Industry
China facilities management: Cleaning up
Private equity investors are turning their attention to China’s outsourced facilities management market, recognizing the opportunities presented by under-penetration and fragmentation
CDC Group backs India's Pi Ventures
CDC Group has committed $6 million to a fund managed by Pi Ventures, an Indian firm focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and internet-of-things (IoT).
Sequoia India closes sixth fund at $695m
Sequoia Capital India has closed its sixth fund at $695 million, surpassing a target range of $625-675 million.
Singapore's Qualgro reaches $60m first close on second fund
Qualgro, a Southeast Asia and Australasia-focused VC firm that spun out from Singapore asset manager Gordian Capital, has secured a first close of $60 million on its second fund.
Los Angeles Fire & Police Pensions backs Baring Asia fund
Los Angeles Fire & Police Pensions (LAFPP) has committed $25 million to Baring Private Equity Asia’s seventh pan-regional fund. It invested the same amount in the firm’s previous two vehicles.
Singapore's Tin Men targets $100m for debut fund
Tin Men Capital, a Southeast Asia-focused VC firm founded earlier this year, is targeting $100 million for its debut fund. The GP has committed $6.9 million to Overdrive IOT and Globaltix, marking its first two investments.
Matrix raises $300m for third India fund
Matrix Partners has raised $300 million for its third India-focused venture capital fund, which will back companies in sectors including consumer and enterprise technology and financial technology.
Y Combinator hires ex-Baidu COO to lead China business
Silicon Valley-based seed-stage accelerator Y Combinator (YC) has chosen Qi Lu, the former group president and COO of search giant Baidu, as the founding CEO of its China branch, YC China.
Golden Equator launches Brunei accelerator
Singapore’s Golden Equator has launched an accelerator in Brunei aimed at helping local small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) expand across Southeast Asia.
Japan's Line launches $10m token fund in Korea
Japan’s Line Corporation has set up a $10 million fund via a Korean subsidiary that will make token investments in early-stage blockchain start-ups.
Indian e-commerce: Tipping the scales
India’s new e-commerce policy seeks to provide clarity for all industry participants, but many stakeholders are wary that the government plans to tilt the playing field against overseas players
Data infrastructure: Steel and thin air
Wrongly dismissed as a mere communications upgrade, data infrastructure is a new asset sub-class unto itself. A growing field of investors is recognizing the evolving opportunity set
GGV seeks $1.9b for new venture funds
Sino-US venture capital firm GGV Capital is targeting $1.88 billion for its latest fund, which like its previous fund is grouped into four separate vehicles.
Openspace closes second SE Asia VC fund at $135m
Southeast Asia-focused VC firm Openspace Ventures – best known for being the first institutional investor in Indonesian ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek – has closed its second fund at the hard cap of $135 million.
Crescendo hits $398m hard cap on second Korea fund
Crescendo Equity Partners, a mid-market Korean GP that concentrates on the industrial technology space, has closed its second fund at the hard cap of KRW450 billion ($398 million).
Golden Gate launches crypto, blockchain fund
Singapore’s Golden Gate Ventures has launched a cryptocurrency and blockchain fund in partnership with LuneX Ventures, a new firm established by Kenrick Drijkoningen (pictured), Golden Gate’s former head of growth.
India's ASK Investment files for IPO
Indian asset and wealth management firm ASK Investment Managers, which operates private equity fund ASK Pravi as a joint venture with Pravi Capital, has filed for a domestic IPO.
Malaysia's Khazanah names EPF CEO as managing director
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has appointed Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, CEO of state-controlled Employees Provident Fund (EPF), as its new managing director.
Yunfeng records $2.5b final close on third China fund
Yunfeng Capital, a Chinese private equity firm established by Jack Ma and David Yu, founders of Alibaba Group and Target Media, respectively, has raised $2.5 billion for its third US dollar-denominated fund.
Singapore's Keppel to launch Australia retail investment fund
Keppel Capital, the asset management arm of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation, has partnered with Australia-listed property developer Vicinity Centres to launch an investment fund targeting assets in Australia’s retail sector.
Sailing, Sanpower-owned Brookstone files for bankruptcy
US specialty retailer Brookstone, which was acquired in 2014 by Sailing Capital and Chinese retail conglomerate Sanpower Group, has filed for bankruptcy again and will close its 102 retail stores located in shopping malls.
Australia's OneVentures launches $74m venture debt fund
Australia’s OneVentures has partnered with Israel-based Viola Credit to launch a A$100 million ($74 million) venture debt fund that is said to be the first vehicle of its kind in Australia.
Technology risk: Big brother
Advanced technologies experiencing rapid commercialization such as artificial intelligence will be subject to a range of social and regulatory risks. Investors must not ignore the debate on ethical deployment
BGH hires Blackstone Australia executive
BGH, the Australia and New Zealand-focused private equity firm set up by former TPG Capital Asia co-head Ben Gray, has hired Jonathan Chamberlain, a managing director at The Blackstone Group, as a partner.