Sectors
Blackstone to invest $400m in Hong Kong-listed HEC Pharm
The Blackstone Group has agreed to invest $400 million in YiChang HEC Changjiang Pharmaceutical (HEC Pharm), a Chinese drug developer listed in Hong Kong, through a convertible bond issuance.
Y Combinator hires ex-Baidu COO to lead China business
Silicon Valley-based seed-stage accelerator Y Combinator (YC) has chosen Qi Lu, the former group president and COO of search giant Baidu, as the founding CEO of its China branch, YC China.
Golden Equator launches Brunei accelerator
Singapore’s Golden Equator has launched an accelerator in Brunei aimed at helping local small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) expand across Southeast Asia.
China-US computer vision start-up Clobotics gets $11m
Clobotics, a China and US-based computer vision start-up backed by a number of venture capital firms, has raised $11 million in Series A funding.
Japan's Line launches $10m token fund in Korea
Japan’s Line Corporation has set up a $10 million fund via a Korean subsidiary that will make token investments in early-stage blockchain start-ups.
Deal focus: BlackRock finds an entry into Taiwan solar
BlackRock Real Assets acquires a solar power portfolio from a Taiwan renewable energy specialist, marking a number of firsts for the firm
Indian e-commerce: Tipping the scales
India’s new e-commerce policy seeks to provide clarity for all industry participants, but many stakeholders are wary that the government plans to tilt the playing field against overseas players
Data infrastructure: Steel and thin air
Wrongly dismissed as a mere communications upgrade, data infrastructure is a new asset sub-class unto itself. A growing field of investors is recognizing the evolving opportunity set
GGV seeks $1.9b for new venture funds
Sino-US venture capital firm GGV Capital is targeting $1.88 billion for its latest fund, which like its previous fund is grouped into four separate vehicles.
Macquarie buys Asia solar platform
Green Investment Group (GIG), a global clean energy investment platform managed by Macquarie Capital, has acquired Conergy Asia & ME, a Singapore-based solar power developer owned by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Tennenbaum Capital Partners.
Nexus leads $8m Series A for India-US BPO platform
Nexus Venture Partners has led an $8 million Series A funding round for Observe.AI, a business process outsourcing (BPO) services provider based in the US and India.
Deal focus: EMR spins golden returns from Martabe
EMR Capital has secured a $1.2 billion exit from Indonesia's Martabe gold and silver mine to strategic player United Tractors
Chinese electric car maker Nio files for US IPO
China’s Nio, an electric vehicle (EV) maker backed by a number of private equity firms, has filed for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange that is expected to be the largest US listing for a Chinese car company to date.
Q&A: GLP's Yoshiyuki Chosa
Warehouse operator GLP is betting heavily on technology as it builds out capacity in the Tokyo region. Yoshiyuki Chosa, president of the company’s Japan unit, sketches a difficult but rewarding logistics market
Openspace closes second SE Asia VC fund at $135m
Southeast Asia-focused VC firm Openspace Ventures – best known for being the first institutional investor in Indonesian ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek – has closed its second fund at the hard cap of $135 million.
Crescendo hits $398m hard cap on second Korea fund
Crescendo Equity Partners, a mid-market Korean GP that concentrates on the industrial technology space, has closed its second fund at the hard cap of KRW450 billion ($398 million).
TPG-backed Dodla files for India IPO
Indian dairy firm Dodla Dairy has filed for an IPO that will provide a partial exit for its private equity backer TPG Growth, the growth investment arm of TPG Capital.
GA, Hillhouse lead $120m Series C for Chinese co-working space
MyDreamPlus, a Beijing-based co-working space provider, has raised $120 million in Series C funding led by General Atlantic (GA) and Hillhouse Capital.
Taiwan blockchain player Dexon gets $20m from IDG
IDG Capital has led a $20 million investment in Taiwan-based blockchain technology developer Dexon Foundation.
China commercial space start-up raises $44m Series B
China International Capital Corp (CICC) has led a RMB300 million ($44 million) Series B funding round for Chinese commercial space industry start-up One Space.
Wattle Hill bids for Australia's Capilano Honey, targets China growth
Wattle Hill RHC, a private equity firm that targets Australian businesses with products and services that appeal to Chinese consumers, has won board approval for a A$189.7 million ($138 million) privatization of honey producer Capilano Honey.
KKR to buy majority stake in India's REEL for $530m
KKR has agreed to buy a 60% stake in India-based environmental services provider Ramky Enviro Engineers (REEL) for $530 million via a combination of primary and secondary investments valuing the company at $925 million.
True North to acquire orthopedics division of India’s Glenmark
True North has agreed to acquire the Indian orthopedics and pain management business of drug maker Glenmark Pharmaceuticals at a valuation of INR6.4 billion ($91.8 million).
Golden Gate launches crypto, blockchain fund
Singapore’s Golden Gate Ventures has launched a cryptocurrency and blockchain fund in partnership with LuneX Ventures, a new firm established by Kenrick Drijkoningen (pictured), Golden Gate’s former head of growth.