Sectors
StepStone enters real estate space, targets Asia expansion
StepStone has moved into the real estate sector with the addition of executives from Clairvue Capital Partners. The new team has built portfolios in the US and Europe and plans to add professionals in Asia over the next 12 months.
Intel Capital backs New Zealand, India software start-ups
Intel Capital, the captive VC arm of the global chipmaker, has announced investments in two software developers, based in New Zealand and India, respectively.
Australia's PEP set for exit as Asaleo Care raises $616m
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) will make a full exit from Asaleo Care as the hygiene and paper products manufacturer raises A$655.7 million ($616.6 million) through an IPO.
CDH-backed Beijing Digital Telecom eyes $152m HK IPO
Beijing Digital Telecom (BDT), China’s largest mobile telecom retail chain, which is backed by 3i Group and CDH Investments, plans to raise up to HK$1.18 billion ($152 million) through an IPO in Hong Kong.
Mandarin plans China expansion for Italian footwear textiles maker
Mandarin Capital Partners and Private Equity Partners have acquired control of Milan-based Industrie Chimiche Forestali SpA (ICF), which develops adhesives and special textiles for the footwear industry.
China menstruation-tracking app Meet You raises $35m
SIG Asia Investment has led a $35 million Series C round of funding for Meet You, a Chinese menstrual health mobile app, with participation from Matrix Partners and China Renaissance K2 Ventures.
Baring Asia agrees Japan electronics buyout
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to acquire the audio-video operations of Japanese car electronics maker Pioneer Corp. alongside Pioneer's rival Onkyo Corp.
IDG-backed Tian Ge targets $208m HK IPO
Tian Ge Interactive Holdings, a Chinese social video-sharing platform that has received funding from IDG Capital Partners and internet company Sina, is seeking to raise up to HK$1.61 billion ($208 million) through a Hong Kong IPO.
Next-owned Hirepool abandons New Zealand offering
Hirepool Group – a New-Zealand equipment rental firm owned by Next Capital – has abandoned plans to raise up to NZ$262 million ($227 million) through an IPO.
VC-backed Xunlei jumps 24% on debut after $88m IPO
Xunlei, a Chinese file-sharing and download management platform backed by a string of VC firms, saw its stock gain 24% on its first day of trading on NASDAQ following a $88 million IPO.
China’s Pixar dream wins VC support
Gary Wang has start-up pedigree. The Chinese entrepreneur took online video company Tudou.com from nothing to a US listing, and two years ago, a merger with rival Youku.com in a deal worth $1 billion. Wang now runs an animated film studio, which is already...
Creador’s water scarcity play
The purchase of a minority stake in Vectus Industries, an Indian manufacturer of plastic water tanks and pipes, takes Creador’s tally to $100 million across five deals so far this year. Each investment came from the Southeast Asia and India-focused...
Quick exit for Quadrant in pet services
Nine months ago, the bidding process ended for City Farmers, Australia’s third-largest pet services business. Number two player Petbarn lost out to Quadrant Private Equity. A couple of months after that Petbarn joined forces with Greencross, the country’s...
China logistics: Filling the gap
Spurred by a lack of high-quality supply and rising demand from retail customers, private capital is flooding into China’s logistics sector. The fundamentals are strong, but investors and operators must be disciplined
VC in China P2P: Revert to the norm?
China venture capital goes through fads and phases. A business model – perhaps already proven in another market – is rolled out locally. This precipitates a flood of copycats, plunging the market into a period of cutthroat competition. Consolidation...
Lightspeed China closes Fund II at $260m
Lightspeed China Partners has reached a final close of $260 million on its second China fund, exceeding the target of $220 million.
Riverside buys Australia orthopedics business
Global mid-market buyout firm The Riverside Company has acquired Global Orthopaedic Technologies (GOT), an Australian orthopaedic implants manufacturer.
CDH, China Grand Pharma buy control of contact lens maker
CDH Investments has teamed up with Hong Kong-listed China Grand Pharmaceutical & Healthcare to acquire a 71.25% stake in contact lens maker Shanghai Weicon Optical for $78.75 million.
Canada's CPPIB commits $322m to Indian infrastructure
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has agreed to invest INR20 billion ($322 million) in L&T Infrastructure Development Projects, a subsidiary of India’s largest engineering and construction company, Larsen & Toubro.
Standard Chartered PE backs Korea's AJ Networks
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has invested $60 million in AJ Networks, the largest shareholder in listed South Korean car rental business AJ Rent A Car.
PE-owned Luye Pharma seeks up to $764m in HK IPO
Luye Pharma Group - a Chinese drugmaker backed by GIC Private, CDH Investments, CITIC Private Equity and New Horizon Capital - is seeking to raise up to 764 million from a Hong Kong IPO.
Australia's Lifx goes from Kickstarter to Series A
Sequoia Capital has led a $12 million Series A round of investment for Lifx, an Australian manufacturer of Wi-Fi enabled light bulbs.
China's Innovation Works exits Elex Technology via trade sale
Beijing-based incubator Innovation Works has sold its entire 3.49% stake in mobile games platform Elex Technology to Chinese Universe Publishing and Media for RMB70 million ($11 million).
Warburg Pincus backs property developer Jinmao’s HK IPO
Warburg Pincus has agreed to buy HK$77.5 million worth of shares in Chinese property developer Jinmao Investments’ Hong Kong IPO, which is targeting up to HK$3.39 billion ($437 million).