Sectors
Qiming, Trustbridge back China education app developer
Chinese online education app developer Xuebajun has raised a $50 million Series B round led by Qiming Venture Partners and Trustbridge Partners, with participation by existing investor Vertex Ventures.
VC in Japan's universities: Getting schooled
For the past decade, Japan’s universities have been working with venture capital to commercialize their research. Recent developments in the public and private sectors suggest this relationship is evolving
Banks and deal-sourcing: Information arbitrage
Japan’s banks do not have the power that they once did to source deals, but they are far from irrelevant. GPs say these institutions still have a role to play, though their advice must be considered carefully
Japan consumer: Big spenders
Japan’s gradual economic recovery could deliver a wealth of new opportunities in the consumer space. But to realize true value, private equity firms must look deeper, or in certain cases, further
First Reserve subscribes to $126m KrisEnergy rights issue
First Reserve will subscribe to a portion of a S$169.5 million ($126 million) rights issue by its investee KrisEnergy. The capital is required to support the oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) company’s development.
VC-backed iDreamSky gets take-private offer
IDreamSky Technology, a VC-backed Chinese mobile game publisher, has received a take-private proposal from its chairman and CEO barely 10 months after going public on NASDAQ.
Lafarge buys back Baring Asia's stake in its India unit
French cement maker Lafarge has agreed to buy back Baring Private Equity Asia's stake in its India division, Lafarge India, for EUR270 million ($304 million).
Alibaba, Tencent-backed online property insurer raises $931m
Zhong An Online Property Insurance, which was set up by Jack Ma and Pony Ma, the founders of Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings, has raised RMB5.78 billion ($931 million) from a group of investors.
Polaris acquires Japan massage salon operator
Japan's Polaris Capital has acquired massage salon chain Factory Japan Group (FJG) for an undisclosed sum. The investment was made via Polaris Private Equity Fund III.
Multiples to up stake in India's PVR Cinemas
Multiples Alternative Asset Management has agreed to invest INR3.5 billion ($54.6 million) in Indian cinema chain PVR Cinema, raising its stake in the company to 19.6%.
Nordic Capital backs Chinese maker of child car seats
European GP Nordic Capital has acquired Max-Inf, a Chinese manufacturer of children's car seats, to complement its existing portfolio investment in UK child safety products firm Britax.
Indian healthcare player La Renon raises $16m from Sequoia
La Renon, an Indian developer and manufacturer of pharmaceutical drugs and services, has raised INR1 billion ($16 million) in Series A funding from Sequoia Capital.
Sequoia, Fosun support take-private for China's Bona Film Group
Sequoia Capital and Fosun International are supporting a founder-led take-private offer for Bona Film Group that values the US-listed Chinese film distributor at approximately $832 million.
Sequoia's Shen joins China take-private wave
Neil Shen, managing partner at Sequoia Capital China, is supporting take-private bids for budget hotel operator Home Inns and online real estate agency E-House as a growing number of US-listed Chinese companies turn their attention to domestic listings....
Warburg Pincus in partial exit from China Biologic
Warburg Pincus has raised $241.5 million by reducing its stake in US-listed biopharmaceutical developer China Biologic Products.
Hong Kong's GoGovan gets $10m Series B round
Hong Kong app-enabled logistics start-up GoGoVan has raised $10 million in Series B round of funding. Investors in the round included Hu Zemin, the former CEO of Android app store 91 Wireless, and social media firm RenRen.
Hong Kong storage start-up Boxful raises $6.6m
Hong Kong-based "valet storage" start-up Boxful has raised a HK$51.1 million ($6.6 million) Series A round from a consortium including Arocrest Capital, Lonsdale Capital, and several real estate investors.
Archer buys Dun & Bradstreet's Australasia credit-checking unit
Archer Capital has agreed to buy Dun & Bradstreet’s (D&B) Australia and New Zealand-based credit data business for A$220 million ($170 million).
MC-Seamax closes maiden shipping fund at $300m
MC-Seamax Managagement, the US-based GP backed by Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi, has reached a $300 million close on its maiden fund intended to take advantage of depressed prices in the global shipping industry.
KKR-owned Panasonic Healthcare agrees $1.1b Bayer bolt-on
Panasonic Healthcare, the Japanese medical equipment manufacturer in which KKR acquired a majority stake last year, has agreed to buy Bayer’s diabetes care business for EUR1.02 billion ($1.15 billion).
Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui backs GMO Payment
Japan's GMO Internet - which runs its own early-stage investment unit, GMO Venture Partners - has raised JPY8 billion ($65 million) from Sumitomo Mitsui to develop e-commerce payment solution GMO Payment Gateway (GPG).
Indian fashion app Voonik raises $5m from Sequoia, Seedfund
Voonik, a personalized fashion shopping portal based in India, has raised $5 million in Series A funding from Sequoia Capital and existing investor Seedfund.
Morningside leads $15m investment in China's Luqa Pharma
Hong Kong-based pharmaceutical developer Luqa Pharma has raised a $15 million Series A round of funding led by Morningside Ventures.
CNEI re-ups in Chinese prawn producer
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has made a follow-on investment of $6.5 million in Zhanjiang Newpro Foods, a leading integrated operator in China’s prawn farming industry.