Funds
Singapore's Vulpes launches COVID-19 opportunities fund
Singapore-based Vulpes Investment Management has launched a special opportunities fund of undisclosed size targeting VC-backed companies struggling with the effects of COVID-19.
Cathay Capital raises $120m for China smart energy fund
Cathay Capital Private Equity has raised RMB820 million ($120 million) for its debut China smart energy fund, securing commitments from ALIAD, the venture capital arm of French industrial gases producer Air Liquide Group, among other investors.
Fund focus: Ardian goes large
With $19 billion in dry powder, Ardian is targeting big-ticket transactions in the secondaries space. Asia is becoming an increasingly significant part
Coronavirus & fundraising: Comfort levels
Personal contact with the manager remains a prerequisite for LPs when making fund commitments, but to what extent will recent travel restrictions change the parameters for on-site due diligence?
India's Unitary Helion rebrands as Arkam, reaches first close
Unitary Helion Ventures, an Indian VC firm founded by Rahul Chandra, has relaunched as Arkam Ventures and achieved a first close on its debut fund of INR3.25 billion ($43 million).
Singapore VCs commit $204m in COVID-19 support
Singapore government-connected VC investors Seeds Capital and EDBI have committed S$285 million ($204 million) to support local start-ups facing challenges related to COVID-19.
Korea GPs back $281m Malaysia VC fund
Korea’s SK Group, Hanwha Asset Management, and KB Investment have contributed to a MRY1.2 billion ($281 million) VC fund launched by the Malaysian government.
Kejora, SBI team up on early-stage Indonesia fund
Kejora Capital and Japan’s SBI Holdings have launched an early stage technology fund for Indonesia with a target of $30 millon.
India's Info Edge targets $100m for debut fund
Info Edge India, the holding company for Indian jobs portal Naukri, is looking to raise INR7.5 billion ($100 million) for a debut venture capital fund.
India’s Iron Pillar sells GP stake to US investor
Indian venture capital player Iron Pillar Capital Management has brought in US-headquartered real estate investment firm Nitya Capital as a strategic investor.
Ardian raises $19b for global secondaries fund
Ardian has closed its eighth global secondaries fund with $19 billion in commitments, representing the largest-ever vehicle raised for the strategy. The total includes $5 billion for co-investment.
Singapore's Antler launches India operation, targets $50m fund
Singapore-based start-up incubator Antler will launch operations in India later in the year and plans to raise upto $50 million to invest in start-ups in the country.
Basis Vectors launches $50m fund for SaaS investments
Basis Vectors, a US-headquartered investment firm established by the Indian founder of a VC-backed start-up, has raised a $50 million fund that will acquire and develop software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies.
Asia distress: Band-aids for corpses
Many companies are rolling liabilities forward, supported by accommodating government policy intended to maximize liquidity. It can't go on forever, but distress and private debt investors must be careful where they tread
Fund focus: China’s Glory wins VC backing
Glory Ventures counts several larger Chinese peers among the LPs in its latest renminbi and US dollar-denominated funds. They all want a glimpse of the firm’s deep technology pipeline
Lakeshore seeks $125m for second Thailand fund
Lakeshore Capital Asia is looking to raise $125 million for its second Thailand-focused fund and has won backing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
IFC set to back Endiya's second India fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) plans to invest $10 million in the second fund raised by Endiya Partners, an early-stage venture capital investor based in India.
Unigestion loses Asia Pacific private equity head
Eric Marchand, who leads Asia Pacific private equity activity at Europe-headquartered asset manager Unigestion, will be leaving the firm in July after approximately eight years of service.
B Capital forms partnership with Singapore incubator Antler
B Capital Group, a global growth-stage investor active in Southeast Asia, has formed a partnership with Singapore-based start-up incubator Antler.
Profile: Qiming Venture Partners' Duane Kuang
Having spent years as an IT advocate in a world obsessed with consumer internet start-ups, Duane Kuang of China-focused Qiming Venture Partners is seeing the tables gradually turn
Glory closes third renminbi fund at $96m
Chinese early-stage investor Glory Ventures has closed its third renminbi-denominated fund at RMB682 million ($96 million) and also reached a first close of its second US dollar vehicle.
ESG and VC: Deferred dialogue
Institutional LPs are traditionally less engaged with VC versus PE when it comes to responsible investment standards. A multitude of drivers are changing this, but not quickly
China mezzanine: Not the norm
China’s local currency mezzanine capital space is underpenetrated, underpopulated and different to comparable strategies elsewhere. A handful of domestic GPs have begun to get traction. Will others follow?
MBK closes Fund V at $6.5b hard cap
MBK Partners has closed its fifth North Asia-focused fund at the hard cap of $6.5 billion. It is the joint third-largest PE vehicle raised for deployment across the region and MBK has become the seventh manager to cross the $6 billion threshold.