Region
China gas station location platform Newlink raises $100m
Newlink Group, operator of a platform that helps drivers in China locate the best value gas stations, has raised $100 million in funding led by CMB International. Other investors include Hongtai Capital, Joy Capital and Nio Capital.
VI Group, SIG lead $15m round for Vietnam's Elsa
Vietnam-based English language education app operator Elsa has raised a $15 million Series B round co-led by local private equity firm VI Group and SIG.
Fund focus: Japan's T Capital closes Fund VI at hard cap
Having completed its spin-out from Tokio Marine, T Capital Partners tapped overseas LPs for the first time for its sixth fund. They account for 40% of the JPY81 billion ($773 million) corpus
CLSA partially exits Japan medical IT provider
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has partially exited its position in NHOSA Corporation, a Japanese IT provider for dental clinics and medical institutions.
Allen & Overy strengthens Asia fund formation capabilities
Allen & Overy has recruited James Ford from O’Melveny & Myers as a partner in its Asia Pacific funds and asset management group. He continues to be based in Hong Kong.
Deal focus: iStox finds firmer footing
A clutch of Japanese investors has validated iStox’s blockchain-enabled digital securities marketplace. Now the Singapore-based start-up is taking the idea to new markets
AVCJ Awards 2020: Deal of the Year - Large Cap: Jio Platforms
Jio Platforms has attracted an array of global investors as its digital ecosystem designs come into focus. L Catterton Asia adds consumer clout to the infrastructural proceedings
China's Didi raises $300m for autonomous driving unit
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing has raised $300 million for its autonomous driving unit, with IDG Capital taking the lead.
Tencent backs China enterprise training start-up
Yunxuetang, a Chinese online corporate training services provider, has raised more than $100 million in the first tranche of Series E round led by Tencent Holdings.
EQT launches in Japan as part of regional buildout
EQT has formally entered the Japan market – striking a partnership with Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) to aid its local penetration – as part of a broader plan to increase its Asia private equity exposure.
Profile: Sarmayacar's Rabeel Warraich
Rabeel Warraich swapped the stability of GIC for the untested waters of early-stage investment in Pakistan. With Sarmayacar about to close the country’s first VC fund, the gamble appears to be paying off
Prosus Ventures appoints head of Southeast Asia
Prosus Ventures, formerly a VC arm of South African conglomerate Naspers, has engaged Sachin Bhanot as its Singapore-based head of Southeast Asia.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Exit of the Year - Mid Cap: EMC Holdings
Taking full ownership of EMC Holdings wasn’t on Affirma Capital’s agenda, but it performed a successful pivot when the business started moving in the wrong direction
GGV closes latest US dollar funds at $2.5b
GGV Capital has closed its latest set of US dollar-denominated funds with $2.52 billion in aggregate commitments. It represents the largest fundraising since the firm’s inception in 2000.
Longreach sells Japanese jeweler to Integral
The Longreach Group has exited Primo Japan to Integral Corporation for an undisclosed sum. This makes Integral the jewelry retailer’s fourth consecutive private equity owner.
New Zealand's Oriens Capital acquires biosecurity specialist
New Zealand private equity firm Oriens Capital has agreed to acquire a 70% position in IVS Group, a local biosecurity services specialist, for an undisclosed sum.
China chip designer Memsic raises $155m
Memsic, a Chinese semiconductor design company that was privatized with support from IDG Capital in 2013, has raised more than RMB1 billion ($155 million) led by an industry fund under Hangzhou Fortuna Investment Management.
Deal focus: Olympus credit team spins out, gets OMERS backing
Olympus Capital Credit has rebranded as Orion Capital Asia, with OMERS replacing Olympus as the firm’s equity partner. The strategy is unchanged, with COVID-19 helping to drive deal flow
AVCJ Awards 2020: Fundraising of the Year - Large Cap: The Carlyle Group
With twice as much dry powder as in its previous Japan vintage, The Carlyle group expects mega-deals and private equity participation to increase
General Atlantic backs Indonesia biotech developer
General Atlantic has invested $55 million in Kalbe Genexine Biologics, an Indonesia-based drug developer focusing on Southeast Asia.
Aspex leads $200m Series E for Hong Kong's Klook
Aspex Management has led a $200 million Series E round for Klook as the Hong Kong travel app pivots to domestic holiday services during a freeze in international tourism.
Carlyle-backed consortium sweetens offer for Japan Asia Group
The Carlyle Group and the chairman of Japan Asia Group (JAG) have doubled the size of their tender offer for the Tokyo-listed company following pressure from an activist investor. The chairman is contributing most of the additional equity.
China online education: Class war
K-12 online education in China is a battle for market share that only the largest players can afford to play. Investors can either get comfortable with high-cash-burn or look for niche exposure
CVC recruits EQT's Asia mid-market head
Martin Mok has joined CVC Capital Partners as a Hong Kong-based senior managing director after spending nearly 20 years with EQT.