Fundraising
Lightspeed to raise dedicated India venture fund
US-based Lightspeed Venture Partners is looking to raise $115 million for its first India-focused fund.
Nexus raises $434m for two India VC funds
Nexus Venture Partners has closed its fourth India venture capital fund at $304 million and raised a further $130 million for a top-up fund focusing on later-stage investments in existing portfolio companies.
CITIC Private Equity raises $1.3b for second US dollar fund
CITIC Private Equity has closed it second US dollar-denominated China fund with just under $1.3 billion in commitments.
LP interview: CDC Group
Four years ago, controversy and political pressure forced the UK’s CDC Group into a major shift in strategy. Managing Director Alagappan Murugappan explains how the development fund has evolved since then
Fund focus: Unison hones in on South Korea
Comparisons can be drawn between Unison Capital’s debut Korea buyout fund and its first Japan vehicle raised more than 15 years ago. The targets are small- to mid-size companies that have growth potential but need help realizing it, particularly in terms...
Unison closes debut Korea fund at $280m - update
Japan-based private equity firm Unison Capital has closed its first-ever Korea-dedicated buyout fund at approximately KRW300 billion ($280 million).
China VC firm Banyan closes $100m co-investment fund
Chinese venture capital firm Banyan Capital has closed its latest co-investment fund at $100 million, having spent just one month in the market.
OPIC seeks fundraising proposals from emerging markets GPs
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development finance institution (DFI) backed by the US government, has issued a call for proposals from private equity fund managers raising funds for emerging markets.
Fund focus: Brandon secures super fund support
With A$78 billion ($61 billion) in assets, AustralianSuper is said to struggle to make fund commitments of less than A$150 million. Yet it is one of several superannuation funds backing Brandon Capital’s latest life sciences VC vehicle, which has closed...
Indian LPs: Commitment issues
Proposed reforms of investment guidelines for India’s pension system suggest that more domestic capital could flow into the asset class. But is the country’s wider LP community really warming up to PE?
Japan's Rebright launches $20m fund for India start-ups
Rebright Partners - an early-stage investor backed by a consortium of Japanese internet companies - has formed a JPY2.4 billion ($20 million) fund to invest technology start-ups in India.
TPG Growth closes third global fund at $3b
TPG Capital has reached a final close of $3 billion on its third global middle market and growth equity fund. The initial target was $2.75 billion.
BlueRun closes third China VC fund at $200m
BlueRun Ventures has closed its third China-focused venture capital fund at $200 million, targeting early stage start-ups.
China's Cybernaut partners with Russian firm for $200m fund
China's Cybernaut Capital has agreed to form a $200 million venture fund, a start-up incubator and a robotics development center with Russia's government-backed Skolkovo Foundation.
Bamboo Finance reaches $31m first close on financial inclusion fund
Impact private equity investor Bamboo Finance has reached a $31 million first close on its second financial inclusion-focused fund with commitments from Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA-CREF) and AXA-IM.
LPs remain loyal to Asia Alternatives
New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF) made its first direct China commitment in 2011, investing $100 million in Hony Capital’s fifth fund. Over the preceding years, the LP fashioned a more targeted Asia strategy, complementing its participation...
Lexington raises largest ever secondaries fund
Lexington Partners reached a final close on its eighth global secondaries fund at the hard cap of $10.1 billion. It is the largest dedicated secondaries vehicle ever raised.
I Squared closes debut global infra fund at $3b
I Squared Capital, a private equity firm set up by former Morgan Stanley managers, has closed its first global infrastructure fund at $3 billion.
Brandon raises $154m for Australia life sciences fund
Australian life sciences-focused VC firm Brandon Capital has reached a A$200 million ($154 million) final close on its latest vehicle - the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund 3 (MRCF 3).
India's IDFC targets $400m private equity fundraise
IDFC Alternatives is preparing to launch its latest private equity fund soon, which will have a target of $400 million.
Asian LPs back Israel-based Viola's $250m fund
At least six Asian investors are LPs in the latest fund being raised by Israel-based technology growth capital and buyout firm Viola Private Equity, which reached its targeted amount of $250 million.
Japan's Dentsu launches $42m corporate venture fund
Japanese advertising agency Dentsu has established a new corporate venture capital arm, Dentsu Ventures, and launched a new fund with a corpus of JPY5 billion ($42 million).
NEA closes giant $2.8b global VC fund
New Enterprise Associates (NEA) has reached a final close on its 15th global flagship fund at $2.8 billion, and raised an additional $350 for a new co-investment vehicle - NEA 15 Opportunity Fund.
First quarter analysis: Slow start
Slower investment in the first quarter is either an historical norm or a worrying sign; fundraising flies by for the few, the majority still struggle; Asia’s exit bonanza comes to a sudden stop as trade sales weaken