Investments
GIC invests $50m in India's Capital First
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private has invested INR3.4 billion ($50.3 million) in Capital First, an Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) backed by Warburg Pincus.
Singapore's MC Payment gets $3.5m for SE Asia expansion
Singapore private equity firm 2W Group has led a $5 million ($3.5 million) funding round for domestic financial technology company MC Payment.
IFC proposes $25m investment in CompareAsiaGroup
The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed an investment of up to $25 million in Hong Kong-based financial comparison platform CompareAsiaGroup.
IMM-backed consortium pays $2.1b for stake in Korea's Woori Bank
IMM Private Equity is one of seven investors that have acquired a combined 29.7% stake in Woori Bank, a Korean lender that has been under government control since 2001, for KRW2.4 trillion ($2.1 billion).
Asian private equity: The state we're in
Based on current progress, Asia is unlikely to match the last year's fundraising, investment and exit totals in 2016. But the fundamentals that underpin most PE opportunities in the region are still there
Ex-Shoreline executives reform as ShoreVest, target China NPLs
ShoreVest Capital Partners is bidding on its first Chinese non-performing loan (NPL) portfolios since the core team members departed Shoreline Capital.
Singapore to ease regulations on start-ups as part of fintech push
Singapore is promising to provide venture capital firms with streamlined approval processes and tailored incentives as part of efforts to develop the fundraising landscape for local start-ups.
Hony invests $121m in Australian oil player Santos
Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital has re-upped in Australia-listed oil and gas supplier Santos for A$159.2 million ($120.8 million).
Eight Roads backs India's IFMR Capital
Eight Roads Ventures India has invested $25 million in Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) IFMR Capital.
Blackstone pulls out of SE Asia energy platform
The Blackstone Group has terminated an $800 million commitment to develop oil and gas assets in Southeast Asia with Malaysia-based Tamarind Energy.
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.