Regions
EQT buys stake in Chinese wallpaper brand
EQT has acquired a 40% stake in Shanghai Artwall Environmental Technology, a Chinese wallpaper manufacturer, from the company’s founders for an undisclosed sum. Red Star Macalline, a domestic home furnishings retailer, also participated as a minority...
TEPCO invests in PE-backed Vietnam hydro project
Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has invested in a Vietnam hydropower project in which Nexif Energy, a Southeast Asia-focused energy investment platform backed by Denham Capital, owns a majority stake.
Sequoia China, ZhenFund launch entrepreneur club
Sequoia China Capital and ZhenFund have announced plans to launch a non-profit community dedicated to providing training courses and resources to Chinese entrepreneurs.
Malaysia to invest $478m in PE, VC matching scheme
The Malaysian government will allocate MYR2 billion ($478 million) to a co-investment scheme that will match investments made in the country by private equity and venture capital funds.
Q&A: Hong Kong Monetary Authority's Clara Chan
Clara Chan, CIO for private markets at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, discusses ever-larger pan-Asian funds, approaches to co-investment, addressing economic volatility, and the evolving GP-LP relationship
Operational value-add: Active duty
VCs are under pressure to improve operational capacity as competition heats up in Asia’s start-up ecosystems. Methodologies filtering over from the US are finding both disciples and skeptics
Australasia PE outlook: Return of the take-private
Large-cap GPs are setting their sights on listed companies, with healthcare, education and technology top of the list
L Catterton, Mitsui invest in Japanese eyewear retailer
L Catterton Asia has made its first investment in Japan, partnering Mitsui & Co. Principal Investments (MCPI) to support local eyewear retailer Owndays.
Quadrant-backed APM acquires UK-based WD Services
Advanced Personnel Management (APM), an Australian disability services provider purchased by Quadrant Private Equity last year, has acquired UK-based employment program operator WD Services.
Alibaba, Line invest Taiwan's KKday
Alibaba Group and Line Corporation have led an extended Series B round of undisclosed size for KKday, a Taiwan-based travel services company backed by a number of venture capital firms.
China’s LightInTheBox to acquire VC-backed Ezbuy
Chinese online retailer LightInTheBox has agreed to acquire Southeast Asian e-commerce operator Ezbuy for $85.55 million through a share swap.
Colinton, AustralianSuper, Myer buy stake in AMA
Colinton Capital, a middle market private equity firm established by Simon Moore, formerly Australia head at The Carlyle Group, has participated in a A$68.6 million ($49.7 million) investment in automobile aftercare services provider AMA Group.
Operational value-add: Sweat equity
As Asian GPs trial a range of operational value-add strategies with an eye on shifting market dynamics, they are discovering that helping portfolio companies requires self-inspection
China PE outlook: End of the party
Growth stage technology deals have retained a strong following in 2018, but elsewhere in Chinese private equity the mood is more somber
Japan’s TEPCO invests in PE-backed Electrify
Electrify, a Singapore-based energy marketplace based on blockchain technology and backed by Japan’s Global Brain, has raised an investment of undisclosed size from TEPCO Frontier Partners, an incubator sponsored by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).
Intel Capital backs China healthcare AI business
Intel Capital has led an investment of undisclosed size in Huiyi Huiying, a Chinese medical imaging technology developer that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
China B2B home decoration materials platform gets Series A
Zhangshangfucai, a Chinese online B2B platform for sourcing home decoration materials, has raised $8 million in Series A funding led by ZhenFund.
India PE outlook: Momentary frights
Investors see potential in India as valuation concerns ease, but exits and the macro picture present challenges in the short term
Operational value-add: Sign of the times
Budding interest in operational value-add marks a new level of maturity in Asian private equity. Trial-and-error experimentation has progressed slower than the macro motivators
BASF venture unit backs China 3D printing player
Germany’s BASF Venture Capital has agreed its first direct investment in China with a commitment of undisclosed size to 3D printing company Prismlab.
Jungle co-leads $29m round for UK AI developer
Jungle Ventures has joined UK-based venture capital firm Lakestar to lead a $29 million Series A round for Engineer.ai, a developer of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled software development tools.
Q&A: Warburg Pincus' Chip Kaye
Chip Kaye, co-CEO of Warburg Pincus, discusses market fluctuations, global dislocation, expanding into Southeast Asia, raising a companion fund for China, and innovation in the secondaries space
TRG agrees sale of Korean fried chicken business BHC
The Rohatyn Group (TRG) has agreed to exit BHC Group, a South Korean fried chicken restaurant franchisor, by selling the business back to its founder.
China's H Capital targets $700m for fifth fund
China-focused venture capital firm H Capital, founded by former Tiger Global managing partner Xiaohong Chen, is targeting $700 million for its fifth vehicle, according to a regulatory filing.