Fundraising
Singapore GP launches $500m Japan-Israel tech fund
Singapore private equity firm Chartered Group has teamed up with Israel’s Ministry of Defense to launch a Japan-Israel cross-border technology fund targeting $500 million.
Risa targets $139m for Japan corporate solutions fund
Risa Partners, a Japanese mid-size investment bank controlled by a subsidiary of NEC Corporation, has launched its fifth corporate solutions fund with a target of JPY15 billion ($139.5 million).
Lightspeed completes $4b global fundraising effort
Lightspeed Venture Partners has raised $4 billion across early and growth-stage funds, including $1.5 billion for an opportunity fund that will support breakout companies in global markets such as China, India and Southeast Asia.
Investcorp achieves $275m first close for Asia food fund
Investcorp has achieved a $275 million first close for an Asia food fund, a joint venture that also involves China Resources and Fung Strategic Holdings.
Malaysia's COPE launches COVID-19 support program
Malaysia’s COPE Private Equity has set up a MYR180 million ($41.5 million) investment program dedicated to supporting companies struggling with business stresses related to COVID-19.
Japan's Hiroshima Venture launches start-up, SME fund
Japan’s Hiroshima Venture Capital has established a JPY1 billion ($9.3 million) fund that will invest in local start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
LPs worried about denominator effect as capital calls rise - survey
LPs are receiving more capital calls from private equity firms following the coronavirus outbreak, with the concurrent drop in public market valuations prompting concerns about overallocation to the asset class, according to a survey by the Institutional...
Japan's Coral launches $25m growth fund
Coral Capital, formerly known as 500 Startups Japan, has set up a JPY2.7 billion ($25 million) growth fund to help top-performing portfolio companies navigate the COVID-19 downturn.
1Q analysis: Impact winter
As the coronavirus outbreak escalated into a global pandemic, what was a problem for China investors quickly spread into other geographies. Fundraising, investment and exits inevitably took a hit
CDH raises $1.1b for China's largest mezzanine fund
CDH Investments has closed its fifth China mezzanine fund at RMB8 billion ($1.1 billion). It is the largest vehicle of its kind ever raised solely for deployment in the country.
Qiming defies coronavirus to close seventh China fund at $1.1b
Qiming Venture Partners has closed its seventh US dollar-denominated China fund at $1.1 billion following an approximately two-month process that involved a last-minute relocation of on-site due diligence from Shanghai to San Francisco.
Coronavirus & capital calls: Time to draw?
With GPs and LPs placing a premium on liquidity, there is more scrutiny of capital call processes. Some managers are pushing for changes to documentation, but will investors relent?
Singapore's Quest Ventures achieves first close for new fund
Quest Ventures, a Singapore-headquartered venture capital firm, has achieved the first close for a new fund. The target for the vehicle is $50 million.
Asia PE investment falls to six-year low in first quarter
Private equity fundraising, investment and exits all fell to multi-year lows in the first quarter of 2020 as the economic fallout from coronavirus outbreak forced investors to focus on existing portfolio exposure and made them wary of making new commitments....
Roc Partners hits $120m third close on fourth Asia fund
Australia-based private equity firm Roc Partners has reached a third close of $120.1 million for its fourth Asia Pacific fund-of-funds.
CVC closes fifth Asia fund at $4.5b
CVC Capital Partners has closed its fifth Asia fund at the hard cap of $4.5 billion. The firm said the step up from $3.5 billion for Fund IV reflects an expansion in its regional investment capabilities.
TNB Aura launches COVID-19 special situations fund
Singapore VC firm TNB Aura has launched an open-ended special situations fund that will support early-stage start-ups under financial pressure related to COVID-19.
Fund focus: Carlyle stokes Japan bullishness
Expecting to see a surge in deal flow driven by divestments and succession planning situations, The Carlyle Group has bulked up to $2.3 billion for its latest Japan fund
China LP defaults: Battle of wills
A protracted legal dispute between a cross-border private equity firm and a Chinese investor is a reminder of the difficulties that can arise over fund defaults. Negotiation is always the preferred course of action
Unicorn India Ventures reaches first close on second fund
Unicorn India Ventures, a Mumbai-headquartered seed investor, has achieved a first close of INR900 million ($11.9 million) on its second venture capital fund.
China Renaissance looks for opportunities amid turbulence
China Renaissance ended 2019 holding RMB7.2 billion ($1 billion) in dry powder across its latest flagship renminbi and US dollar-denominated funds, with the firm noting that “great investment windows typically surface during turbulent times.”
Vickers raises $200m for sixth VC fund
Singapore-based Vickers Venture Partners has confirmed a $200 million first close on its sixth global fund, which is targeting $500 million.
Carlyle raises $2.3b for fourth Japan buyout fund
The Carlyle Group has raised JPY258 billion ($2.3 billion) for its fourth Japan buyout fund. The vehicle is more than twice the size of its predecessor, which closed at JPY119.5 billion in 2015.
Fund focus: Quona doubles down on financial inclusion
Financial technology player Quona's $203 million second fund is expected to feature more early-stage rounds, more 'adjacency' plays in previously inaccessible segments, and more start-ups outside of India and Indonesia