Regions
Japanese LPs: The end of the beginning
Japan’s GPIF has finally signaled its readiness to invest in alternative assets. Though contributions will likely be slow to come and limited at first, the barest hint of its intentions has wide-ranging ramifications
China’s NSSF sees returns plunge in 2016
China’s National Council for Social Security Fund (NSSF), the largest pension fund in the country, saw its investment return decline to 1.73% in 2016 from 15.19% the previous year, largely due to losses on fixed income products.
Intudo closes debut Indonesia-focused VC fund
Intudo Ventures, a newly-formed Indonesia-focused VC firm, has raised $10 million for its debut fund that will co-found and invest in early-stage companies.
Nexus, Founders Fund invest $7m in India's HyperTrack
Nexus Venture Partners and Founders Fund have committed $7 million in Series A funding to Indian location-tracking tool developer HyperTrack.
Campbell Lutyens adds former GIC executive to advisory board
Placement agent and secondary transaction advisor Campbell Lutyens has appointed Kok-Peng Teh, formerly head of the special investments division at GIC Private, to its advisory board.
Tencent-backed Futu Securities raises $146m
Tencent Holdings has re-upped in Futu Securities International, leading a $145.5 million Series C round for the Hong Kong-registered cross-border stock trading platform.
Japan technology: Light switch
OLED technology is seen as a quantum leap forward for digital panels, but VC investors are reluctant to get on board. Japan may have to overcome this hesitancy to maintain market share in high-end electronics
Japan carve-outs: Chips off the block
Divestment activity by Japanese conglomerates is finally translating into meaningful private equity deal flow, but unwinding people and assets from longstanding parents presents execution challenges
PE-owned Blue Star Sports enters Australia, New Zealand
Blue Star Sports, a US-based company controlled by Genstar Capital that provides management software to grassroots sports clubs, has entered the Australia and New Zealand market with the acquisition of SportsTG.
India's Fireside reaches $28m first close on debut fund
Fireside Ventures, an Indian VC firm set up by Helion Venture Partners co-founder Kanwaljit Singh (pictured), has reached a first close of INR1.8 billion ($28 million) on its debut fund.
Australia's Rokt closes Series B at $26m
Australian digital marketing services company Rokt has closed a Series B funding round at $26 million led by Moelis Australia Asset Management.
China’s QingCloud raises $160m, prepares for onshore IPO
China-based cloud computing platform QingCloud, which is backed by several VC investors, has raised a new round of renminbi-denominated funding worth RMB1.08 billion ($160 million).
India's Lendingkart raises $7.8m growth round
Indian commercial lender Yes Bank has extended a INR500 million ($7.8 million) loan to domestic VC-backed finance platform provider Lendingkart.
IMM increases commitment to Korean shipbuilder
IMM Investment has agreed to invest another KRW100 billion ($89 million) in Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI).
India, Russia investors form $200m cross-border IT fund
India-listed Srei Infrastructure Finance and Russia’s state-backed Vnesheconombank have agreed to establish a $200 million fund that will promote IT and innovation exchange between the two countries.
Qiming’s US healthcare fund backs Harvard spin-out
Qiming US Healthcare Fund, a sector specialist vehicle launched by China’s Qiming Venture Partners, has led a $10 million Series A round for Platelet BioGenesis, a Harvard University spin-out that builds human platelets from stem cells.
Skylake invests $53m in Korean O2O services player
Skylake Investment has committed KRW60 billion ($53 million) in Yanolja, a South Korean online-to-offline (O2O) local services platform best known for providing discount hotel deals.
Baring Asia to exit Japan's Joyful Honda
Baring Private Equity Asia will sell its minority stake in Joyful Honda, a Japan-based home improvement center operator, for JPY56.6 billion ($513 million) through participation in a tender offer launched by the company.
ShoreVest targets $750m for China distress fund
ShoreVest Capital Partners, a China-focused distress and special situations investor created by former executives from Shoreline Capital, is looking to raise $750 million for its debut fund.
H&Q joins $35m round for US-based One Inc
One Inc, a US-based maker of software-as-a-service (SaaS) products for the insurance industry, has raised a $35 million funding round with participation by H&Q Asia Pacific.
Carlyle, PEP to pay $930m for Australian pharma player
The Carlyle Group and Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) have finalized an agreement to jointly acquire Australia-based iNova Pharmaceuticals for $930 million in cash.
Lakson Investments becomes Pakistan's first VC firm
Pakistan’s Lakson Investments claims to have been awarded the country’s first venture capital license with the launch of a new fund that will target domestic start-ups.
Chinese agricultural drone platform secures Series A round
Farm Friend, a Beijing-based agricultural drone services platform, has raised a RMB50 million ($7 million) Series A round led by Gobi Partners.
GPs back $605m take-private of China's SciClone pharmaceuticals
CDH Investments and Ascendent Capital Partners have teamed up with GL Capital and a Bank of China investment unit in a $605 million bid for US-listed Chinese drug developer SciClone Pharmaceuticals.