Sectors
Vision Plus, CYTS lead round for China hotel marketing player
Zhiketong – a WeChat-based direct sales and marketing service for high-end hotels – has raised $50 million in its Series D round led by Vision Plus Capital and CYTS Hongqi Fund.
IFM backs Australia SaaS player Zuuse
Australia’s IFM Investors has invested about A$50 million ($36 million) in local industrial software-as-a-service (SaaS) start-up Zuuse.
Deal focus: Iron Pillar demonstrates conviction in FreshToHome
Social distancing is driving demand for FreshToHome's farm-to-fork fish and meat supply chain offering. The company's $121 million Series C will go towards expansion in India and the Middle East
Q&A: Investcorp's Duncan Zheng
Duncan Zheng, head of China private equity at Investcorp, observes that COVID-19 dislocation has created some timely inroads as the firm’s broader expansion agenda ramps up
LionRock acquires UK shoe brand, targets China expansion
LionRock Capital, an Asian private equity firm that invests in global consumer brands with a China growth angle, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in British shoe brand Clarks.
China's JW Therapeutics trades up after $300m Hong Kong IPO
JW Therapeutics, a private equity-backed Chinese drug developer specializing in CAR T-cell therapies that engineer immune cells to fight cancers, has raised HK$2.33 billion ($300 million) through a Hong Kong IPO.
Model behavior: China to Southeast Asia tech transplants
Plenty of internet start-ups in Southeast Asia have been inspired by Chinese forebears, but transplanting ideas from one market to another is often fraught with complications
China's CARsgen raises $186m Series C
Chinese biotech player CARsgen Therapeutics has raised $186 million in Series C funding led by Loyal Valley Capital.
China cosmetics brand Perfect Diary files for US IPO
Yatsen Holding, the parent company of Chinese cosmetics brand Perfect Diary has filed for a US IPO, potentially delivering a liquidity event for the likes of Hillhouse Capital, ZhenFund and Gaorong Capital.
KKR backs Philippines telecom tower operator
KKR has invested an undisclosed sum in Philippines-based telecom tower operator Pinnacle Towers with a view to helping it expand into a regional platform.
SSIAM, Daiwa hit first close on Vietnam fund
Hanoi-based SSI Asset Management (SSIAM) and Japan’s Daiwa Securities Group have reached a first close of undisclosed size on their third joint Vietnam private equity fund. The target is $100 million.
Regulators halt Ant Group's Shanghai, Hong Kong IPO
Private equity-backed Ant Group’s bumper IPO in Hong Kong and Shanghai has been put on hold by Chinese regulators over a potential failure to meet listing qualifications or disclosure requirements.
Flipkart buys India mobile gaming start-up Mech Mocha
Indian e-commerce marketplace Flipkart has bought Mech Mocha, a local mobile gaming start-up that has previously received VC funding from Blume Ventures, Accel Partners, and China’s Shunwei Capital.
Asia e-sports: Pumping up in a timeout
A recent slew of deals targeting e-sports in Asia has coincided with the live events that generate most of the industry's revenue going on hiatus. Investors appear happy to play the long game
Eight Roads adds healthcare partner in China
Eight Roads Ventures has recruited Xin Liu, formerly of Greater Pacific Capital, as a partner in its China team.
Australia HR start-up Flare raises $16m
KKR-owned accounting services providers MYOB has led a A$22 million ($16 million) Series C round for Australian HR technology start-up Flare.
China's Bits x Bites hits first close on second food tech fund
Chinese food and agriculture technology investor Bits x Bites has reached a first close of $30 million on its second VC fund. The target is $70 million.
Chinese O2O retail platform Dmall gets $418m Series C
Dmall, a Chinese digital solutions provider for traditional retailers, has raised a Series C of RMB2.8 billion ($419 million) led by Industrial Bank and China Structural Reform Fund at a valuation of $2 billion.
Deal focus: Proterra whisks Asia supply chain for Eat Just
With China consuming more eggs per capita than its Western peers, Proterra Investment Partners sees strong growth potential for plant-based substitute Just Egg. The GP has committed $100 million to an Asia supply chain roll-out
KKR launches India renewable energy platform
KKR has launched a renewable energy platform in India called Virescent Infrastructure, which will build out a portfolio primarily comprising investments made by KKR’s existing infrastructure business.
Guy Hands buys Australian cattle business from Terra Firma
Guy Hands, chairman and CIO of Terra Firma, has acquired the UK-headquartered private equity firm’s position in Consolidated Pastoral (CPC), one of Australia’s largest cattle station operators, through his family office.
PE-backed Lufax follows $2.3b US IPO with weak debut
Online lending and wealth management platform Lufax raised $2.36 billion in the largest US IPO by a PE-backed Chinese company so far this year but endured a difficult first day of trading.
Ares bids for Australian financial services player AMP
Ares Management has submitted a non-binding offer of around A$6.4 billion ($4.5 billion) to acquire Australia’s AMP, continuing the recent private equity push into the country’s wealth management industry.
India's Finova gets $55m in equity, debt funding
Finova Capital, an Indian small business lending start-up, has raised $55 million in equity and debt, including $35 million in equity from Sequoia Capital India and Faering Capital.