Fundraising
Asia fundraising: Big beasts
And just like that, it was done. This week The Carlyle Group closed its fourth Asian fund, drawing a line under a three-year process that has seen nearly all of the largest global and Asia-based private equity firms raise their first regional vehicles...
LeapFrog reaches $400m close on second microfinance fund
LeapFrog Investments - the specialist microfinance investor backed by George Soros and JP Morgan Chase - has reached a $400 million close on its second fund targeting financial services investments in emerging Asia and Africa.
Unison holds $428m first close on Fund IV, eyes $714m
Unison Capital has reached a first close on its latest Japan buyout vehicle - Unison Capital Partners IV(F) - of JPY45 billion ($428 million), with the fund expecting a final close of JPY75 billion.
Carlyle closes fourth Asia buyout fund at $3.9b
The Carlyle Group has reached a final close on its fourth Asian fund - Carlyle Asia Partners IV (CAP IV) - at $3.9 billion.
UOB, Orix launch $200m SE Asia-focused mezz fund
Singapore-based United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) and Japan's ORIX Corp. (ORIX) have launched a mezzanine fund providing expansion capital to mid-sized companies in Southeast Asia.
Asian media giants form China-focused film and TV fund
Taiwan’s Fubon Group, Hong Kong's Media Asia and South Korean music giant SM Entertainment have established a media-focused fund to jointly invest in Chinese film and TV production.
China stem cell storage firm launches $813m M&A fund
Zhongyuan Union Stem Cell Bio-engineering, a Chinese stem cell storage service operator, has partnered with China Yinhong Capital to launch an industry M&A fund with a target of RMB5 billion ($813 million).
China caliper maker Guilin Guanglu raises $115m from PE
Guilin Guanglu Measuring Instrument, a Chinese electronic digital caliper maker, plans to raise RMB710 million ($115 million) from four domestic private equity firms.
Taiwan's Acer to launch $34m VC fund
Taiwanese computer maker Acer has established a NT$1 billion ($33.5 million) venture capital fund to invest in start-ups, with a view to strengthening the group’s technology development as well as generating financial returns.
Fundraising: First impressions
A successful introductory meeting doesn’t guarantee LP support but it is an important first step on the road to achieving it. GPs must be informed, engaging and polished – but not too polished
Ex-China Minsheng Bank executive launches $8b fund
Wenbiao Dong, former head of China Minsheng Banking, has launched a RMB50 billion ($8 billion) private investment fund.
NZVIF, Taiwan NDF reach $75m first close on VC fund
The first VC fund to be supported by a co-investment partnership between New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) and Taiwan's National Development Fund (NDF) has reached a $75 million first close.
India's Kaizen opens US office ahead of Fund II launch
Indian education-focused GP Kaizen Private Equity has opened an office in Silicon Valley ahead of launching its first pan-Asian fund, which has a target of $120 million.
Creador beats expectations with $300m final close on Fund II
Creador has reached a final close on its second fund at the hard cap of $300 million. A rush of late commitments saw the Southeast Asia and India-focused GP exceed its projected $275 million total.
India's Orios Venture raises $50m
Orios Venture Partners - a VC firm set up by Indian angel investor Rehan Yar Khan - has raised INR3 billion ($50 million) for its first fund.
Ex-Groupon HK CEO launches $10m seed fund
Former Groupon CEO for Hong Kong and Taiwan Danny Yeung raised a $10 million seed-stage investment fund following the launch of his new venture capital firm SXE Ventures.
Orchid hits $920m hard cap on sixth China fund
Orchid Asia has closed its sixth China growth capital fund, hitting the hard cap of $920 million after receiving more than $1.3 billion of interest from prospective LPs.
MVision CEO to move from London to Hong Kong
Mounir Guen, founder and CEO of placement agent MVision is relocating from London to Hong Kong in order to lead the firm’s expansion in Asia.
Evolution of the spin-out
Traditionally, private equity spin-outs have fallen somewhere along a scale that features autonomy at one end and greed (or, more kindly, a desire for talents to be appropriately rewarded) at the other, with innate entrepreneurism occupying the middle.
CBRE GMM reaches final close on Asia real estate fund
The investment arm of global real estate advisor CBRE has announced a final close on the Asia Alpha Plus III (AAP III) Fund of $236 million.
OMM’s Collins joins Dechert, eyes new phase in Asia spin-outs
Dean Collins, formerly partner and head of the Asia fund formation practice at O’Melveny & Myers (OMM), has joined Dechert as managing partner of the firm’s newly-opened Singapore office.
India VC Reservoir reaches final close on maiden fund
Indian early-stage investor Reservoir Investment Managers has reached a final close on its maiden fund, Exfinity Technology Fund - Series I (ETF-I) at INR1.25 billion ($20 million).
Line backs Japan's Gumi, launches $100m developer fund
Messaging app start-up Line Corp. has agreed to acquire a less than 10% stake in Gumi, a VC-backed Japanese game developer. The exact size and value of the deal is still under negotiation.
South Korea's NPS commits $375m to Hamilton Lane co-invest fund
South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS) is committing KRW400 billion ($375 million) to Hamilton Lane's latest co-investment fund - Hamilton Lane Co-Investment Fund III.