Regions
GLP leads $36m round for China’s Songxiaocai
Warehouse operator Global Logistic Properties (GLP) has led a RMB230 million ($36 million) investment in Songxiaocai, a business-to-business (B2B) platform that provides agricultural wholesale services to Chinese retailers.
ADB exits minority stake in India's ReNew to CPPIB for $144m
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has invested $144 million in Indian renewable energy producer ReNew Power Ventures, providing an exit for the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
China’s Shunwei Capital appoints new partner
Chris Lai, formerly a venture partner at China-focused Sinovation Ventures, has joined Shunwei Capital Partners, a VC firm set up by Xiaomi founder Lei Jun, as a partner.
Baring Asia realizes 2.4x return on Korea cement deal
Baring Private Equity Asia has completed its exit from Korean construction materials business Halla Cement, selling the asset to Asia Cement for an enterprise value of $723 million.
Joy leads $20m round for Chinese e-commerce site
Joy Capital has led a $20 million round of funding for The Good Stuff, an e-commerce start-up that uses online influencers to sell products.
BGH sets $2b hard cap for debut Australia fund
BGH Capital, the Australia and New Zealand-focused private equity firm set up by Ben Gray, formerly co-head of TPG Capital in Asia, has set a hard cap of A$2.5 billion ($2 billion) for its debut fund.
Singapore audience data business gets $12.5m
French private equity firm Jolt Capital has led a $12.5 million investment in Singapore-headquartered audience data aggregator and marketplace operator Eyeota.
VCs commit $30m to Japanese recipe-sharing start-up
SoftBank and YJ Capital have taken part in a JPY3.4 billion ($30.2 million) funding round for Japanese online food media start-up Dely.
Japan’s Folio gets $63m in extended Series A
A group of investors including Goldman Sachs have invested JPY7 billion ($63 million) in Japanese stock trading app operator Folio.
Alibaba's Taiwan fund backs fitness brand
Space Cycle, a boutique fitness studio chain operating in mainland China and Taiwan, has raised a RMB100 million ($15.6 million) Series B round of funding led by Alibaba Taiwan Entrepreneurs Fund.
Creador targets $500m for Southeast Asia, India fund
Creador is targeting $500 million for its fourth Southeast Asia and India-focused fund. The private equity firm closed its previous vehicle at $415 million in late 2016.
Japan's SBI sets up $450m AI-blockchain fund
SBI Investment, the VC arm of Japan’s SBI Holdings, has launched a JPY50 billion ($450 million) fund that will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology.
Technology: Auto ambitions
Private equity firms and strategic investors are driving an automotive technology arms race in Asia
Temasek leads Series C for China home automation player
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has led a Series C round of undisclosed size for Rokid, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) developer focused on home automation devices.
Ekuinas exits Malaysia’s Tenby Education
Malaysian government-backed private equity investor Ekuinas has exited its majority stake in private school chain Tenby Education Group to International Schools Partnership (ISP).
Clearwater, IFC plan $150m distressed asset JV
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank,and Clearwater Capital Partners will together invest $150 million in distressed assets in Asia.
Deal focus: VCs see value in secondhand luxury
Chinese online pre-owned luxury goods retailer Xinshang aims for scale with investments from GGV Capital, Joy Capital and Northern Light Venture Capital
Deal focus: Black Fish emphasizes focus on fintech
Lightspeed, Morningside, Jafco and Gobi contribute to the first institutional round of funding for Chinese financial technology player Black Fish
Deal focus: KV secures its biggest buyout
KV Asia Capital sees strong growth potential for the education sector in Southeast Asia. The firm’s latest investment in Malaysia-based APIIT Education Group reflects confidence in this vision
Fosun Capital leads $80m Series B for China’s BingoBox
BingoBox, a Chinese unmanned convenience store operator, has raised an $80 million Series B round of funding led by Fosun Capital. Existing investors Prometheus Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, GGV Capital and Ventech China also took part.
Korean political crises present PE opportunities
A turbulent 2017 for South Korea in both domestic and international politics has complicated private equity agendas across a number of sectors, but GPs are tracking some positive aftereffects.
Asian credit remains attractive for investors
While global investors often express wariness about investments in Asian credit and special situations, industry veterans remain optimistic about the future of the strategy.
Overseas LPs find entering Asia challenging
Overseas institutional LPs – in particular those willing to write larger checks – have found it difficult to access Asia's private equity market, industry participants told the HKVCA Asia Private Equity Forum.
Carlyle hires Goldman executive for China growth deals
The Carlyle Group has hired Wanlian Liu from Goldman Sachs to lead the firm’s growth investments in China as a managing director.