Sectors
Fund focus: WI Harper sticks to small scale
While other VC firms have seen significant jumps in fund size as they target the growth space, WI Harper's latest Asia-US vehicle will remain focused on early-stage deals with a cross-border angle
Autohome shareholders challenge sale to China's Ping An
Minority shareholders of Chinese auto services company Autohome have filed a petition against a recent move by Telstra to sell the majority of its controlling stake to Ping An Insurance Group for $1.6 billion.
Asia leads first quarter global fintech investments
VC-backed companies in Asia led a worldwide surge of investments in financial technology companies in the first quarter of 2016, according to a new report from KPMG and CB Insights (CBI).
Vivo raises $100m for Sino-US healthcare VC fund
Healthcare specialist Vivo Capital has closed its latest Sino-US venture capital fund with around $100 million in commitments. The vehicle will focus on early-stage investments.
Kyobo Life bids for MBK-owned ING Life Korea
Kyobo Life Insurance, Korea’s third-largest insurer, has entered the bidding process for MBK Partners-owned ING Life Korea.
Deal focus: CITIC exits a bigger Tri-Wall
CITIC Capital Partners overcame strategic competition to buy a majority stake in Tri-Wall. After six years and significant financial and geographic expansion, it is exiting to a strategic player
China micro VC: The micro wave
Micro VC firms are a relatively new segment in China’s venture capital ecosystem, the product of angel investors going institutional. They focus on early stage deals, but as demand grows, will they stay there?
China's Everbright, Baofeng buy control of MP & Silva
Two Chinese companies – Everbright Securities and entertainment specialist Beijing Baofeng Technology – have acquired a 65% stake in Italy-based sports media rights firm MP & Silva (MPS).
Chinese manufacturer buys PE-owned Thermal Dynamics
China Zhejiang Yinlun Machinery, a Shenzhen-listed manufacturer of heat exchangers, has acquired US-based counterpart Thermal Dynamics International (TDL) for $56.65 million, facilitating a full exit to US private equity backer Evergreen Pacific Partners....
China online grocer Benlai raises extended Series C round
Benlai.com, a Chinese B2C-focused online grocery supplier, has raised an extended Series C round of funding worth $17 million.
L Capital supports acquisition of global rights to Jones the Grocer
L Capital Asia has taken a significant minority stake in a company that has acquired the global rights to Jones the Grocer, a gourmet food retailer that originated in Australia.
Samara exits India-listed Asian Oilfield Services
Samara Capital has exited its stake in Indian listed oil and gas exploration services provider Asian Oilfield Services to Mumbai-based energy exploration firm Oilmax Energy for INR300 million ($4.4 million).
Highland leads $16m round for NuTonomy's Singapore push
Highland Capital Partners has led a $16 million Series A investment in NuTonomy, a US tech developer aiming to commercialize a driverless taxi fleet in Singapore by 2018.
Ares to buy American Capital in $3.4b deal
American Capital, which has a presence in Asia through its energy and infrastructure investment business, will be acquired by Ares Capital Corporation (ACC) in a deal worth $3.43 billion.
Corporate VC: A fine balance
Corporations in Asia increasingly see the merits of captive VC units, but they must be clear in their financial and strategic objectives in order to give teams the right combination of autonomy and guidance
Portfolio: The Riverside Company and Simcro
The Riverside Company believes New Zealand’s Simcro has what it takes to build its animal health device business worldwide, and is using its global reach and long-term perspective to help the company succeed
Australian agriculture: Investor stampede
Australia’s politically charged beef industry has attracted a wave of new investment, much of it driven by overseas buyers. As this interest elevates valuations and emotions, PE firms must capture value with care
Fund focus: Geodesic helps US start-ups go big in Japan
The former US ambassador to Japan and the ex-head of Andreessen Horowitz's growth investment practice have joined forces to help US start-ups gain traction in Japan
Fund focus: Mekong looks to crack Vietnam's consumer code
Mekong Capital hopes to continue its success in Vietnam's consumer sector with the $112 million Mekong Enterprise Fund III, relying on a value creation model that is now tried and tested
PE-backed SF Express targets $6.6b Shenzhen reverse merger
China’s largest express delivery services provider SF Express, which is backed by several PE investors, is looking to list in Shenzhen through a reverse merger that values the business at RMB43.3 billion ($6.6 billion).
China's Fujian Grand Chip offers $751m for Aixtron
Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund (FGC), an investment vehicle controlled by Chinese entrepreneur Zhendong Liu, has offered to buy German semiconductor equipment maker Aixtron for EUR670 million ($751 million).
DMP leads $3m Series A for Malaysia's Jirnexu - update
Singapore-based venture capital firm DMP has led a $3 million Series A round for Malaysian financial technology start-up Jirnexu.
Australia's Data Republic gets $7.6m Series A round
Australia-based financial technology company Data Republic has received $10.5 million ($7.6 million) in funding from National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac and Qantas.
PE-backed Giant completes $2b backdoor listing in Shenzhen
Chinese online game developer Giant Interactive Group, which was taken private by a consortium of PE investors in conjunction with the company’s CEO, has completed a backdoor listing in Shenzhen that values the business at RMB13.1 billion ($2 billion)....