Regions
VC-backed WoWo sets terms for $66m NASDAQ IPO
Chinese entertainment and lifestyle-focused e-commerce platform WoWo – which started out as operator of group-buying site 55tuan – plans to raise up to $66 million through its IPO on NASDAQ.
Alipay confirms investment in India’s VC-backed One97
Ant Financial Service Group, Alibaba Group’s online financial service affiliate, has agreed to acquire a 25% stake in Indian VC-backed mobile internet services provider One97 Communication.
CDIB invests $55m across two China deals
CDIB Capital, a private equity arm of Taiwan's China Development Financial, has invested a total of $55 million in two Chinese companies.
China’s Heaven-Sent Capital to buy South African miner
Heaven-Sent Capital Management, a Chinese PE firm, has agreed to pay ZAR637 billion ($56 million) for South African gold producer Village Main Reef and plans to take the business private.
Chinese strategic buys UK subsea vehicle business from PE
CSR Corporation, best known as China’s largest manufacturer of metro cars, has agreed to buy UK-based subsea vehicle maker Specialist Machine Developments (SMD) from Inflexion Private Equity for an enterprise valuation of GBP120 million ($184 million).
Fidelity commits $10m to Greenlight Planet
Fidelity Growth Partners India has led a $10 million round of funding for Greenlight Planet, a US-based manufacturer of solar-powered lanterns for use in off-grid homes in developing countries.
DBS launches Singapore venture debt program
DBS Bank has launched a venture debt program to support Singapore start-ups, presenting a capital-raising channel that involves little or no dilution of equity.
Australia's Future Fund ups PE allocation to 9.5%
Australia’s Future Fund increased its private equity allocation from 7.7% to 9.5% over the course of 2014 as total assets under management reached A$109 billion ($85 billion). The return for the 12 months ended December was 13.2%.
GGV leads $50m round for China credit card management app
GGV Capital has led a $50 million Series B round of funding for 51Zhangdan, a Chinese mobile app that helps manage credit card spending.
Laser tech firm, Guosen plan China robotics fund
Guosen H&S Investment, a PE investment arm of state-owned Guosen Securities, has teamed up with Shenzhen-based Han’s Laser Technology to form a RMB1 billion ($160 million) industry fund that will target robotic projects.
Cowin Capital exits China department store via trade sale
Shenzhen Cowin Capital is set to make a full exit from Guangxi Nancheng Department Store as Better Life Commercial Chain Share won approval to buy its rival.
CPPIB, QIC back $2.3b Sydney infrastructure project
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) are part of a consortium alongside toll road operator Transurban Group that is backing Sydney’s A$2.9 billion ($2.3 billion) NorthConnex tunnel project.
Australia’s DesignCrowd wins backing from AirTree Ventures
DesignCrowd, an Australia-based crowdsourcing platform used to source designs from hundreds of freelance designers, has received A$6 million ($4.6 million) in a Series B funding round led by AirTree Ventures.
Temasek leas $60m round for India big data player Manthan
Temasek Holdings has led a $60 million round if funding for India-based data analytics firm Manthan Software Services, with participation from existing backer Norwest Venture Partners.
CITIC PE, Beijing Enterprises Water to buy majority stake in Jin Cai
CITIC Private Equity has teamed up with Beijing Enterprises Water Group to acquire a majority stake in Jin Cai Holdings, a Hong Kong-listed cigarette packaging manufacturer that wants to enter the clean energy space.
Taiwan’s MasterLink Securities launches VC units in Tianjin
MasterLink Securities, the fourth-largest brokerage firm in Taiwan, has won regulatory approval to launch two venture capital investment units in mainland China.
Indian optician raises $6.4m from AHF, Ventureast
Asia Healthcare Fund (AHF) and early-stage player Ventureast have together invested INR400 million in Eye Gear Optics India, the start-up behind optical retail chain Ben Franklin.
Shunwei commits $9.6m to China interior decorating platform
Shunwei Capital Partners has led a RMB60 million ($9.6 million) Series A round of funding for Ikongjian.com, a Chinese interior finishings site, with participation from H Capital and DST Advisors.
Q&A: Denham Capital's Bert Koth
For resources-focused GP Denham Capital, the commodities downturn has thrown up some interesting opportunities. Bert Koth, the firm’s Perth-based managing director, explains why his eye is now on Asia
Carlyle makes $248m takeover bid for Hitachi metals unit
The Carlyle Group has made a tender offer to acquire Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Hitachi Metals Techno, a second-tier subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Hitachi, for JPY29.3 billion ($248 million).
Hahn & Co gets $1.9b for two funds
Christmas holidays are a rarity at Hahn & Co. The Korean buyout firm’s acquisition of Posfine, a slag powder business owned by steelmaker Posco, closed on December 30. The 2013 seasonal period was dominated by negotiations over a majority stake in Hanjin’s...
Fortune backs Huimin’s B2C-B2B switch
Huimin started out in 2012 as an online B2C platform, enabling Chinese consumers to order daily household items from small-scale supermarkets in their neighborhood. The supermarkets took care of the delivery and Huimin got a commission on each transaction....
CDC banks on rail to share the wealth
Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, is served by just two rail freight container terminals. They are located in the northern industrial hotbed of Kanpur, with one operated by Pristine Logistics & InfraProjects and the other by Concor.
Longreach puts a ring on it
Is the spirit of romance ebbing away in Japan? Naoki Sawano, president of bridal jewelry specialist Primo Japan, suggested as much a couple of years ago. He held a trend among young people “to think of the proposal and the engagement ring as two separate...