Regions
Chinese insurers barred from using PE to spur government borrowing
Chinese insurers have been banned from using their private equity units to lend capital to projects backed by local governments for fear that this will inflate already sizeable debt burdens and raise financing costs in the real economy.
Global Brain backs $13m round for Japan's Base
Japanese venture capital firm Global Brain has led a JPY1.5 billion funding round for domestic online shopping start-up Base.
Google backs Chinese mobile game streaming platform
Google has participated in a Series D round of funding for Chushou, a Chinese mobile game live streaming platform. The investment takes the company’s total funding to more than $120 million.
Advantech, SDIC lead $76m round for China biotech player
Advantech Capital and SDIC Fund Management have led a $76 million Series A round for Chinese biotechnology company KBP Biosciences.
Brookfield to buy Westinghouse from Toshiba
Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to buy the Westinghouse nuclear power unit from Japan’s Toshiba Corporation in a deal worth approximately $4.6 billion.
Oaktree-backed Australian surf brands to merge
Australian surfwear brand Billabong International has agreed to an acquisition by industry peer Boardriders, which owns the Quiksilver brand. Both companies are backed by Oaktree Capital Management.
VCs invest $32m in China's HaploX Biotechnology
A group of investors including SBCVC and Kexin Capital have backed a $32 million funding round for China’s HaploX Biotechnology.
VIG buys Korean sports shoe materials supplier
VIG Partners has acquired Youyoung, a Korea-based supplier of materials used in running shoes, for an enterprise valuation of KRW220 billion ($207 million).
Apax backs Chinese cosmetic surgery marketplace
A technology-focused fund managed by Apax Partners has led a $60 million Series D round of funding for SoYoung, a Chinese online marketplace specializing in cosmetic surgery.
IFC invests $40m in Indonesian SME ecosystem
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested $40 million in Indonesian lender Radana Bhaskara Finance as part of a support program for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
China semiconductor fund agrees to invest $400m in local chip maker
State-backed private equity investor China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (IC Fund) has agreed to buy an approximately 19% stake in domestic computer chip maker Hua Hong Semiconductor for $400 million.
UK-based GP acquires Australia solar project
UK private equity investor Foresight Solar Fund (FSF) has taken a 100% interest in an Australian solar farm and a 49% interest in each of two related projects. It coincides with a A$55 million ($43 million) investment from Australia’s Clean Energy Finance...
Battery Ventures backs Australia SaaS player PageUp
US-based private equity firm Battery Ventures has invested in PageUp, an Australian developer of cloud-based enterprise talent management software.
China's Ant Financial abandons MoneyGram acquisition
Alibaba Group’s Ant Financial has abandoned its $1.2 billion acquisition of private equity-backed MoneyGram after failing to receive clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS).
INCJ joins $33m Series C for Japan's Megakaryon
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has joined a JPY3.7 billion ($33 million) Series C funding round for Megakaryon, a domestic medical research company.
AVCJ Awards 2017: AVCJ Special Achievement: Victor Fung
Victor Fung played a key role in the development of venture capital and private equity in Asia, and of AVCJ itself. He looks back at how the various pieces fell into place
Affinity closes fifth Asia fund at $6b
Affinity Equity Partners has completed a first and final close on its fifth pan-Asian fund at the hard cap of $6 billion after approximately five months in the market.
Orchid raises $1.3b for Fund VII – update
Orchid Asia has closed its seventh fund at $1.3 billion. The vehicle had initially targeted a final close of $900 million by November 2017.
AVCJ Awards 2017: PE Professional of the Year: Yichen Zhang
Yichen Zhang, CEO of CITIC Capital, discusses fundraising, working on outbound deals, the appeal of China divestments by foreign companies, and leading a multi-strategy firm
China’s AIpark closes $15m Series A
AIpark, a Chinese start-up that applies artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the car parking industry, has closed a Series A round of about RMB100 million ($15.4 million) led by the US-China Green Fund.
OrbiMed re-ups in India's Vivimed Labs
OrbiMed has invested a further $7.5 million in the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) unit of India-listed drug maker Vivimed Labs.
MBK promotes COO to partner
MBK Partners has promoted Bryan Byungsuk Min, currently the firm’s COO, to partner.
Chinese smart phone maker gets $136m round
Intel Capital and Hua Capital have co-led a $136 million Series A round of funding for Huaqin Telecom, a Chinese smart phone and tablet manufacturer.
VCs invest $18m in Japan lifestyle media player
Every, a Japanese media company focused on lifestyle-oriented and smartphone-accessible content, has raised about JPY2.1 billion ($18.3 million) from a number of VCs, including World Innovation Lab.