Regions
Japan fundraising: Regional banks revisited
Japan’s regional banks have risen from a low base to become a meaningful LP constituency for local middle-market managers. Their staying power might be a function of broader industry consolidation
Japan digitization: Easy targets, hard to hit
Japan’s massive mid-sized business sector is still trading in its fax machines for the cloud, sometimes willingly, sometimes begrudgingly. PE’s help is most needed in terms of mindset
Fund focus: Vitalbridge plays it safe
The China-based venture capital firm declined to increase its Fund II hard cap as regulatory uncertainty mounted. It now has $275 million in dry powder earmarked for services digitalization
Deal focus: Whale takes a bite of big data
China-focused digital marketing start-up Whale has secured $50 million in Series B funding to hone a product offering that helps companies optimize customer engagement by analyzing traffic flows
Hitachi sells radiation devices business to Nippon Mirae Capital
Hitachi has agreed to sell its Japan-based radiation measurement devices and industrial x-ray CT devices businesses to local private equity firm Nippon Mirae Capital.
MBK agrees $1b China theme park deal
MBK Partners has agreed to buy five ocean theme parks in China – four operational and one under construction – from Hong Kong-listed Haichang Ocean Park Holdings for RMB6.53 billion ($1.01 billion).
China's Trustar buys European EV charging specialist
Trustar Capital, formerly known as CITIC Capital Partners, has invested an undisclosed sum in Intramco, a Europe-based manufacturer of components used in electric vehicle (EV) charging.
China's Vitalbridge closes Fund II at $275m
Vitalbridge Capital, a China-based venture capital firm that spun out from Trustbridge Partners, has raised $275 million for its second US dollar-denominated fund.
WestBridge leads $50m round for India's Fraazo
WestBridge Capital has led a $50 million round, comprised of a mix of debt and equity, for direct-to-consumer fresh produce delivery service Fraazo.
Hahn & Co's K Car raises $285m in Korean IPO
K Car, a Korean automotive marketplace created by Hahn & Company through the merger of SK Encar and Joy Rent a Car, has raised KRW336.6 billion ($285 million) in a domestic IPO.
PE-backed Abbisko trades up after $225m Hong Kong IPO
China-based oncology drug developer Abbisko Therapeutics gained nearly 10% on its Hong Kong trading debut following a HK$1.75 billion ($225 million) IPO.
Hillhouse upsizes growth fund to $5.2b
Hillhouse Investment, the buyout and growth capital unit of Asia-focused Hillhouse Group, has raised $5.2 billion for a growth equity fund, more than twice the original target.
Norwest invests $60m in India mattress brand
Silicon Valley-based Norwest Venture Partners has invested $60 million in Indian mattress brand Duroflex.
LeapFrog leads $250m round for India's CarDekho
LeapFrog Investments has led a $250 million Series E round - described as a pre-IPO round - for Indian online auto marketplace CarDekho at a valuation of $1.2 billion.
China digital marketing platform gets $50m Series B
Whale, a China-focused digital marketing platform, has raised a Series B round of $50 million led by Temasek Holdings. Existing investors Nio Capital, Linear Capital, and Alpha Startups Fund re-upped.
Anchor raises $1.6b for Korea, North Asia
Anchor Equity Partners has closed its fourth Korea and North Asia-focused fund with $1.6 billion in commitments after approximately five months in the market.
Rise Climate, ADQ commit $994m to Tata Motors EV unit
TPG Rise Climate, a climate-focused strategy under TPG’s global impact investment platform, has agreed to invest INR75 billion ($994 million) in the electric vehicle (EV) unit of India’s Tata Motors.
India digital banking player Open raises $100m
Temasek Holdings has led a $100 million Series C round for Indian online banking company Open Financial Technologies with support from Google.
Lightspeed joins $125m round for India virtual events platform
Lightspeed Venture Partners has joined a $125 million Series B round for India-based virtual events platform Hubilo.
3Q analysis: India advances
India technology investment continues to ramp up as China flatlines; international payments M&A drives Asia trade sale revival, but IPOs slump; fundraising remains slow
Q&A: Glow Capital Partners' Justin Ryan
Having teamed up with the founder of Adore Beauty to launch Glow Capital Partners, Justin Ryan discusses life after Quadrant Private Equity, growth-stage investment in Australia, and gender balance
Deal focus: Digital brokerage Ajaib finds the right fit
Ajaib grew from nothing to become Indonesia’s fifth-largest stockbroker by volume in the space of six months. The newly appointed unicorn is now raising capital just as quickly
Fund focus: Yunqi reaffirms its enterprise focus
Yunqi Partners was the first Chinese GP dedicated to enterprise services and now claims to be the largest early-stage investor in the space. SaaS, in various forms, will account for the bulk of Fund III