shang Redwood (ESR), valuing the private equity-backed business at approximately $2.8 billion.
Indian healthcare services platform receives $15m Series C
Indian healthcare services platform operator 1mg Technologies has secured a $15 million Series C round led by HBM Healthcare Investments.
IDG co-leads round for China security software developer
IDG Capital and CASH Capital, the VC arm of the state-owned Chinese Academy of Sciences Holdings, has co-led a RMB100 million ($15 million) Series B round for Hansight, a Beijing-based cybersecurity company.
China-based English language learning app secures Series C
CMC Capital Partners and Wu Capital – a Beijing-based family office for Longfor Properties – have jointly led a Series B round of funding for Liulishuo, a language learning app powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Chinese financial tech firm Qiancheng gets $30m
Qiancheng Technology, a Chinese financial technology company that provides micro-lending services, has raised a RMB200 million ($30 million) Series B round of funding from existing investors Tiantu Capital and U51.com, a VC-backed credit card management...
Goldman, Accel invest $25m in India's FabHotels
FabHotels, an Indian technology-enabled budget hotel chain, has raised a $25 million Series B round led by Goldman Sachs, with participation by existing investor Accel Partners.
Competition heats up for Australia data center business
Asia Pacific Data Centre Trust (APDC), a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns three data centers in Australia, has received a second takeover bid from existing shareholder NextDC.
Tencent invests in India's PE-backed Byju's
China’s Tencent Holdings has invested an undisclosed amount in Indian online education start-up Byju’s, whose PE backers include Verlinvest and Sequoia Capital.
China's VC-backed DotC United raises $350m Series B
Chinese mobile app publisher and developer DotC United, which is backed by several VC investors, has raised a Series B round of funding worth $350 million.
Deal focus: CITIC Capital, 3i team up in auto services
CITIC Capital and 3i have together committed $265 million to Formel D with a view to helping the German auto testing and inspection business expand its footprint in Asia