Sectors
Corporates embrace VC to understand disruption - AVCJ Forum
Southeast Asian corporates are becoming increasingly involved in technology investment as they seek to understand how their traditional businesses might be disrupted, executives told the AVCJ Indonesia Forum.
PE-backed Vietnamese lender completes $992m IPO
Vietnam Technological & Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank, TCB), a private-sector lender backed by Warburg Pincus, has raised VND21 trillion ($922 million) in the country’s biggest IPO to date.
China VC specialization to accelerate as ecosystem expands
China’s venture capital ecosystem is set to see a rapid proliferation of niche sector funds as overall economic growth piques domestic competition in the asset class.
Affinity-backed Tegel gets $310m buyout offer
Tegel Group, a poultry producer in which Affinity Equity Partners is the largest shareholder, has received a privatization offer from Philippines-based Bounty Fresh Foods that values the business at approximately NZ$438 million ($310 million).
Deal focus: MiningLamp brings AI to low-tech China
China Renaissance backs MiningLamp's ambitions to power the information processing needs of China's small businesses
India's PE-backed Bharti, Indus to merge
Indus Towers, an Indian telecom tower network backed by Providence Equity Partners, will merge with domestic rival Bharti Infratel, whose investors include KKR and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).
VCs should favor originality in SE Asia start-ups - AVCJ Forum
International venture capital firms are misguided in their attempts to find established parallels for Southeast Asian businesses in other markets because they could end up missing out on true innovation, industry participants told the AVCJ Indonesia Forum....
NSI goes independent, rebrands as Openspace Ventures
NSI Ventures, a Southeast Asian early-stage investor affiliated to Northstar Group, is to become fully independent and rebrand itself as Openspace Ventures.
BGH-led group makes $3.1b bid for Australia's Healthscope
A group of PE investors led by BGH Capital and including AustralianSuper, GIC Private, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has launched a buyout offer for Australian hospital operator Healthscope that...
Japan's D4V closes debut venture fund at $46m
D4V, a firm set up by Japanese seed-stage investor Genuine Startups and US-based design consultancy Ideo, has closed its debut venture capital fund with more than JPY5 billion ($46 million) in commitments.
Sinovation confirms Fund IV close at $500m
Chinese VC firm Sinovation Ventures has confirmed a final close for its fourth fund at the targeted corpus of $500 million.
Q&A: PropertyGuru's Steve Melhuish
In 11 years, PropertyGuru has evolved from a Singapore start-up into the leading online real estate listings platform in five Southeast Asian markets. Co-founder Steve Melhuish reviews the ups and downs
Deal focus: Opportunities at the end
TR Capital takes secondary stakes in Indian eyewear chain Lenskart and microfinance specialist Arohan Financial Services
SoftBank leads $1.9b funding round for China's Manbang
The Full Truck Alliance Group, a Chinese trucking logistics firm also known as Manbang, has raised a $1.9 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group.
Fund focus: Qiming sees growing opportunity set
Qiming has chosen to stick to its successful formula with its sixth US dollar-denominated vehicle, which recently closed at $935 million
Singapore accelerators: Corporate orientation
The rise of corporate-backed innovation programs in Singapore suggests the emergence of a new model for start-up development. Stakeholders are monitoring the pros and cons of the phenomenon
Eight Roads launches $275m China tech fund
Eight Roads Ventures, the proprietary investment arm of Fidelity International, has launched a China-focused technology fund worth $275 million. The parent company is the sole LP.
Ron Cao's Sky9 raises $200m for China VC fund
Sky9 Capital, a venture capital firm established by Ron Cao (pictured), formerly of Lightspeed China, has closed its debut US dollar-denominated fund at $200 million.
CRE Alliance invests $40m in Chinese tutoring business
CRE Alliance, a private equity joint venture between China Resources Enterprise (CRE) and Great Wall Asset Management, has made its first investment, backing a Chinese tutoring business.
Shenzhen government launches $79m blockchain fund
The government of Shenzhen has launched a VC fund with an initial corpus of RMB500 million ($79 million) to invest in blockchain start-ups in the city.
Chinese VCs in $11m round for US-based NuProbe
Sequoia Capital China and Serica Partners have co-led an $11 million Series A round for US-based molecular diagnostics start-up NuProbe.
Shenzhen Capital backs Asia push by US 3D printing player
Shenzhen Capital has joined a $30 million Series C round for US-based 3D printing company Formlabs that will support an expansion effort in China and Asia.
PE to find few inroads in renewable energy
Renewable energy appears set to remain a fringe interest for private equity investors despite rapid sector growth and significant opportunity for disruption.
China e-commerce back office support platform raises $120m
CDH Investment and Huaxing Growth Capital, a PE arm of financial advisor China Renaissance, have led a $120 million Series B round of funding for Yunji, a Chinese company that helps online retailers establish and maintain their platforms.