China
Q&A: Samena Capital's Shirish Saraf
With its focus on Asia and the Middle East and a roster of big-name owner-shareholders, Samena Capital is a GP with a difference. Shirish Saraf, the firm’s founder and vice chairman, explains the strategy
Canyon Bridge founder charged with insider trading
One of the founders of Canyon Bridge Capital Partners – a private equity firm backed by Chinese LPs that was blocked from buying US-based Lattice Semiconductor earlier this year – has been charged with insider trading.
China's Guazi raises additional $180m for Series B
Guazi, an online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used car trading platform that spun out from US-listed Chinese classifieds site 58.com, has raised another $180 million to close its Series B round at $600 million.
Hony backs Chinese pharmacy management platform
Hony Capital has led a Series B round of funding for Quanyi Pharmacy Chain, an investment and operating platform that is intended to consolidate Chinese retail drug stores.
China used car auction player Tiantian Paiche closes Series C
Tiantian Paiche, a Chinese online used car trading platform, has raised $80 million from investors such as Industrial Bank of China to close its Series C round of funding at $180 million.
China's Four Seasons Education targets $111m US IPO
Four Seasons Education, a China-based after-school math tutoring services provider that is backed by Chengwei Ventures and Crimson Capital, is looking to raise as much as $111.1 million through a US IPO.
ClearVue, TAL lead $55m round for China's Changingedu
Consumer-focused GP ClearVue Partners and US-listed TAL Education Group have jointly led a $55 million Series D round for Changingedu, a China-based education platform that connects teachers and students.
MSPEA to exit Chinese convenience store chain Hi-24
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has agreed to sell Chinese convenience store chain Hi-24 to strategic investors in a deal worth $84 million.
Asian GPs join $41m round for Wonder Workshop
Wonder Workshop, a US-based education robot maker with a strong presence in China, has raised a $41 million Series C round from a group of investors including Tencent Holdings, MindWorks Ventures and Softbank Korea.
PV Wang to leave China asset manager Noah
Piau-Voon Wang, who joined Chinese wealth manager Noah Holdings last year as co-CIO, will leave the firm at the end of this month.
China Everbright, Walden launch semiconductor fund
China Everbright and venture capital firm Walden International Group have jointly launched a $500 million fund focused on semiconductors and industrial technology.
Deal focus: GPs boost Prenetics' Asia genetics effort
Beyond Ventures and Alibaba Group have led a funding round that will support the Asia expansion of Hong Kong-based genetics healthcare start-up Prenetics
LP interview: LGT Capital Partners
LGT Capital Partners sees Asia as a misunderstood investment destination among Western LPs due to unfounded concerns about the risk of the region. Local connections are key to building a strong strategy
China's HighLight Capital closes Fund II at $250m
Chinese healthcare-focused GP HighLight Capital, which was set up by former CDH Investments executive Steven Wang, has closed its second US dollar-denominated fund at the hard cap of $250 million.
China M&A: Common ground
Chinese outbound M&A is stigmatized at the moment due to concerns about regulatory barriers both foreign and domestic, but buyers and sellers can reach mutually beneficial compromises
Deal focus: Vingoo to broaden its fresh offering
Chinese fresh orange juice vending machine maker Vingoo is planning national expansion with a Series B round led by Legend Capital and Joy Capital
Samsung, Ant Financial back China's DeePhi Tech
Samsung Electronics and Ant Financial have jointly led a $40 million extended Series A round for DeePhi Tech, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) technology developer. China Merchants Venture Capital and China Growth Capital also took part.
PE-backed China online marketing player files for US IPO
China-based online digital marketing business iClick Interactive Asia, which is backed by Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI) and SSG Capital Partners, has filed for an IPO in the US.
Asian consortium to buy Australia's Real Pet Food from Quadrant
Hosen Capital, New Hope Group and Temasek Holdings have agreed to buy Australia-based Real Pet Food – a leading global producer of fresh chilled pet food – from Quadrant Private Equity at a valuation of A$1 billion ($773 million)
Deal focus: Hua Juan leverages celebrity selling power
China's Hua Juan plans to use a new investment led by Sinovation Ventures to grow its personality-based online advertising model
Home automation: Digital digs
Home automation has graduated from a hobbyist niche to a sprawling, multifaceted consumer market that mobilizes a suite of cutting-edge technologies. Asian investors are identifying the early entry points
Chinese financial products platform files for US IPO
Jianpu Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese VC-backed independent financial products search and recommendation platform Rong360, has filed for an IPO in the US.
China's VC-backed Xing Bian Li acquires industry peer
Shanghai-based Xing Bian Li, a VC-backed new retail company that integrates online and offline channels, has acquired industry counterpart 51 Snackbar.
Nexus Point reaches $200m first close on Greater China fund
Nexus Point, a private equity firm launched by former MBK Partners executive Kuo-Chan Kung, has reached a first close of just over $200 million on its debut Greater China-focused fund.