Industry
China's BlueRun $819m across US dollar, renminbi funds
China-based BlueRun Ventures has closed its third US dollar-denominated China fund and third renminbi vehicle with aggregate commitments of CNY 5.5bn (USD 819m).
Singapore's Azalea targets $754m PE-backed bond offering
Temasek Holdings-owned Azalea Investment Management is further expanding retail exposure to private equity through its latest issue of bonds – worth USD 754m in total – backed by LP interests in funds.
Hong Kong's Betatron hits $15m first close on VC fund
Hong Kong’s Betatron Venture Group has reached a first close of USD 15m on its latest fund, which will make early-stage investments across South and Southeast Asia. The target is USD 50m.
SBI, Kyobo Life seek $75m for Asia VC fund
SBI Ven Capital (SBIVC), an ex-Japan VC arm of SBI Holdings, is seeking USD 75m for its latest fund in partnership with Korea’s Kyobo Life Insurance and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
Antler to invest $100m in SE Asia start-ups by 2025
Singapore-based VC firm Antler has committed to investing USD 100m in more than 300 Southeast Asian start-ups by 2025.
Jungle closes fourth Southeast Asia VC fund on $600m
Jungle Ventures has reached a final close of USD 600m on its fourth flagship Southeast Asia VC fund. The initial target was USD 350m.
China outbound: Organic options
Tough domestic competition is encouraging Chinese tech start-ups to expand overseas – often organically, earlier in their lifecycles than before, and despite regulatory concerns
Q&A: Sweef Capital’s Jennifer Buckley
Jennifer Buckley spun out the Southeast Asian gender-lens investment unit of impact private equity firm SEAF last year, forming Sweef Capital. Adding to the complexity, it happened mid-fundraise
Fund focus: East Ventures expands its LP rolodex
Indonesia’s East Ventures reached beyond Asian LPs for the first time with its latest growth fund. It coincides with several other milestones that signal a new level of institutionalisation
Eight Roads launches $250m India healthcare fund
Eight Roads Ventures has launched its first dedicated healthcare and life-sciences fund for India with a corpus of USD 250m provided entirely by its parent, Fidelity.
Indonesia's Sinar Mas launches smart city VC fund
The real estate arm of Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas has launched a smart city technology fund in partnership with East Ventures, Redbadge Pacific, and Prasetia Dwidharma.
Hong Kong's Silverhorn recruits Bert Kwan as PE head
Bert Kwan, formerly of Northstar Group and Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE), has joined Hong Kong-headquartered multi-asset investment firm Silverhorn as head of private equity.
MDI launches healthcare fund with Indonesian strategic
MDI Ventures, the corporate VC arm of state-controlled Telkom Indonesia, has launched a USD 20m fund with domestic vaccine manufacturer Bio Farma that will pursue early and growth-stage healthcare investments.
Singapore VC closes food tech fund at $34m
Singapore’s Good Startup, a food technology investor focused on alternative protein, has closed its debut VC fund with USD 34m in commitments.
China Renaissance raises $446m for renminbi fund
Huaxing Growth Capital, the private equity division of China Renaissance, has achieved a CNY 3bn (USD 446m) first close on its fourth flagship renminbi-denominated fund.
East closes $550m in early-stage and growth funds
Indonesia’s East Ventures has closed two funds with a combined USD 550m in commitments for its early-stage and growth strategies.
Singapore’s Fullerton tokenises PE fund-of-funds
Singapore’s Fullerton Fund Management has tokenised its latest private equity fund-of-funds, allowing for a minimum commitment size of USD 10,000.
GP profile: EmergeVest
Building on unorthodox roots and a highly concentrated portfolio, EmergeVest wants to establish itself as a global-minded Asia specialist in technology-enabled supply chains
Emerging Asia start-ups: Governance revisited
Even a modest cooling off from tech investment euphoria experienced in the peak of the pandemic could reveal big cracks in Asian start-up markets. Diligence efforts are ramping up, but is it enough?
Wellington Management hires Asia fundraiser
Wellington Management has recruited Xiaying Zhang, formerly head of Hamilton Lane’s Singapore office, to lead fundraising efforts for its private investment strategies in Asia Pacific.
AVCJ daily bulletin returns May 10
AVCJ’s daily bulletin will not be published on May 9 due to a public holiday in Hong Kong.
Singapore's Resolution hits first close on fintech VC fund
Resolution Ventures, a Singapore-based financial technology investor set up last year, has reached a first close of undisclosed size on its debut Southeast Asia seed fund. The target is USD 20m.
GD1 launches New Zealand's first crypto VC fund
New Zealand’s GD1 has launched what it calls the first dedicated crypto and Web3 VC fund in its home market less than a week after a similar claim by PAC Capital in Australia.
Q&A: ZWC Partners’ Michael Yao
Michael Yao, a partner at ZWC Partners, discusses valuations, exit obstacles, and artificial intelligence in China, as well as the scope for applying China knowledge in Southeast Asia
