IPO
China AI player Mobvoi files for Hong Kong IPO
Mobvoi, which claims to be China’s largest revenue-generating artificial intelligence (AI) company focusing on content generation, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
Japan buyouts: Bucking the trend
Japan remains a private equity hotspot despite muted buyout activity elsewhere in Asia. Take-private and sponsor-to-sponsor opportunities make for a more textured local market
PE-backed CompareAsiaGroup merges with US-listed SPAC
CompareAsiaGroup, an Asia-focused financial products comparison platform also known as MoneyHero Group, has agreed to merge with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise value of approximately USD 342m.
Alibaba plans IPO for PE-backed logistics unit
Cainiao Smart Logistics Group, the private equity-backed logistics unit of Alibaba Group, will be spun off via an IPO as part of the parent company’s broader restructuring effort.
Hong Kong family office SPAC agrees $27bn merger with Vingroup EV unit
A special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) launched by the family office of Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho, has agreed to merge with the electric vehicle (EV) unit of Vietnam’s Vingroup.
1Q analysis: Barely disguised weakness
Government guidance funds in China and Toshiba Corporation in Japan papered over obvious cracks in Asia private equity fundraising and investment. Nothing could hide the pain around exits
China HR SaaS player Beisen completes $30m HK IPO
Beisen Holding, a China-based human resources software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform backed by the likes of SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Goldman Sachs, Matrix Partners China, and Sequoia Capital China, fell 12% on debut following a HKD 238.9m (USD 30m) Hong...
China hotpot home dining player Guoquan pursues HK listing
Guoquan, a Chinese hotpot ingredients supplier that now positions itself as a one-stop home meal solutions brand, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
Logistics start-up Lalatech pursues Hong Kong IPO
Lalatech Holdings, the parent company of Hong Kong delivery platform Lalamove, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong. This would represent a liquidity event for the likes of Hillhouse Capital, MindWorks Ventures, and Shunwei Capital.
HKEX relaxes rules for IPOs by pre-profit tech companies
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) has loosened its listing requirements to allow pre-profit technology companies to go public with market capitalisations as low as HKD 6bn (USD 764m).
China chatbot maker Xiao-I trades down after US IPO
China-based chatbot company Xiao-I has traded down 17.5% since raising USD 39m in a disappointing NASDAQ IPO on March 9.
China IPOs: Back to New York
With regulatory challenges receding, Chinese companies are once again targeting US listings. But the journey to New York – in terms of approvals, locations, and valuations – isn’t necessarily smooth
China industrial supplies platform ZKH pursues US IPO
ZKH Group, a China-based industrial supplies platform backed by the likes of Eastern Bell Capital, Genesis Capital, Tencent Holdings, and Tiger Global Management, has filed to list in the US.
Data sovereignty: Compliance complex
Deglobalisation is broadening the concept of cyber risk management from simply preventing attacks to navigating a minefield of data regulations. The pressure on PE spans investment, operations, and exits
China rolls out guidelines for offshore IPOs
China has sought to facilitate overseas IPOs by local companies through the introduction of a new regulatory regime to guide the process.
Hesai gains 11% on debut after $190m US offering
Hesai Technology, a China-based developer of sensors used in autonomous driving, traded up on debut after completing the largest US IPO by a Chinese company since Didi in 2021.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Exit of the Year – IPO: GoTo
GoTo’s rocky start on the Indonesia Stock Exchange betrays the pioneering nature of the listing and cements a legacy as an ecosystem lynchpin. Long-time backer Openspace Ventures reflects
China plans rollout of registration-based IPOs to all exchanges
China has proposed expanding the registration-based IPO system, which is intended to offer listing candidates lighter-touch regulation and a smoother path to the bourse, to all domestic stock markets.
China's Structure Therapeutics soars on US debut
Structure Therapeutics, a China and US-based drug developer specialising in novel oral therapeutics, performed strongly on its trading debut following an upsized USD 161.1m NASDAQ IPO.
L Catterton Asia SPAC to merge with Geely-owned Lotus EV unit
A US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) launched by L Catterton Asia has agreed to merge with Lotus Technology, an electric vehicle (EV) unit under the Lotus luxury car brand owned by Chinese automaker Geely Holding.
India exits: Sustainable trend?
GPs saw abundant exits in India in 2021 and the flow continued last year even as other markets stumbled. Investors must assess the merits of various contributing cyclical and structural factors
Deal focus: Newlink doubles down on new direction
Having established itself in China’s gas station services space, Newlink Group embraced the electric vehicle opportunity when it arrived. A spinout, reverse merger, and more capital were the result
China adult online education platform raises $41m in US IPO
QuantaSing Group, a Chinese adult tuition platform that spun out from wealth management and investment education business Erwan Technology, has traded relatively flat following a USD 41m IPO on NASDAQ.
Asia IPOs gone cold: India edition
A compilation of India-based IPOs - some of them private equity-backed - that have been withdrawn or appear to have fallen behind schedule
