Investments
Gome invests in China VC-backed home renovation play
Gome Holding Group, one of China's largest electrical appliance retailers, has invested RMB216 million ($31 million) in a Series C round of funding for Ikongjian.com, a VC-backed online-to-offline (O2O) interior design platform.
OrbiMed leads $30m round for China's Zai Lab
Zai Lab, a pharmaceutical company that licenses pre-clinical findings in the West for development into drugs in China, has received $30 million in Series C funding led by existing investor OrbiMed.
Deal focus: JD.com plugs Farfetch into China
Having previously distanced itself from mainstream e-commerce players, luxury online fashion retailer Farfetch has received $397 million from JD.com with a view to entering the China market
VC secondaries: Trading unicorns
Secondary investors are seeing more deal flow in the venture capital space as GPs seek to generate returns on assets that are taking longer than expected to go IPO. Valuations remain a sticking point
Yunfeng leads $29m round for China media company
China-focused PE firm Yunfeng Capital has led a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round of funding for Tianjin Galaxy Cool Media, a local online video content producer.
Warburg Pincus leads $64m round for Singapore's Trax
Warburg Pincus has led a $64 million investment in Trax, a Singapore-based company that has developed visual technology through which retailers can link sales to in-store and on-shelf positioning.
PE investors back $402m Sinovac take-private
A consortium of private equity investors has agreed to privatize US-listed Chinese biopharmaceutical player Sinovac Biotech in a deal worth $401.8 million, bringing a contentious bidding process to an end.
Korean GP buys majority stake in Vietnam’s VNPT ePay
UTC Investment, a private equity firm backed by South Korean food producer Daesang Corporation, has finalized its acquisition of a 65% stake in VNPT ePay, the electronic payment arm of Vietnam’s VMG Media.
Western Digital, KKR resubmit bid for Toshiba memory unit
Western Digital and KKR have resubmitted an offer for Toshiba’s Nand flash memory business, despite the Japanese conglomerate last week naming a consortium featuring Bain Capital as the preferred bidder in the JPY2 trillion ($18 billion) deal.
Deal focus: EMIA rethinks financial services in Cambodia
Emerging Markets Investment Advisors is backing iCare Benefits to develop workable credit schemes for low-income consumers in Southeast Asia through partnerships with employers and product suppliers
IFC invests $60m in Hong Kong's idsMED
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has invested $60 million in Hong Kong-based medical supply chain solutions provider IDS Medical Systems Group (idsMED).
Zombie start-ups: On the same side
Zombie companies present a special challenge for VC investors, whose exit goals may not match the aims of the founders. Successful GPs will try to ensure a positive experience for all parties
Sequoia leads $18m Series C for India's OneAssist
Sequoia Capital India has led an $18 million Series C funding round for Mumbai-based payment security system company OneAssist.
Legend leads $18m round for Chinese book publisher
China-focused Legend Capital has led a RMB128 million ($18 million) Series A round for Dook Book, a Shanghai-based book publisher that also has digital media and film operations.
AGIC-led consortium buys US pharma player
AGIC Capital, a private equity firm established in 2015 to focus on China-Europe cross-border investments, has secured its first deal in the US with an agreement to acquire pharmaceutical manufacturer Ritedose Corporation.
Australia's VC-backed GetSwift receives $18m investment
IFM Investors has joined a A$24 million ($18.2 million) investment in GetSwift, an Australia-listed and VC-backed software provider focused on the logistics sector.
Secondary investors pay $600m for LP stakes in IDG VC funds
IDG Capital has completed a secondary deal worth nearly $600 million, selling down LP positions in at least seven funds managed by affiliates in India and Vietnam as well as by the GP itself in China. These holdings were acquired as part of the purchase...
China agricultural services platform secures $29m round
Orchid Asia Group and China Growth Capital have jointly led a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round for Dafengshou, a Shenzhen-based agricultural supply chain service online platform. Existing investor Matrix Partners also participated.
Private equity and data centers: Get connected
With demand for outsourced data center services poised to take off in Asia, private equity investors are looking for ways to participate in the growth story
Creditors take control of PE-owned Gerard Lighting
A creditor consortium led by Investec and Bain Capital Credit (BCC) has assumed full control of Gerard Lighting, an Australian light fittings distributor owned by CHAMP Private Equity.
Japan buyout investors must consider post-deal positioning - AVCJ Forum
Private equity deal flow is increasing in Japan’s middle market, but buyers should be mindful that their responsibilities to sellers stretch well into the post-investment period, industry participants told the AVCJ Japan Forum.
China’s JD.com invests $397m in PE-backed Farfetch
China-based JD.com has invested $397 million in UK-based Farfetch, a PE-backed online luxury fashion retailer, as part of a new strategic partnership to pursue growth in China.
Japan's Softbank invests $100m in Cybereason
SoftBank Corp. has agreed to invest $100 million in a Series D funding round for Cybereason, a US-headquartered cybersecurity platform provider targeting expansion in Japan.
Matrix, Falcon Edge join $31m round for India's Mswipe
Indian mobile point-of-service (POS) developer Mswipe has raised a $31 million funding round led by RNT Capital Advisors, with participation by existing investors Matrix Capital Partners, Falcon Edge Capital and DSG Consumer Partners.