Funds
Pierfront commits $25 million to Indonesia mine operator
Singapore-based alternative credit investor Pierfront Capital has committed $25 million to Merdeka Copper Gold, an Indonesia-based operator of copper and gold mines backed by Saratoga Capital and Provident Capital.
Portfolio: L Capital Asia and Seafolly
Beachwear maker Seafolly was already a leader in Australia when L Capital Asia acquired it in 2014. Now the founding family and the GP plan to build it into a global lifestyle brand
Chinese online lender FirstP2P secures $70m
FirstP2P, a Chinese online peer-to-peer (P2P) financing site, has raised a $70 million Series C round led by existing investor CCB International.
Fund focus: Sinovation gets new firepower
Innovation Works changes its name, but plans to keep focusing on China's growing tech talent
Private debt: Pulling uphill
Selling Asian LPs on private credit strategies remains difficult for the most part, but fund managers are generally confident that interest in the asset class is set to take off
KKR hires China Development Financial's Paul Yang as China head
KKR has recruited Paul Yang, president and CEO of Taiwan-headquartered China Development Financial Corporation (CDF), to become head of Greater China. He will continue the firm’s efforts to broaden its business locally and participate up and down the...
Northern Light leads Series B for China's TenNor Therapeutics
Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC) has led a $25 million Series B funding round for TenNor Therapeutics, a Chinese drug developer specializing in infectious diseases.
Bessemer leads $15m round for India's Swiggy
Bessemer Venture Partners has led a $15 million Series D round for Indian online food delivery start-up Swiggy.
China LeEco's smart car unit raises $1b
Leshi Internet Information and Technology, also known as LeEco, has raised $1.08 billion for its self-driving electric car project.
IFC proposes $25m commitment to Maison's China fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of up to $25 million in Maison Capital’s debut US dollar-denominated China fund, which has an overall target of $200 million.
Linear Venture closes $70m China early-stage VC fund
Linear Venture, a Chinese early-stage VC firm founded by former Facebook and JD.com employees, has closed its second fund – which comprises US dollar and renminbi-denominated tranches – with approximately $70 million in aggregate commitments.
Multiples raises $690m for second India fund
Multiples Alternative Asset Management has reached a final close of $690 million on its second India-focused fund, beating the target of $650 million.
Singapore's JFDI abandons accelerator program
Singapore-based Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (JFDI) has closed its pioneering accelerator program as part of a corporate restructuring.
Ex-Sailing Capital partner Michael Weiss joins China's Sanpower
Michael Weiss, formerly a partner and managing director at Chinese cross-border PE firm Sailing Capital, has joined Chinese conglomerate Sanpower Group as vice president in the investment department.
Ex-Unitas CIO Eugene Suh joins CVC as Asia COO
Eugene Suh, formerly CIO at Unitas Capital, has joined CVC Capital Partners as partner and Asia chief operating officer.
Deal focus: InnoVen targets India-Southeast Asia angle
Having gained traction with its venture debt proposition in India, Innoven Capital is now following those same portfolio companies as they expand into Southeast Asia
Taiwan regulation: Forward views, sideways moves
The Taiwan government is attempting to reconcile its conservative tendencies with a need for innovation as the local venture capital industry marks mixed progress in filling an early-stage vacuum
VC value-add: Operational gambit
As competition for VC deals intensifies in Asia and capital becomes commoditized, GPs are stressing their value-add credentials. Should we believe the hype?
Baidu launches $200m VC fund to invest in AR, VR
Chinese search engine Baidu has launched a $200 million venture fund that will focus on next-generation technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
Australia VC: Interesting times
AirTree Ventures' successful fundraise underlines the growth interest in Australian venture capital, but the superannuation funds have yet to prove themselves to be a consistent source of capital
Australia's AirTree raises $188m VC fund
AirTree Ventures claims to have raised Australia's largest-ever venture capital fund, having closed its latest vehicle at A$250 million ($188 million)
ABF's China cane sugar business sold to PE-backed consortium
Associated British Foods (ABF), a UK-based food processing and retailing company, has agreed to sell its cane sugar business in southern China to a PE-backed consortium led by Shenzhen-listed Nanning Sugar Industry for RMB1.68 billion ($252 million)....
China's Sinovation Ventures raises $674m across two funds
Chinese early-stage VC firm Sinovation Ventures, formerly Innovation Works, has closed its third US dollar-denominated fund and second renminbi fund, with more than $674 million in aggregate commitments.
Innovation Works launches fund with China's Zall Group
China-based early-stage investor Innovation Works, which was founded by former Google China head Kai-Fu Lee, has teamed up with Hong Kong-listed real estate developer Zall Group to launch a private equity fund.