Greater China
PE-backed SciClone achieves $1.6b market cap on HK re-listing
SciClone Pharmaceuticals, a Chinese drug developer privatized by a PE consortium at a valuation of $605 million in 2017, has relisted in Hong Kong and ended its first day of trading with a market capitalization of HK$12.7 billion ($1.64 billion).
Chinese GPU chip designer raises $186m
Iluvatar CoreX, a Shanghai-based computing chip designer has raised RMB1.2 billion ($186 million) in Series C funding led by Cedarlake Capital and Centurium Capital.
Deal focus: ANE Logistics targets attractive middle
China’s less-than-truckload logistics market, which sits in between express couriers and big truck operators, is ripe for consolidation. GPs have identified their favored players
Affinity adds to China team
Affinity Equity Partners has recruited Sam Sun, previously a partner at Sequoia Capital, as a managing director based in Beijing.
GPs & SPACs: Filthy lucre?
The global SPAC craze is percolating into Asia, with private equity firms among the sponsors. LPs aren’t necessarily comfortable with the development, but there’s only so much they can do about it
China VCs back See Fund's debut vehicle
See Fund, an investment firm established by the founder of Chinese artificial intelligence chip start-up DeePhi Technology, has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) for its debut fund.
VCs commit $50m to China's Medilink Therapeutics
Suzhou Medilink Therapeutics, a Chinese biotech company specializing in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) commonly used as targeted therapies for treating cancer, has raised $50 million in Series A funding across two tranches.
OrbiMed raises $800m for Asia life sciences fund
OrbiMed has closed its latest Asia life sciences fund, which primarily invests in China and India, with $800 million in commitments.
China cloud IoT provider Tuya files for US IPO
Tuya, a Chinese software platform for internet-of-things (IoT) systems that mainly offers platform-as-a-service (PaaS) products is pursuing a US IPO.
ESG & operations: Compliance corner
Few mid-market private equity firms in Asia have dedicated ESG personnel and this is not necessarily an obstacle to progress. As compliance and reporting burdens increase, the status quo may change
Lunar buys majority stake in Hong Kong IVF business
Chinese middle-market buyout firm Lunar has agreed to acquire a women’s health and IVF business from Mason Group, a Hong Kong conglomerate with interests in financial services and healthcare, for HK$268 million ($34.5 million).
Hillhouse launches China sports retail JV with US-based Fanatics
Hillhouse Capital has established a China joint venture with Fanatics, a US-based sports retailer that specializes in licensed sports apparel.
China EV battery maker raises $542m Series A
Svolt Energy Technology, formerly the battery business unit of Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor, has raised a RMB3.5 billion ($542 million) Series A round featuring a string of government-linked investors.
VCs flock to Chinese chip designer Moore Threads
Moore Threads, a Chinese chip designer established as recently as last October by a team from Nvidia, has closed two funding rounds amounting to several billion renminbi.
FountainVest buys China logistics business
FountainVest Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in China-based CJ Rokin Logistics from Korea’s CJ Logistics for KRW733.8 billion ($661.3 million).
China's WuXi Diagnostics raises $150m
WuXi Diagnostics, a joint venture China diagnostics business set up by Hong Kong-listed pharmaceutical outsourcing giant WuXi AppTec and US-based Mayo Clinic has completed a $150 million Series B funding round.
Q&A: Affirma Capital's Ivo Philipps
Affirma Capital came into being 18 months ago as Standard Chartered’s private equity team spun out with most of the remaining balance sheet assets. COO Ivo Philipps explains the middle and back office transition
China's Fresh Capital hits $93m first close on Fund II
Fresh Capital, a Shanghai-based venture capital firm, has reached a first close of RMB600 million ($93 million) on its second renminbi-denominated fund.
VC-backed Appier files for Japan IPO
Appier, a Taiwan-based advertising technology provider, has filed for a JPY26.4 billion ($250 million) Japan IPO. It sets up exits for several VC investors, including Sequoia Capital.
Fund focus: LPs endorse Ocean Link's China tourism, tech thesis
Ocean Link has raised $580 million for a second fund targeting China travel, tourism and consumer technology assets, but the firm believes co-investment could take aggregate deployment to $1.4 billion
China's Clover Biopharmaceuticals gets $230m Series C
Chengdu-based Clover Biopharmaceuticals has raised $230 million in Series C funding led by GL Ventures and Temasek Holdings. Oceanpine Capital, OrbiMed, and Delos Capital all re-upped.
Primavera-led consortium takes control of Zhaopin
A consortium led by Primavera Capital has agreed to acquire a controlling position in Chinese recruitment website Zhaopin at an implied valuation of A$2.2 billion ($1.7 billion).
China's AnchorDx completes $40m Series C
AnchorDx, a China-based medical technology developer focused on DNA sequencing and diagnostics, has raised a $40 million Series C round led by OrbiMed and WuXi Huiying Investment.
COOs in Asia private equity: Horses for courses
The COO role is gradually becoming more prevalent in Asian private equity, but GPs struggle to find the right combination of financial skills and business acumen. The optimal candidate is often internal