North America
Q&A: Pomona Capital's Michael Granoff
Michael Granoff, founder and CEO of Pomona Capital, discusses raising capital from Asian LPs, how GPs can be differentiated in a crowded secondaries market, and why he’s not keen on fund restructurings
Deal focus: India AI player Uniphore eyes post-call center world
Fresh from raising a $51 million Series C round, Uniphore's founder argues that artificial intelligence will become as much about quality of engagement as back-end efficiency
China's Ping An joins $72m round for US AI player
China’s Ping An Insurance has co-led a $72.5 million Series D round alongside Goldman Sachs for US artificial intelligence (AI) developer H2O with a view to expanding its Asian operations.
Sovereign investors and technology: Smart nations
Conservative sovereign wealth investors are increasingly comfortable making direct commitments to venture-oriented technology companies. The strategy appears to suit them but remains to be validated
WeWork IPO reveals extent of global scaling risk
WeWork, a US co-working space provider pursuing an aggressive Asia expansion with the backing of several PE investors, revealed a number of risks associated with rapid global growth in a filing for its US IPO.
India, US-based speech AI player Uniphore raises $51m
Asian VCs have backed a $51 million Series C round for Uniphore, an India and US-based artificial intelligence (AI) developer focused on speech recognition.
Women on corporate boards: Finding a voice
Investor pressure and industry lobbying has contributed to a rise in female representation on corporate boards. While quotas work for some, they aren’t necessarily the silver bullet
Hong Kong’s AMTD trades up after US IPO
Shares in AMTD International, a PE-backed division of Hong Kong financial advisor AMTD Group, traded as much as 28% above initial pricing following a $174 million IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.
Carbon recycling specialist raises $72m Series E
Novo Holdings, a Danish venture and growth equity investor focused on life sciences, has provided $72 million in Series E funding to LanzaTech, a US carbon recycling specialist with a significant Asia presence.
Q&A: CalSTRS' Chris Ailman
Chris Ailman, CIO of California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), discusses why – and how – private equity managers should be placing greater emphasis on diversity
EDBI joins $89m round for US agtech player Inari
EDBI, the investment arm of Singapore’s Economic Development Board, has joined an $89 million Series C round for US agricultural technology developer Inari.
Cross-border e-commerce player Wish gets Series H
Wish, a US-based cross-border e-commerce app backed by several Asian investors, has achieved a valuation of $11.2 billion following a Series H round led by General Atlantic.
Deal focus: Jollibee circles as Coffee Bean booms in Asia
The Philippines’ Jollibee Foods is set to buy US cafe chain The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to continue a massive Asian expansion effort. Exiting investor CDIB Capital attests to the opportunity set
XIO Group agrees JD Power sale to Thoma Bravo
XIO Group, a cross-border PE firm established by several Asia-based investment professionals, has agreed to sell market research business J.D. Power to technology-focused GP Thoma Bravo.
Norwest leads $40m Series C for India's MindTickle
Norwest Venture Partners has led a $40 million Series C round for MindTickle, an online sales enablement platform based in India and the US.
KKR prepares for fundraising spree
KKR expects to begin raising its fourth Asian fund within the next 18 months as its three largest vehicles globally all come back to market.
PE investors exit The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to Jollibee
Advent International, CDIB Capital and Mirae Asset Private Equity are set to exit US-based cafe chain The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf after the Philippines’ Jollibee Foods agreed to pay $350 million for the company.
Global credit: Speed or scale?
The winners from a widely anticipated shakeout in global credit markets will be defined by different qualities. Direct lenders expect size to be a decisive factor, while distress players prioritize nimbleness
China VC and US regulation: Defensive positions
Chinese venture capital firms and strategic investors have found their path to US tech start-ups barred by new regulations. It is possible to find a way around, but it requires compromise
US-India cross-border: Taking the leap
US-India cross-border deals present a tempting opportunity for Indian GPs, but managing investments in another market requires careful use of resources and a level of commitment that not all firms can match
China-US decoupling: Silicon curtain
Evidence is mounting that US and Chinese ecosystems for advanced technologies are careening toward an antagonistic decoupling. Investors are philosophical and pragmatic
China-US trade: Suboptimal outcomes
The China-US trade war appears set to enter new territory as legislators contemplate financial sector clampdowns including stock exchange listing restrictions. Investors are bracing for the worst
China GPs back US health-tech player in $22m Asia push
China’s 6 Dimensions Capital and Yonghua Capital have joined a $22 million Series C round for US-based Ultivue that will help the medical technology developer expand into Asia.
Singapore's PE-backed Trax secures US retail tech bolt-on
Trax, a Singapore-based developer of retail computer vision and analytics solutions with several private equity backers, has acquired US-based shopping rewards app developer Shopkick for an undisclosed amount.
