Greater China
SoftBank leads Series A for China cashier-less vendor
SoftBank Ventures Asia (SBVA) has led a CNY 300m (USD 47m) Series A for Feng1, a China-based cashier-less vendor start-up. CICC Capital and Shenzhen Capital Group also participated.
Legend leads $63m round for China's Hoteam Software
Legend Capital has led a CNY 400m (USD 63m) Series C round for Chinese industrial software supplier Hoteam Software
Oriza raises $660m for China semiconductor fund
Oriza Puhua, a China semiconductor-focused strategy under Oriza Holdings, has raised CNY 4.2bn (USD 660m) for its third renminbi-denominated fund.
AVCJ Awards 2021: Special Achievement: Weijian Shan
Weijian Shan, CEO of PAG, discusses rising valuations, the implications of China’s regulatory crackdown, heightened sensitivity around social responsibility, and escalating fund sizes
AVCJ Awards 2021: Fundraising of the Year - Venture Capital: 5Y Capital
5Y Capital’s history encompasses early bets on change across mobile internet, smart cars, and biotech in China. The VC firm remains committed to challenging consensus views
Asia agglomeration: Strength in numbers?
PE-backed agglomeration platforms are looking to buy up consumer brands in Asia with a view to leveraging the might of the collective. The model requires discipline in selection and execution
Deal focus: Fourier brings robotics to rehab
China-based Fourier will use its USD 63m Series D round to support an evolution of its business model from manufacturing rehabilitation robots to providing end-to-end treatment services
China's Taichi Graphics raises $50m
Taichi Graphics, a China-based 3D digital content creation platform has raised a USD 50m Series A led by Source Code Capital, GGV Capital and BAI. Existing investor Sequoia Capital China re-upped.
Gobi-managed Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund hits first close
Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund II, a Greater Bay Area-focused vehicle managed by Gobi Partners, reached a first close of USD 100m at the end of June 2021 and total commitments now stand at USD 120m.
LionRock launches Hong Kong SPAC
LionRock Capital, an Asian private equity firm that invests in global consumer brands with a China growth angle, is among the first group of sponsors launching special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in Hong Kong.
China second-hand luxury goods platform Ponhu raises $45m
Ponhu, a China-based second-hand goods trading platform specialising in the luxury segment, has raised USD 45m in an extended Series C round led by Hedgestone Capital.
Nestle buys into DCP-backed plant-based protein provider
Orgain, a US plant-based nutrition business backed by China’s DCP Capital Partners, has agreed to sell a majority stake to Nestle. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.
Fund focus: Asia Alternatives rides out chaos
Regulatory tumult in China has not materially shaken LP faith in Asia Alternatives or the fund-of-fund manager’s commitment to China – but an increased India allocation is likely in the latest vintage
Sinovation's AI solutions business completes $151m HK IPO
AInnovation, a China-based artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider incubated by Sinovation Ventures, traded down on its Hong Kong debut following a HKD 1.18bn (USD 151m）IPO.
PE-backed Country Style Cooking, Tuhu file for HK listings
Chinese restaurant chain Country Style Cooking (CSC), which was de-listed in the US in 2015, and automotive after-sales service platform Tuhu, which was previously targeting a New York offering, have both filed for IPOs in Hong Kong.
CR Capital joins Series E for China's Newlinks
CR Capital Management, an investment arm of China Resources Group, is backing Newlink Group, operator of a platform that helps drivers locate the best value gas stations and charging piles, as part of the company's Series E round.
Longreach expands partner group to six - update
North Asia-focused mid-market buyout firm The Longreach Group has promoted Keitaro Tsuda, Sonny Chan, and Ken Law to partner, expanding its leadership group to six.
Vision Fund backs China healthcare robotics player
Fourier Intelligence, a Shanghai-based medical technology start-up that focuses on rehabilitation robots, has raised CNY 400m (USD 63m) in Series D funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2.
Centurium takes control of China's Luckin Coffee
Centurium Capital is now the controlling shareholder in Luckin Coffee, having teamed up with IDG Capital and Ares SSG to take out interests formerly owned by executives of the scandal-hit Chinese coffee shop chain.
China raw egg brand Yellow Swan raises $95m - update
Yellow Swan, a China-based edible raw egg producer incubated by Proterra Investment Partners, has raised CNY 600m (USD 95m) across two tranches.
EQT exits Hong Kong ESG business Elevate
EQT has sold Elevate, a Hong Kong-based environment, social, and governance (ESG) and supply chain services provider it has backed since 2016, to LRQA, a larger peer in the assurance space.
Asia Alternatives fund-of-funds closes on $2b
Asia Alternatives has reached a final close of USD 2bn for its sixth private equity fund-of-funds and several related vehicles. It is the firm’s largest raise since its inception in 2015.
China IPOs: Offshore angst
Private equity exit timelines were thrown into disarray last year when US IPOs abruptly stopped. Regulators have offered some clarity, but investors are unsure when – or if – the magic will return
Deal focus: Foundation eyes Bright future
In leading a USD 82m cross-currency restructuring of a consumer-tech portfolio managed by China’s Bright Capital, Foundation Private Equity opted for a structure that is unusual yet prioritises alignment