Sectors
AVCJ Awards 2018: Exit of the Year - IPO: Pinduoduo
By making the shopping experience more enjoyable and efficient, Chinese social e-commerce player has achieved scale at breakneck speed. A bumper US public offering was its reward
Chinese online education start-up Yuanfudao raises $300m
Tencent Holdings has led a $300 million round of funding for Chinese online education start-up Yuanfudao, propelling the company to a valuation in excess of $3 billion.
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.
Australia's Next Capital to buy NZ Bus from Infratil
Australian mid-market buyout firm Next Capital has agreed to buy NZ Bus, a local bus service operator in New Zealand, from infrastructure investment manager Infratil.
KKR to assume control of Indian hospital operator Max Healthcare
KKR-backed Radiant Life Care is taking majority control of Indian hospital operator Max Healthcare, three months after agreeing to buy a 49.7% stake held by South Africa’s Life Healthcare Group.
KKR wins board support for $1.4b MYOB buyout
The board of Australian accounting software provider MYOB has agreed to back a buyout offer from KKR that values the company at approximately A$2 billion ($1.43 billion).
Brookfield nears $3.16b bid for Australia's Healthscope
Brookfield Asset Management expects to proceed with a A$4.49 billion ($3.16 billion) take-private offer for Australia-listed hospital operator Healthscope, although BGH Capital – which began its pursuit of the company eight months ago – has indicated...
Hong Kong online insurance start-up gets $30m Series A
Hong Kong-based Bowtie Life Insurance has raised $30 million in Series A funding and become the first company in the territory to receive a “virtual” license to provide online-only services.
Naspers leads $1b Series H for India's Swiggy
Naspers has re-upped in Indian online food ordering and delivering platform Swiggy, leading a $1 billion Series H round of funding for the company.
AVCJ Awards 2018: Deal of the Year - Late Stage Technology: Ant Financial
A string of private equity investors backed Ant Financial’s $14 billion Series C round, having recognized a company at the forefront of financial disruption in China
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).
KKR reduces offer for Australia's MYOB
KKR has reduced its offer for Australian accounting software provider MYOB and is now willing to buy all the shares it doesn’t already own at a valuation of A$2 billion ($1.43 billion).
Ola, VCs back India scooter sharing player Vogo
India-based ride-hailing platform Ola has committed $100 million worth of inventory to domestic scooter sharing business Vogo. It is part of a Series A round that also features Matrix Partners India and Stellaris Venture Partners.
Clifford Chance launches Singapore legal tech incubator
Clifford Chance has launched a start-up incubator focused on legal technology and innovation in Singapore.
Strattam buys majority stake in Australian software specialist
US-based private equity firm Strattam Capital has acquired a majority stake in Australian workforce management software-as-a-service provider Acendre Partners for an undisclosed sum.
PE-backed AsiaInfo raises $115m in Hong Kong IPO
AsiaInfo Technologies, a Chinese telecom software provider that was privatized by a CITIC Capital-led consortium in 2014, has raised HK$899.3 million ($115 million) in its Hong Kong IPO.
Actis exits India's Symbiotec to MOPE, Invascent
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) and healthcare-focused GP Invascent Capital have invested in Indian pharmaceutical developer Symbiotec Pharmalab, providing an exit for Actis Capital.
AVCJ Awards 2018: Responsible Investment: Manuka Health
The transformation of Manuka Health from loosely run family affair into professional segment leader helped organize a cottage industry into big business
Chinese online truck logistics platform raises $170m
Fuyoukache, a Chinese online truck logistics platform, has raised $170 million in a Series D round led by a Bank of China investment unit and Matrix Partners China. Prospect Avenue Capital also participated.
PEP-backed Intellihub acquires New Zealand smart meter business
Intellihub Group, an Australian smart meter company formed earlier this year by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Landis+Gyr, has acquired the metering data and service business of New Zealand power supplier Mercury for NZ$270 million ($185 million).
TNB Ventures, Aura Group close $23m VC fund
Singapore’s TNB Ventures and Australia’s Aura Group have jointly closed a S$31.1 million ($27 million) venture capital fund that will invest in data-driven B2B companies across Southeast Asia.
Fosun-owned Henlius Biotech files for Hong Kong IPO
Shanghai Henlius Biotech, a Chinese drug developer controlled by Fosun Group, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO. Third-party investors include Loyal Valley Capital and China International Capital Corporation (CICC).
Five trends for 2019
AVCJ looks at how its 2018 predictions turned out and identifies some key themes for the year ahead
FountainVest closes debut renminbi fund at $246.5m
FountainVest Partners, which has raised three US dollar-denominated China-focused funds, has closed its first renminbi vehicle at RMB1.7 billion ($246.5 million).