Region
Quadrant-backed UPG acquires Australia's Rockpool
Quadrant Private Equity has taken control of Australian restaurant operator Rockpool Group via a bolt-on acquisition by existing portfolio company Urban Purveyor Group (UPG).
Shaw Kwei makes appointments in Hong Kong, New York
Shaw Kwei & Partners has appointed Peter Ko as managing director in the firm’s Hong Kong office and David Hudson as senior advisor in New York.
Alibaba, Legend invest $20m in China seafood importer Gfresh
Gfresh, a China-based seafood importer and online marketplace operator, has raised $20 million from Riverhill Fund, an investment arm of Alibaba Group, and Legend Capital.
China-backed PE firm buy Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3b
Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, a newly-formed US-based buyout firm backed by Chinese LPs, has agreed to acquire NASDAQ-listed chip maker Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3 billion.
Australia's Wolseley exits maintenance firm to trade buyer
Wolseley Private Equity has agreed to sell its controlling stake in Australian building maintenance equipment company Facade Access to Swedish industrial sector supplier Alimak for A$120 million ($92.1 million).
IFC proposes backing Jungle's SE Asia seed fund
The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed a $2 million investment in Jungle Ventures' Southeast Asia-focused seed fund.
TPG-owned Inghams scales back Australia IPO
Ingham’s Enterprises, an Australian poultry producer bought by TPG Capital three years ago, has scaled back its domestic IPO to a target of A$596.4 million ($457 million).
China Film, Pegasus Media launch $100m movie fund
China Film, the country's largest movie distributor, and Pegasus Media Group have joined Hong Kong’s Co-High Investment Management to launch a $100 million film fund focused on US-China co-productions.
VC-backed GDS prices IPO below indicative range
GDS Holdings, a Chinese data center provider that counts SBCVC among its investors, raised $192.5 million in its US IPO after pricing the offering below the indicative range.
Alibaba-backed Lazada buys Singapore's RedMart
Lazada, a Southeast Asia-based e-commerce platform founded by Germany's Rocket Internet and recently acquired by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has bought Singapore-based online grocer RedMart.
Singapore's Jubilee Capital in $30m first close on tech fund
Jubilee Capital, a newly formed venture investment firm based in Singapore, has reached a first close of $30 million on an early-stage technology fund targeting $100 million.
Fund focus: Blume gets early-stage boost
Blume Ventures plans a narrower approach with its second technology-focused fund
Deal focus: J-Star helps Asiro bring law online
Asiro came into being as a means of addressing the demand-supply imbalance in Japan's legal services industry. New owner J-Star will help the company expand its platform
Sovereigns and VC: An eye on the future
Australia's Future Fund appears to have overcome the philosophical and structural challenges facing face large-ticket LPs that want exposure to early-stage innovation
Q&A: Shoreline Capital's Xiaolin Zhang
Xiaolin Zhang, co-founder and managing partner at China-focused distress specialist Shoreline Capital, discusses the NPL opportunity and what private equity firms must do to address it
Southeast Asia dating app raises $32.5m round
Paktor, a Southeast Asia-focused mobile dating app, has received $32.5 million in new funding led by K2 Global – a venture capital firm that makes late-stage tech investments in Asia and the US – and Indonesia-based MNC Media Group.
Indonesia's Convergence Ventures closes $30m tech fund
Convergence Ventures, an early-stage VC firm based in Indonesia, has reached a final close of $30 million on its debut fund.
EQT buys Australian aerospace business
EQT Partners has agreed to pay Australian logistics conglomerate Brambles $130 million for its aviation industry services unit, Chep Aerospace Solutions.
Sequoia leads $55m round for India, US-based Freshdesk
Sequoia Capital has led a $55 million Series F round of funding for India and US-based customer support platform provider Freshdesk.
Blockchain: Ethereal frontiers
As blockchain segments mature in Asia, private equity and venture capital investors will benefit from a range of new entry points. Pitfalls related to the technology’s obscure nature, however, will persist
China short-term rental site Xiaozhu raises $65m
Chinese short-term rental site Xiaozhu.com has collected a total of $65 million across two tranches from a group of China-focused VC investors.
IDG, Promethus invest $30m in China's KR Space
IDG Capital Partners and Prometheus Capital have invested RMB200 million ($30 million) in an extended Series A round of funding for KR Space, a provider of collaborative workspaces for Chinese start-ups
PE-backed Yum China gains on US debut after spin-out
Yum China, the private equity-backed group that operates KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell in the country, gained 8% on its US trading debut after completing its separation from parent Yum Brands.
Alibaba plans $1.5b entertainment investment fund
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group plans to step up its investments in digital media and entertainment businesses with the launch of RMB10 billion ($1.48 billion) investment fund.