North America
Rocket Lab to go public via SPAC merger
Rocket Lab, a US-based space technology company that operates primarily in New Zealand, as agreed to merge with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise valuation of $4.1 billion.
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
B Capital launches SPAC
B Capital Group, a US-based venture capital firm with a presence in Singapore and a significant Asia portfolio, is looking to raise $300 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
China's CITIC sells US dental business
CITIC Capital Partners has exited US-based dental business DDS Lab – the private equity firm’s first acquisition in the US as a lead investor – to RoundTable Healthcare Partners for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Asia Green Fund secures DuPont carve-out
Asia Green Fund reunited with the team at special situations investor BroadPeak Global for the $510 million acquisition of DuPont's clean energy unit. Driving expansion in China is now the priority
India SaaS: Global first
India’s enterprise software start-ups have traditionally ceded the spotlight to their consumer-facing peers, primarily because of their outlook – and their VC backers – are US-oriented. That is now changing
AVCJ Awards 2020: Special Achievement: Lip-Bu Tan
Recognized as one of the pioneers of venture capital in Asia, Walden International’s Lip-Bu Tan still gets a kick out of leveraging his years of experience to help nascent start-ups
Ravi Thakran's SPAC plans merger with aviation business
A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) launched by Ravi Thakran, formerly head of L Catterton’s Asia operation, plans to merge with Wheels Up – a US-based aviation business described as Uber for private jets – at a valuation of $2.1 billion.
Q&A: Office of New York City Comptroller's Wendy Garcia
Wendy Garcia, chief diversity officer for the Office of New York City Comptroller discusses her team’s diversity and inclusion objectives and what this means for GPs seeking allocations from city’s pension funds
Vista founder calls for investment in Asia tech infrastructure
Vista Equity Partners is keen to invest in Asia’s financial technology space, but founder Robert F. Smith stressed that governments must put in place the appropriate regulatory infrastructure.
Olympus-sponsored SPAC raises $130m
Olympus Capital has raised $130 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which it is sponsoring via its fifth pan-Asian fund.
Silver Lake raises $20b for global tech fund
Silver Lake has closed its sixth global buyout fund at the hard cap of $20 billion as the US tech investor exhibits a growing appetite for mega-deals in Asia. Its prior vintage raised $15 billion in 2017.
Ascendent founder sponsors SPAC targeting global deals
A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Liang Meng, founding managing partner of China’s Ascendent Capital Partners, has raised $300 million for global consumer technology investments.
Australia's VC-backed Xpansiv raises $40m pre-IPO round
Australia and US-based Xpansiv CBL, a VC-backed marketplace for clean commodities such as carbon offsets and renewable fuels, has raised $40 million with plans to list in Sydney this year.
Cathay closes second innovation fund $789m
Cathay Capital has raised EUR650 million ($789 million) for its second innovation fund, which supports start-ups in China, Europe, and North America.
China robotics player Flexiv gets $100m Series B
Flexiv, a China and US-based industrial robotics start-up specializing in machines that can adapt to unpredictable environments, has raised a $100 million Series B round featuring Gaorong Capital.
Jerry Yang positive on prospects for Taiwan VC - AVCJ Forum
Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang believes Taiwan “has all the raw materials” for a successful venture capital industry but warned that progress requires people and patience, the AVCJ Taiwan Forum heard.
LP interview: Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University has aggressively expanded its endowment program by ramping up its appetite for risk. Asian venture capital is playing a key role in this agenda
Cross-border e-commerce player Wish files for US IPO
Wish, a cross-border e-commerce platform that connects Chinese merchants who primarily sell products through domestic channels like Alibaba Group’s Taobao and Tmall with consumers in the US and Europe, has filed for a US IPO.
Asset allocation: So long, silo?
The total portfolio approach remains on the margins of asset management. Advocates of the model hope LPs will reconsider as they look for alpha beyond the areas where they normally find it
Q&A: British Columbia Investment's Jim Pittman
Jim Pittman, global head of private equity at British Columbia Investment Management, discusses the mechanics of building a co-investment heavy portfolio from Canada’s 12th largest urban center
Q&A: The Carlyle Group's Kewsong Lee
Kewsong Lee, CEO of The Carlyle Group, discusses the firm’s response to COVID-19, finding alpha in a low growth world, not allowing size to inhibit speed of action, and embracing work-from-home
TCDRS backs trio of Hillhouse funds
Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) has put $200 million towards Hillhouse Capital’s latest Asia fundraising effort, committing to three separate funds.
Profile: Jihoon Rim
Jihoon Rim has been a venture capitalist, CEO of one of Korea’s largest technology companies, and a US business school professor – in the space of a decade. He explains the appeal of new challenges
