Regions
Asian basketball league secures Series C funding
East Asia Super League (EASL), a basketball league featuring teams from Greater China, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, has raised USD 40m as part of a yet-to-close Series C funding round.
China-linked EcarX, Lanvin complete SPAC mergers
EcarX, a smart mobility solutions provider backed by Chinese automaker Geely Auto Group, and Lanvin Group, a global luxury fashion platform established by Fosun Group, both completed mergers with US-listed special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).
Anchorage buys Australian department store chain David Jones
Anchorage Capital Partners has agreed to buy Australian department store chain David Jones from South Africa-listed Woolworths Holdings (WHL).
Singapore's Doctor Anywhere raises $38m, makes acquisition
Southeast Asia-focused telehealth platform Doctor Anywhere has closed a second tranche of Series C funding worth USD 38.8m and acquired Singapore-listed Asian Healthcare Specialists (AHS).
KKR buys Japan's Bushu Pharmaceuticals from BPEA EQT
KKR has agreed to buy Japan-based contract drug manufacturer Bushu Pharmaceuticals from BPEA EQT – formerly Baring Private Equity Asia – for an undisclosed sum.
Co-Stone leads $43m round for China biosynthesis player
Co-Stone Capital Management has led a CNY 300m (USD 43m) Series B round for Readline, a Shenzhen-based company that specialises in synthetic biology.
Australia’s Heal Partners closes debut fund on $137m
Australia’s Heal Partners, a health, education, and lifestyle-focused venture capital firm, has closed its first fund on AUD 200m (USD 137m). The target was AUD 100m.
US regulator gets access to Chinese audits
The threat of delisting that has haunted Chinese companies that trade on US exchanges appears to have receded after the US regulators announced they had gained full access to the audits of these companies for the first time.
TPG buys India's Poonawalla Housing Finance
TPG Capital Asia has agreed to acquire Poonawalla Housing Finance for a pre-money equity valuation of INR 39bn (USD 473m) and inject an additional INR 10bn to support growth.
China solar cell manufacturer raises $72m
Temasek Holdings, Sequoia Capital China, and IDG Capital have led a CNY500m (USD 72m) Series B investment in Chinese solar cell manufacturer GCL Photoelectric Materials.
PAG closes fifth credit fund on $2.6bn
PAG has closed its fifth pan-Asian private credit fund at the hard cap with USD 2.6bn. It is said to be the largest direct lending fund raised in the region to date.
2023 preview: Hard-tech
As China’s technology space has shifted toward more advanced domains of R&D, bubbles have formed and geopolitics have complicated investment. There is scope for some turnaround on these points
2023 preview: Fundraising
Fundraising is difficult for all but the fortunate few private equity managers in Asia. GPs are delaying launches, shaking up strategies, and offering sweeteners; LPs are in no hurry to make commitments
Q&A: CICC Capital’s Mengyang Yang
Mengyang Yang, an executive director and head of private equity in Hong Kong at CICC Capital, on China’s post-pandemic revival, plans for a flagship US dollar fund, and managing guidance funds
2023 preview: Exits
IPOs and trade sales have been muted in 2022, but industry participants expect strategic investors to be more active in Asia next year, especially as valuations moderate. Increased secondary deal flow is also likely
2023 preview: India PE
India’s domestic growth story appears unobstructed, but some international investors could hold their fire. The local PE industry will not graduate to the next level without that foreign capital
2023 preview: China macro
Private equity is eager to re-engage with China as a sudden post-pandemic re-opening reminds investors focused on the country to expect the unexpected. A weak global picture could spoil the party
2023 preview: Australia PE
Market pressures on Australian businesses, including an increasingly serious labour shortage, are a challenge and opportunity for domestic private equity. So is China, but in less discernible ways
2023 preview: Southeast Asia VC
Southeast Asia VC is in fair position to hobble through a global downturn and cooling appetite for all things tech despite controversial politics in the region’s largest market and a dicey IPO outlook
2023 preview: Japan middle market
Confidence in Japan’s middle market is whipping up new deal flow, new funds, and new exit channels that will play out in 2023. This includes the possible reanimation of a dormant IPO market
China automotive chip company raises $43m
Indiemicro, a Chinese chip designer targeting the automotive industry has raised a CNY300m (USD 43m) round featuring semiconductor-focused Sunic Capital.
Q&A: Bain Capital’s David Gross-Loh
David Gross-Loh, a managing director and a founding member of the Asia business at Bain Capital, on expanding into Osaka, targeting large-cap carve-outs in Japan, and the availability of deal financing
Dalma Capital buys Singapore's Global CIO Office
Dalma Capital Group, a Dubai-headquartered alternative investment management platform, has agreed to buy The Global CIO Office, a Singapore-based outsourced CIO business that primarily serves family offices.