covid-19
Labour shortages: Tales from north and south
Australia and Japan are facing extreme labour shortages. In the former, GPs can survive on policy support and emergency manoeuvres. In the latter, fundamental strategy shifts are a more immediate imperative
Deal focus: Fortitude rings in 9x return on Shopper
Shopping mall-focused digital advertising business Shopper Media Group rode out Australia’s lockdown woes to seal a sale to Woolworths, with Fortitude Investment Partners getting a 9x return
India's Molbio secures Temasek backing, becomes unicorn
India’s Molbio Diagnostics, a medical equipment maker best known for its COVID-19 testing systems, has raised a USD 85m round featuring Temasek Holdings at an enterprise valuation of USD 1.6bn.
GP profile: Falcon House Partners
Falcon House Partners is one of the few survivors in Indonesia’s promising but challenging middle-market private equity space. Being hands-on is part of the secret
Singapore mRNA vaccine developer raises $140m
RVAC Medicines, a Singapore-based company involved in developing messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines for COVID-19, has closed a Series B round that takes its overall funding to USD 140m.
PE-owned Fitness First winds down in Hong Kong
Private equity-owned Fitness First has wound down its Hong Kong business, which accounts for eight out of approximately 90 centres in a network that extends into Southeast Asia, as pandemic-related restrictions took their toll.
Flexibility first: Investing in the future of work
Investment in work-tech has soared as start-ups devise solutions for workforces that are increasingly distributed in terms of location, structure, and practice. Data, and knowing what to do with it, is key
Family offices to mix caution with courage in 2022
Conservatism in a post-pandemic world must be redefined to include flexibility and exposure to progressive industries, the Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association’s (HKVCA) Asia forum heard.
Fund focus: Northstar navigates fundraising doldrums
Like many GPs, Northstar Group found fundraising difficult but deployment fruitful during the darkest days of pandemic uncertainty. Pausing the virtual roadshow for its latest vintage proved shrewd
2022 preview: Healthcare
Healthcare’s high-cost, rapidly digitizing profile will persist regardless of how COVID-19 plays out in the coming years. China appears set for consolidation, including in biotech
2021 in review: Boom time
Cheap debt and a desire for assets that deliver technology-driven growth have propelled Asia private equity investment to new highs and supported a resurgence in exits. But fundraising still fails to convince
Vision Fund joins $300m round for China vaccine developer
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and 5Y Capital have led a $300 million Series C extension for Suzhou Abogen Biosciences, a Chinese vaccine developer focused on mRNA products, including one for COVID-19.
Portfolio: Dymon Asia and AMES
For all the hubbub about digital businesses taking flight during the pandemic, few categories saw as much upside as traditional medical waste disposal. Dymon Asia Private Equity is enjoying the ride
Value-add needed to navigate consumer boom – AVCJ Forum
Investors are targeting consumer brands with strong fundamentals or overlooked expansion angles as part of efforts to avert spiking valuations, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum heard.