Region
Sequoia leads $55m Series C for Chinese English-study site
Sequoia Capital has led a $55 million Series C round of funding for 51Talk, a Chinese online English-teaching platform, with participation from Shunwei Capital Partners and DCM.
Mizuho Capital to launch $300m SME mezzanine fund
Mizuho Capital Partners is set to launch a new JPY30 billion ($277 million) mezzanine fund which will support Japanese small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the form of subordinated loans and preferred shares.
IDG-backed Sky Solar seeks up to $150m in US IPO
Sky Solar Holdings, a Hong Kong-based independent power producer (IPP) backed by IDG-Accel China Capital, plans to raise up to $150 million through a US IPO.
IFC proposes investment in Temasek's India NBFC
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of INR4.5 billion ($75 million) in Fullerton India Credit Company (FICC), a non-bank financial company owned by Temasek Holdings.
Singapore's Infocomm Investments extends reach to Europe
Infocomm Investments, a VC arm of the Singapore government-backed Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), has opened an office in London, its second overseas base after Silicon Valley.
Korea's KnowRe raises $6.8m Series A from VC backers
SoftBank Venture Korea (SBVK) has a led a $6.8 million Series A investment in Seoul-based education technology start-up KnowRe.
SoftBank leads $100m round for Indonesia e-commerce player
SoftBank will lead a $100 million round of funding for Tokopedia, an Indonesian online marketplace. Sequoia Capital will also participate alongside existing investor SB Pan Asia Fund.
Australia's CHAMP PE to buy Nuplex assets for $112m
CHAMP Private Equity has agreed to buy New Zealand-based Nuplex Industries’ distribution and plastics additives businesses for A$127.5 million ($112 million).
Advent hires ex-Evonik China president for chemicals coverage
Advent International has hired Dr Dahai Yu - the former president of Evonik China - as operating partner to cover its investments in the chemicals sector.
China's Baidu, Ping An, Qihoo360 invest in Israeli VC fund
Israeli VC firm Carmel Ventures has reached a $194 million final close on its latest VC fund with participation Chinese tech giants Baidu and Qihoo360 as well as insurer Ping An Group.
Bain secures China leasing buyout
Lionbridge Financial Leasing is aptly named. The team behind the Chinese company that provides lease-back services and leasing asset management to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) started out together more than a decade ago at Zoomlion. They...
Australia education: Study your market
In Study Group, Australian tertiary education has a strong example of how PE can support cross-border expansion. But now the smart money is going into vocational and early learning services
The Philippines: SE Asia's next big thing?
The Philippines has emerged from relative obscurity to become private equity’s latest nascent consumer play in Southeast Asia. Deal flow is slow and uncertain as investors get to grips with the opportunity.
Lightbox II builds on Indian legacy
Earlier this year Kleiner Perkins Caufeild & Byers (KPCB) and Sherpalo Ventures - the investment firm founded by Ram Shriram - decided to bring their nine-year Indian adventure to a close and refocus on the US.
LPs seek co-investment with IDFC
LPs were clear in what they wanted from IDFC Alternatives. Alongside commitments to the Indian GP's latest infrastructure fund there was a strong desire for co-investment. As a result, the $900 million corpus of the recently closed India Infrastructure...
Profile: JFDI.Asia's Hugh Mason
As co-founder of Singapore-based JFDI.Asia, Hugh Mason has been at the vanguard of the Asia tech accelerator movement since 2010. But his record as an entrepreneur and innovator goes back further
Australia's OneVentures hits $53m first close on second VC fund
Australian venture capital firm OneVentures has reached a A$60 million ($53 million) first close second fund, which is looking to raise $100 million for Series B and C stage investments.
Quadrant-backed APN Outdoor to raise $289m in IPO
Quadrant Private Equity will make a partial exit from ANP Outdoor as the Australian advertising business raises A$329.3 million ($289 million) through an IPO.
China Everbright to buy US testing equipment maker for $90m
China Everbright, the Hong Kong-listed investment unit of China Everbright Group, has agreed to buy BEP Group, a US-based vehicle testing equipment manufacturer, for $90 million.
TAP, KWAP invest in Malaysian snack maker
Southeast Asia-focused GP Tremendous Asia Partners (TAP) has teamed up with pension fund KWAP to buy a 30% stake in Munchy Group, a Malaysia-based snacks producer.
Intel Capital invests $28m from China smart device fund
Intel Capital, the US chip maker's corporate venture capital arm, has invested $28 million from its China Smart Device Innovation Fund (CSDIF) into a batch of technology start-ups.
VC-backed eHi Car Rental invests in China's Kuaidi Dache
Chinese car rental firm eHi Car Services, which has several VC backers and is targeting a US IPO, has invested $25 million in Kuaidi Dache, one of the country’s two dominant taxi-booking apps.
CITIC Goldstone backs $285m Chinese mining acquisition
Goldstone Investment, the direct investment arm of CITIC Securities, is aquatics producer Hubei Wuchangyu's RMB1.75 billion ($285 million) acquisition of a Guizhou province-based mining firm.
Fidelity Asia invests $15m in Chinese orthopedic hospital operator
Fidelity Growth Partners Asia has invested RMB90 million ($15 million) in Zhejiang Banger Medical Management, a Chinese orthopedic hospital operator.