Region
Sequoia leads Series B round in China menstruation-tracking app
Sequoia Capital China has led a Series B round of founding for Dayima.com, a menstruation cycle-tracking mobile app. Existing backer Bertelsmann Asia Investments also participated in the round.
Affordable healthcare chain Glocal gets $4m from SIDBI VC
SIDBI Venture Capital has invested INR250 million ($3.93 million) in Glocal Healthcare Systems, which operates multi-specialty hospitals in semi-rural parts of East India.
Cogent adds to Shanghai team
Cogent Partners has appointed Dominik Woessner as a director in its Shanghai office. He has relocated from the secondary market-focused firm’s London office as part of ongoing efforts to develop its footprint in Asia.
TPG invests $23m in Sutures India
TPG Growth has acquired a minority stake in Bangalore-based surgical equipment maker Sutures India for INR1.45 billion ($22.9 million).
Fosun buys 35% stake in Italian luxury menswear brand
Fosun International, China’s largest privately-owned conglomerate, has agreed to buy a 35% stake in Italian menswear brand Caruso. Much like Fosun’s investments in other foreign brands, the plan is to support Caruso’s expansion in China.
Shunwei backs China child education app
Beijing Shunwei Venture Capital, founded by super angel investor Lei Jun, has committed a Series A round of funding for Babybus.com, which develops educational apps for children. Details of transaction were not disclosed but the investment size is said...
PE-backed Endurance International to buy India's Directi
Endurance International Group, a US-based web hosting services provider controlled by Warburg Pincus and Goldman Sachs, has agreed to buy Indian online services firm Directi Web Technology for up to $110 million.
Shanghai Sinopharm PE invests in chemical firm Anhui Fulltime
Sinopharm Capital, a private equity arm of Chinese drug distributing conglomerate Sinopharm, has made a pre-IPO investment in chemical products manufacturer Anhui Fulltime Specialized Solvent & Reagent.
Innovation Works' Kai-Fu Lee diagnosed with cancer
Kai-Fu Lee, founder and CEO of Innovation Works and former head of Google Greater China, has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
ADB to invest $245m in Pakistan's power sector
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest $245 million to improve Pakistan’s power distribution systems. The capital, structured as a loan, is the third tranche of the bank's Power Distribution Enhancement Investment Program.
ADIA buys Australia hotel portfolio
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has bought Tourism Asset Holdings (TAHL), Australia’s largest hotel owner. The deal will see the Middle East sovereign wealth fund assume control of 31 Accor-operated properties in major cities.
Toshiba expands in India with 3i's Vijai Electricals acquisition
Japan’s Toshiba Corporation will acquire the majority of Vijai Electricals’ electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) business for approximately $200 million. 3i bought a minority stake in Vijai for $25.8 million in 2006.
Orion Partners to launch $250m Japan care homes fund
Hong Kong-headquartered Orion Partners, formerly known as Ajia Partners, is looking to raise as much as JPY25 billion ($250 million) for its third Japan care homes investment fund.
LeapFrog in $204m first close on emerging markets microfinance fund
Specialist microfinance investor LeapFrog Investments has reached a first close of $204 million for its second fund after just eight months in the market. The vehicle, which has a full target of $400 million, will back companies in South Asia, Southeast...
Australia's Wolseley targets $279m for Fund III
Wolseley Private Equity is targeting A$300 million ($279 million) for its third fund, which will invest in small to mid-size privately-owned businesses in Australia and New Zealand. The GP expects to see considerable opportunities in this space as founders...
Japan's Dogan closes Kyushu SME fund at $34m
Japanese GP Dogan Advisors has reached a JPY3.3 billion ($34 million) close on its latest regional fund, Kyushu BOLERO (Buyout for local enterprise and reform organization) Fund 2.
Nissay Capital invests $1.9m in towel company
Nissay Capital has invested JPY199 million ($1.9 million) in Japanese towel maker, Ikeuchi Towel. The size of the stake acquired was not disclosed.
Meridian Capital invests in China fashion app Ichuanyi
Meridian Capital has committed a Series A round of funding for Chinese fashion and clothing mobile app Ichuanyi.com. The investment size was not disclosed.
Taiwan's CID Group raises $100m for Greater China fund
Taiwanese private equity firm CID Group closed its fourth fund - which focuses on Greater China investments - at $100 million, with half the corpus coming from the GP itself.
CalSTRS alters allocation to favor inflation sensitive, illiquid assets
The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) will recalibrate the long-term allocation targets of its $170 billion investment portfolio, placing greater emphasis on inflation-sensitive and illiquid assets at the expense of equities and fixed...
Battle of the strategics
We have grown accustomed to China’s incumbent internet giants engaging in M&A. Since 2010, the BATS – Baidu, Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings and Sina – have deployed around $6.5 billion (and that’s just disclosed transactions), eight times the amount...
Secondaries: Bifurcation point
More LP interests in Asian funds are coming onto the secondary market, but the region remains the industry’s future rather than its present. Which investors will be around to witness it coming to bloom?
Litigation funds: The justice league
Litigation financiers are increasingly looking for opportunities in Asia, many making their investments out of private equity-style funds. But do they bring the same returns?
RMB fund-of-funds: Patience is a virtue
As some global fund-of-funds struggle to raise funds, their renminbi counterparts are struggling to find a purpose – government-backed vehicles excepted. A more mature LP base should bring more demand