Funds
Secondaries: Waiting for the shoe to drop
Asian secondaries players are counting on an explosion in demand for alternative liquidity solutions over the next few years, but cutting deals in this niche market requires a nimble approach
China Mobile fund leads $100m round for job site Liepin
A fund launched by China Mobile in partnership with the State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC) has led a $100 million Series D round of funding for online recruitment services provider Liepin.com.
LP interview: Pantheon
Pantheon believes the growing experience of GPs in Southeast Asia comes at just the right time to take advantage of the region’s booming consumption opportunities
Lightspeed China closes Fund III at $260m
Lightspeed China Partners has reached a final close of $260 million on its third venture fund, substantially above the vehicle's $240 million target.
OneVentures backs Australia's Employment Hero
OneVentures has led a A$3 million ($2.2 million) Series A round of funding for Australian online human resources services start-up Employment Hero.
Bertelsmann leads $32m round for India's Lendingkart
Bertelsmann India Investments has led a $32 million Series B round for Indian finance platform Lendingkart.
Altius to be sold to Canada’s Pavilion Financial
Canadian investment services firm Pavilion Financial has agreed to acquire Altius Associates, a PE advisor and fund manager with a presence across Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
Indonesia VC: Work in progress
As Indonesia’s start-up space matures, with ever more capital pouring in, VC players recognize that exits are the key to creating a sustainable investment environment. However, it is still early days
Wavemaker takes over Ardent's SE Asia venture portfolio
US venture capital firm Wavemaker Partners has taken over the venture portfolio of Thailand-based Ardent Capital.
China Everbright's mezzanine fund backs Neusoft Medical
China Everbright has invested an undisclosed amount in Chinese healthcare conglomerate Neusoft Holdings through its renminbi-denominated mezzanine fund.
Waterbridge in first close on early-stage India fund - report
Waterbridge Ventures, an India-based VC firm founded by angel investor Manish Kheterpal, has reached a first close of $5 million on its fund targeting early and seed-stage investments.
SAIF commits $3.5m to India's FarEye
Indian logistics management software developer FarEye has raised a $3.5 million Series A round from SAIF Partners.
China’s Poly Real Estate commits $380m to Didi via PE fund
Chinese state-owned Poly Real Estate Group has set up a private equity fund worth RMB2.5 billion ($380 million) to invest in Chinese leading ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing as part of its latest round.
Japan's SBI partners with Filipino VC
Japanese financial services company SBI Holdings has acquired a 35% stake in the venture arm of Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP) with an aim to co-manage a VC fund.
Fund focus: Rising tide floats Golden Gate fund
Golden Gate Ventures has raised a new $60 million fund for investments in Southeast Asia's burgeoning mobile internet sector
Portfolio: New Horizon Capital and Tachikichi
New Horizon Capital has turned around ceramics maker Tachikichi by emphasizing its unique connections to Japanese culture. Now the GP hopes that strategy can take the company beyond its old restraints
China co-working space operator UrWork raises $46m
VC-backed UrWork, a co-working space provider for Chinese start-ups, has completed a pre-Series B round worth RMB300 million ($46 million) from Chinese commercial property developers Yintai Land and Zhongrong International Trust.
China vacation rental site Tujia acquires VC-backed peer Mayi
VC-backed Chinese vacation-rental website Tujia.com has agreed to take control of its industry peer Mayi.com, which has also received venture investment, for an undisclosed sum.
Jafco leads $20m Series A in Singapore's Quoine
Jafco has led a $20 million Series A financing round for Quoine, a Singapore-based bitcoin trading platform.
Myanmar PE: Back to the future
Myanmar’s relatively abrupt transformation from impoverished pariah to upbeat high-growth investment target has resulted in some interesting challenges for private equity and venture capital
Micro VC: Small is beautiful
Asia's micro VC segment is gaining appeal as diversity among fund managers grows
KKR exits French energy firm to Australia's First State
KKR has sold its stake in French district heating provider Coriance to First State Investments, the asset management division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
NewMargin leads $10.6m round for China’s Flower Plus
NewMargin Ventures has led a RMB70 million ($10.6 million) Series A round of funding for Flower Plus, a Chinese mobile flower ordering platform.
AVCAL calls for reforms ahead of Australian election
The Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (AVCAL) is urging major political parties to do more to help scale up domestic companies ahead of a federal election next month.