Investments
Q&A: Qunar co-founder CC Zhuang
As co-founder of Chinese online travel site Qunar, Chenchao Zhuang has experience building and selling a technology business. Now a VC investor in his own right, he offers insights into the world of start-ups
Q&A: CDH Investments' Shangzhi Wu
Shangzhi Wu, chairman of CDH Investments, discusses China’s slowing economy, the gems to be found in the middle market, cross-border opportunities, and making a multi-strategy firm institutionalized
Wattle Hill seeks $300m for Sino-Australian PE fund
Sydney-based private equity firm Wattle Hill RHC Funds has achieved a first close on its debut Sino-Australia cross-border fund with $200 million in commitments. The overall target is $300 million.
SoftBank marks down valuations of India's Ola, Snapdeal
SoftBank has marked down the value of part of its investment portfolio, including holdings India-based ride-hailing app Ola and its e-commerce counterpart Snapdeal.
Ascendent backs China cancer diagnostics firm
Ascendent Capital Partners has committed RMB50 million ($7.36 million) to BioChain Beijing, a Chinese biotech company that focuses on early detection of cancer.
Reliance PE arm commits $12m to India real estate start-up
Square Yards, an online listings service dedicated to the property sector, has received $12 million in funding from the private equity arm of Reliance Group.
Japan's Monstar Lab gets $2.4m round
Monstar Lab, a Japan-based company specializing in global outsourcing services for IT companies, has raised JPY250 million ($2.4 million) from investors including Resona Capital.
Japan's INCJ invests $10m in Treasure Data
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested $10 million in Treasure Data, a Silicon Valley-based big data start-up founded by two Japanese entrepreneurs.
China online learning site Smartstudy raises $29m
Smartstudy.com, a Chinese online learning site, has raised a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round of funding led by Hong Kong-based private equity firm Golden Brick Capital.
Warburg Pincus supports take-private of Singapore's ARA
Warburg Pincus has joined a consortium of investors including China’s Avic Trust to privatize Singapore-listed real estate fund management company ARA Asset Management.
Northstar backs SE Asia business accommodation supplier
Northstar Group has taken what is understood to be a minority stake in MG Group – a Southeast Asian “bedbank” that supplies hotel rooms to travel agents, wholesalers, aggregators and tour operators – for an undisclosed sum.
Warburg Pincus invests $75m in India's Rivigo
Warburg Pincus has invested $75 million for a minority stake in Indian trucking company Rivigo. The transaction marks the GP’s third logistics deal in the country in the past two years.
American Industrial Partners to buy Australia's Moly-Cop for $1.2b
American Industrial Partners (AIP) will buy Moly-Cop, the mining consumables division of struggling Australian mining and materials giant Arrium for an enterprise value of $1.23 billion.
China bike-sharing start-up Ubike raises $22m
Ubike, a Chinese bike-sharing start-up, has raised a RMB150 million ($22 million) Series A round of funding led by Yicun Capital, a corporate PE arm of Shenzhen-listed chemical fiber manufacturer Jiangsu Huaxicun.
New Horizon pursues legal action over Japan's Sagami
Japanese GP New Horizon Capital has initiated legal action against Sagami, a domestic clothing retailer which it had targeted for acquisition. It claims the company accepted a weaker offer from rival PE bidder Aspirant Group.
IDG, Accel invest $3m in India's Bizongo
IDG Ventures has led a $3 million Series A round for Indian business-to-business packaging marketplace Bizongo, with participation by existing investor Accel Partners.
Quadrant-backed UPG acquires Australia's Rockpool
Quadrant Private Equity has taken control of Australian restaurant operator Rockpool Group via a bolt-on acquisition by existing portfolio company Urban Purveyor Group (UPG).
Alibaba, Legend invest $20m in China seafood importer Gfresh
Gfresh, a China-based seafood importer and online marketplace operator, has raised $20 million from Riverhill Fund, an investment arm of Alibaba Group, and Legend Capital.
China-backed PE firm buy Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3b
Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, a newly-formed US-based buyout firm backed by Chinese LPs, has agreed to acquire NASDAQ-listed chip maker Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3 billion.
Alibaba-backed Lazada buys Singapore's RedMart
Lazada, a Southeast Asia-based e-commerce platform founded by Germany's Rocket Internet and recently acquired by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has bought Singapore-based online grocer RedMart.
Deal focus: J-Star helps Asiro bring law online
Asiro came into being as a means of addressing the demand-supply imbalance in Japan's legal services industry. New owner J-Star will help the company expand its platform
Q&A: Shoreline Capital's Xiaolin Zhang
Xiaolin Zhang, co-founder and managing partner at China-focused distress specialist Shoreline Capital, discusses the NPL opportunity and what private equity firms must do to address it
Southeast Asia dating app raises $32.5m round
Paktor, a Southeast Asia-focused mobile dating app, has received $32.5 million in new funding led by K2 Global – a venture capital firm that makes late-stage tech investments in Asia and the US – and Indonesia-based MNC Media Group.
EQT buys Australian aerospace business
EQT Partners has agreed to pay Australian logistics conglomerate Brambles $130 million for its aviation industry services unit, Chep Aerospace Solutions.