Regions
Vietnam: Growth agenda
Comparisons with the dynamics in China a decade ago are often used to illustrate Vietnam's potential. The country may replicate some of its larger neighbor's success, but patience and reform remain paramount
Hony backs $7.8b EIG bid for Australia's Santos
EIG Global Energy Partners has made a $10.4 billion buyout offer for Australia-listed oil and gas supplier Santos. It is supported by two Chinese groups, private equity firm Hony Capital and gas distributor ENN Group.
Bain-led Toshiba carve-out approved by Chinese regulators
A consortium led by Bain Capital Private Equity has won approval for the acquisition of Toshiba Memory Corporation (TMC) from China’s antitrust authorities, clearing the last major obstacle to the JPY2 trillion ($17.8 billion) transaction closing.
Singapore’s Dymon joins $15m medical industry acquisition
Singapore-based Dymon Asia Private Equity (DAPE) has teamed up with domestic engineering company Tee International to acquire a medical division of industrial services provider Sembcorp Environment for S$20 million ($15 million).
Indonesia's Alpha JWC to back PayPal incubator start-ups
Indonesia-based Alpha JWC Ventures has agreed to invest up to $5 million in PayPal’s financial technology start-up incubation program for Southeast Asia.
Next 10 secures $50m for user-generated content fund
Next 10 Ventures, a US and Singapore-based GP headed by former YouTube and Warner Bros executives, has raised $50 million for a fund focused on user-generated media content businesses.
Vietnam start-ups: A tale of two cities
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City provide Vietnam’s nascent start-up scene with a unique double-hub structure. Ecosystem gestation remains slow but it is supported by a nuanced diversity
Vietnam GPs: Five's company
Vietnam’s incumbent domestic private equity firms have all been in operation for more than a decade. Do LPs have enough confidence in the market to support the launch of additional managers?
Malaysia’s Jirnexu receives $11m Series B
Malaysia-based financial technology start-up Jirnexu has received an $11 million Series B funding round led by Japan’s SBI Group.
China early-stage investment round-up
Venture capital deals involving Fortune Capital, Sina Weibo, Sequoia Capital China, ChinaEquity Group, Cornerstone Capital, Geekbeans Capital, Atlas Capital, and Heyi Capital
Indian incubator raises $12.5m for seed fund
Indian educational institution IIM Ahmedabad has raised $12.5 million for its on-campus start-up incubator and seed fund from investors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
GIC backs $117m Asia co-working platform
Singapore’s GIC Private has joined co-working space provider JustCo and local developer Frasers Property to establish a $117 million platform that will focus on co-working space investments across Asia Pacific.
Vision Plus raises $500m for China VC funds
Vision Plus Capital Partners, a Chinese venture capital firm set up by one of the co-founders of Alibaba Group, has raised $500 million for its second US dollar and renminbi-denominated funds.
DCP to invest in Chinese heart valve developer
DCP Capital Partners, a private equity firm set up by the former heads of KKR’s China business, has agreed to invest an undisclosed sum in domestic heart valve developer Venus Medtech.
Chinese autonomous driving start-up gets $128m Series A
Roadstar.ai, a Chinese start-up that specializes in autonomous driving technology, has received $128 million in Series A funding led by Shenzhen Capital Group and Wu Capital.
Vietnam IPOs: A bigger bourse
A string of large-cap IPOs has brought international investors and credibility to Vietnam public equities. Despite a few local peculiarities, the market is on a path towards modernization
JD.com invests in PE-backed Asia logistics platform
Chinese online retailer JD.com has invested $306 million in e-Shang Redwood (ESR), a private equity-backed pan-Asia logistics operator and fund manager.
Q&A: IDG Ventures Vietnam's Henry Nguyen
Start-ups are attracting more attention in Vietnam as technology-oriented business models take root and local success stories emerge. Henry Nguyen of IDG Ventures Vietnam maps out the landscape
Australia's Westpac invests $37m in Reinventure
Australia’s Westpac Banking Corp has committed A$50 million ($37 million) to the third fund of its venture capital unit Reinventure.
Blackstone makes $217m partial exit from India's Mphasis
The Blackstone Group has made a partial exit from Indian IT services provider Mphasis, selling an 8% stake in the publicly traded company for approximately INR14.8 billion ($217 million).
Japan's Advantage closes debut Asia fund at $380m
Japanese GP Advantage Partners has closed its first Asia-focused fund with total commitments of $380 million. Investments have already been made in China, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
Vietnam consumer: Trading up
Vietnam’s consumer economy is attracting a wider range of investors as deal sizes inflate and new openings emerge in a winding value chain. Private equity is positioned to exploit several vantage points
Japanese unicorn Mercari targets $1b IPO, VCs set for exits
Mercari, a venture capital-backed Japanese consumer-to-consumer marketplace that became the country’s first unicorn in 2016, plans to raise up to JPY110 billion ($1 billion) through a domestic IPO.
Singapore's M17 Entertainment files for US IPO
M17 Entertainment, a Taiwan and Singapore-based media streaming company, has filed to list on the New York Stock Exchange.