Industrials
Polaris buys filling station technology business from Hitachi
Japan’s Polaris Capital Group has agreed to buy Hitachi Automotive Systems Measurement (HASM), an automotive components subsidiary of Hitachi Corporation.
CITIC Capital, FountainVest buy control of pallet leasing business
CITIC Capital Partners and FountainVest Partners have acquired a majority stake in China Merchants Loscam, a pallet and packaging business owned by Sinotrans, for RMB2.48 billion ($359 million).
Deal focus: Cool Japan helps Spiber spin chic new web
Cool Japan has taken a new angle on its cultural investment thesis with Spiber, a biotechnology developer bringing next-generation materials to the apparel industry
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2019
Industry participants share their outlooks on some of the biggest economic drivers of the day, including fast-growing sectors and shifting deal making factors across Asia’s varied markets
Chinese logistics fleet manager raises $320m
G7, a China-based logistics fleet management systems provider, has raised $320 million in funding round led by Hopu Investment Management.
Baring Asia pursues privatization of Japan's Pioneer
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to privatize Pioneer Corporation through a two-stage revitalization plan that will see it invest JPY102 billion ($905 million) in the struggling Japanese conglomerate.
PE and aquaculture: Fishtech of the future
Rising consumer demand for high-quality products and the emergence of technologies that allow greater efficiency are driving investor interest in Asia’s previously overlooked aquaculture industry
China industrial e-commerce player Ruigu raises $33.5m
Ruigu Shop, a Chinese online retailer focused on electrical hardware, has raised RMB230 million ($33.5 million) in an extended Series B round led by Immensus Capital.
Cool Japan leads $44m round for Spiber
Cool Japan Fund has led a JPY5 billion ($44 million) round for Spiber, a domestic biotechnology developer focused on synthesizing protein-based materials that simulate characteristics of spiderwebs.
Ant Financial leads Series C for Chinese logistics player Keking
Chinese logistics cloud-based software provider Keking has raised RMB1 billion ($143.7 million) in a Series C round of funding led by Ant Financial and Centurium Capital.
Morgan Stanley's Matsuyama joins Carlyle Japan
The Carlyle Group has named Tomofumi Matsuyama (pictured), a former executive at Morgan Stanley, as a managing director of its Japan buyout team.
Korea's ACE Equity seals $356m tech manufacturing buyout
ACE Equity Partners, a Korean private equity firm that operates on a project fund basis, has acquired Daeho Technology Korea (DTK), a manufacturer of glass used in smart phones, for KRW400 billion ($356 million).
Crescent agrees $112m carve-out of Australia's Viridian Glass
Crescent Capital Partners has agreed to acquire Viridian Glass, a maker of float glass based in Australia and New Zealand, from building products manufacturer CSR for A$155 million ($112 million).
Chinese AI player Aibee gets $60m Series A
China and US-based artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider Aibee has raised $60 million in a Series A round of funding led by Sequoia Capital China and Red Star Macalline, a Hong Kong-listed furniture mall operator.
GLP joins $216m funding round for Chinese logistics service provider
Chengdu-based logistic service provider Juma Peisong has raised RMB1.5 billion ($216 million ) in a Series C round of funding with participation by a number of institutional investors including existing backers Global Logistic Properties (GLP) and Sino-Ocean...
Bain-Piramal fund invests $156m in Indian chemicals company
India Resurgence Fund (India RF), a vehicle established by Bain Capital Credit and Piramal Enterprises to invest in distressed assets, has committed $156 million to Archean Group’s marine chemicals business.
Chinese commercial rocket launch player raises $43m
Chinese commercial space launch start-up LandSpace has secured RMB300 million ($43 million) in an extended Series B round led by China Growth Capital.
Chinese GP buys Germany's Cordenka for $274m
BMC Europe Fund I, a PE vehicle launched earlier this year with support from Shanghai International Group (SIG), has completed its first investment with the acquisition of German industrial textiles manufacturer Cordenka for EUR240 million ($274 million)....
Korean GPs worry about valuations, wage hikes - AVCJ Forum
South Korean private equity investors warned the AVCJ Forum that valuations and an increase in the minimum wage could play havoc in the market next year following what has so far been a relatively benign 2018.
Blackstone agrees $792m sale of Australia chemicals business
The Blackstone Group has agreed to sell Ixom, a chemicals business it carved out from Australia’s Orica three years ago, to Keppel Infrastructure Trust (KIT) for approximately A$1.1 billion ($792 million).
Permira invests in Taiwan aquatic feed business
Permira has acquired a 50% stake in Ye Cheng Industrial Products, a Taiwan-headquartered aquatic feed producer that operates under the Grobest brand.
Korea PE outlook: Exit issues
While Korea’s private equity market remains relatively stable, a much-anticipated opening up of IPO exits has yet to come to fruition
Japan PE outlook: Slow and steady
GPs have built strong ties with corporate Japan by demonstrating value-add capabilities. These networks should serve them well as the market becomes more active
Southeast Asia PE outlook: Debatable boom
PE and VC players remain focused on Southeast Asia’s long-term growth trajectory despite gathering macro storm clouds. Valuations remain a bone of contention