Investments
VC value-add: Personal touch
Chinese VC firms are expected to offer value-added services as a way of differentiating themselves from the competition. Are formalized concierge services for founders and their families a step too far?
Australia launches incubator in Singapore
The Australian government has launched a start-up incubation program in Singapore that will focus on emerging industries, including services, and support new export market opportunities.
Institutional investors and private equity: Cracks in the ice?
Competition is intense at the upper end of the global buyout space, with abundant dry powder and readily available debt pushing up valuations. LPs are keen to allocate to the asset class, but will they end up disappointed?
CMC, Sequoia launch sport fund, back China kickboxing business
CMC Holdings – a unit of media-focused GP CMC Capital Partners – and Sequoia Capital China have formed a sports investment fund and led a Series A round of funding for Wanmingyang Media, which organizes and video streams kickboxing events in China.
Ally Bridge backs $301m Luoxin Pharma take-private
Healthcare-focused PE investor Ally Bridge Group will support the HK$2.3 billion ($301 million) management-led take-private of Hong Kong-listed Shandong Luoxin Pharmacy Group.
Platinum to buy Staples' Australia, New Zealand business
US-based private equity firm Platinum Equity has agreed to buy the Australia and New Zealand businesses of business products supplier Staples.
CPPIB, CDPQ form Southeast Asia logistics partnership
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has teamed up with Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and Australia-headquartered property company Logos to develop logistics projects in Singapore and Indonesia.
Pioneer hits $180m hard cap on third New Zealand fund
New Zealand’s Pioneer Capital has hit the hard cap of NZ$260 million ($180 million) on its third growth fund, beating the target of NZ$210 million. It follows the first investment from the new vehicle in Havelock North Fruit.
GIC invests $113m in India's Can Fin
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private has invested about INR7.5 billion ($113.2 million) for a 13.4% stake in Indian mortgage lender Can Fin Homes.
Carlyle exits India's Edelweiss for $131m
The Carlyle Group has fully exited its stake in India’s Edelweiss Financial Services for INR8.7 billion ($131 million) in an open market transaction.
Denham platform to assume control of Australia-listed miner
Denham Capital has agreed to take full ownership of Cradle Resources, an Australia-listed mining company that holds a 50% interest in a niobium deposit in Tanzania, at a valuation of A$55 million ($41.6 million).
Qualcomm, Accel back India-China IoT player Borqs
Qualcomm Ventures and Accel Partners India have co-led a new round of funding worth $10 million for Borqs, an India-China venture that develops internet-of-things (IoT) devices.
Northstar withdraws interest in Singapore-listed Spindex
Northstar Group has withdrawn its interest in Singapore-listed precision components manufacturer Spindex Industries after a consortium led by the company’s chairman acquired a more than 50% stake in the business, putting it on course for a buyout.
Legend leads $36m round for China truck logistics platform
Legend Capital has led a RMB250 million ($36 million) Series C round for Fuyoukache, a Beijing-based online truck logistics platform.
Goodwater leads $48m investment in Korea's Viva Republica
US-based venture capital firm Goodwater Capital has led a KRW55 billion ($48 million) Series C funding round for South Korean financial technology company Viva Republica.
Hong Kong PE buys into US-HK entertainment merger
Co-High Investment Management, a Hong Kong-based private equity firm focused largely on culture and media, has agreed to invest in a film production company formed through a US-Hong Kong merger.
Australia to streamline foreign investment approvals
The Australian government has proposed an amendment to foreign investment rules introduced in late 2015 that require some private equity firms to obtain regulatory approval when making a buyout.
Business cycles: China bike-sharing start-ups
Mobike and Ofo are engaged in a battle of private equity-fueled one-upmanship as they strive for supremacy in China's bike-sharing space. Will they die off, merge or become differentiated (and profitable)?
IDG-led consortium completes buyout of Osram unit
A Chinese consortium led by IDG Capital has completed the purchase of Ledvance, the lamps business of German lighting manufacturer Osram, for approximately EUR500 million ($527 million).
Brookfield to acquire SunEdison's yieldco platforms
Canada's Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to buy two energy platforms operated by US-based renewable energy producer SunEdison, including one with over half its total capacity in Asia.
Southeast Asia video streaming service Iflix gets $90m
Iflix, a primarily Southeast Asia-focused video streaming service that follows a similar business model to Netflix, has raised $90 million in Series B funding led by Liberty Global and Kuwaiti telecom company Zain Group.
Matrix leads $15m Series C for China’s Easemob
Matrix Partners China has led a RMB103 million ($15 million) Series C round of funding for Easemob, a Chinese start-up that provides instant-messaging services to mobile app developers.
VC-backed Fave buys Groupon Singapore
Malaysian VC-backed online-to-offline (O2O) e-commerce company Fave has agreed to acquire Groupon Singapore, extending a string of related bolt-ons in Southeast Asia.
CPPIB, CDPQ pay $337m for stake in India's Kotak
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) have paid INR23 billion ($337 million) for a 1.5% stake in India’s Kotak Mahindra Bank.