Education
Deal focus: CLSA CP school deal breaks new ground
CLSA Capital Partners makes what is likely the first-ever private equity investment in a Japanese cram school
VC-backed China Online Education files for US IPO
China Online Education Group, operator of VC-backed English-learning mobile app 51Talk, has filed for a US IPO.
CLSA Capital Partners backs Japan school operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has invested in Japanese school operator BC Ings through its Sunrise II buyout fund.
CVC exits China education business EIC
CVC Capital Partners has sold its stake in Education International Corporation (EIC), a China-based business that helps students enroll in universities overseas, to a consortium that includes the company founder.
Deal focus: Kaizen backs loans for learning
Supported by Kaizen and Zephyr Peacock India, non-banking finance company Varthana wants to provide funding to Indian schools that would otherwise go without
India's Varthana raises $14m Series B
Indian education-focused non-banking finance company (NBFC) Varthana has raised INR930 million ($14 million) in Series B funding, led by new investors Kaizen Private Equity and Zephyr Peacock India.
Fosun Kinzon leads $23m round for China’s Huivo
Fosun Kinzon Capital, a VC arm of Fosun Group, has led a RMB150 million ($23 million) extended Series B round of funding for Huivo, a Chinese online education solutions provider for kindergartens.
Goldman, Blue Sky buy Australia student accommodation group
Goldman Sachs and Blue Sky Alternative Investments have taken a controlling stake in The Pad, an Australian student accommodation group, as part a $1 billion joint venture.
PE investors guardedly optimistic on Indonesia - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors are guardedly optimistic about Indonesia, with positive sentiment about government reforms and rising deal flow tempered by concerns about the difficult investment environment.
India's CL Educate refiles for IPO, Gaja to part-exit
Indian education services provider CL Educate has refiled for its IPO, providing a partial exit for PE backer Gaja Capital Partners.
Sequoia, Sofina commit $75m to India-based Byju's
India education start-up Byju’s has raised $75 million from Sequoia Capital and Belgium’s Sofina to diversify its product pipeline and for international marketing.
Gaja targets mix of majority, minority India deals
One of the first two investments from Gaja Capital's recently closed third fund is a control transaction and Gopal Jain, the firm's managing partner, expects more of the same as the Indian economy matures.
Ekuinas agrees Malaysia education bolt-on
Malaysian PE firm Ekuinas is set to consolidate its control of the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) after Sapura Resources agreed to sell its stake in the group, plus related education assets, for MYR247 million ($60.9 million).
Guo Jin leads $15m round for China education platform
Guo Jin Capital, a Shenzhen-based early-stage VC firm, has led a RMB100 million ($15.3 million) Series B round for ABC360, an online English learning platform.
Australia services: Roll-up rapport
As Australia rebalances its economy in the wake of the commodities downturn, services are coming to the fore. Private equity investors continue to see consolidation opportunities
Deal focus: Partners Group brings global expertise to Australian childcare
Partners Group lost out to Navis Capital Partners when Guardian Early Learning was put up for sale three years ago. The firm wasn't going to let the opportunity slip from its grasp a second time
Singapore's EDBI, TAL Education in $52m round for US-based Knewton
New York-based adaptive learning system developer Knewton has raised $52 million from a consortium of investors including EDBI - the corporate VC arm of Singapore's Economic Development Board - and Chinese education company TAL Education Group.
Deal focus: Investors exit as Tsingda refocuses on domestic IPO
OCBC's mezzanine capital unit and RRJ Capital both secure nearly 3x returns as China-based Tsingda eEdu Corp positions itself for a domestic listing
Navis sells Guardian Early Learning to Partners Group
Partners Group has bought a controlling stake in Australian early childhood education provider Guardian Early Learning Group from Navis Capital Partners at a post-deal valuation of A$440 million ($313 million)
OCBC’s PE unit exits China-based Tsingda eEdu
Mezzanine Capital Unit (MCU), a PE investment unit under Singapore’s OCBC Bank, has sold its stake in China education service provider Tsingda eEdu, generating nearly 3x return on a $20 million investment made in August 2014.
Sequoia leads $84m round for China education site
Sequoia Capital has led a $84 million Series C round of funding for Xiaozhan Jiaoyu, a Chinese online education platform that focuses on students studying abroad.
Deal focus: S Chand unlocks digital doors
IFC and Everstone support S Chand's plans to take India educational publishing firmly into the digital age
IFC, Everstone back India educational publisher
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has led a funding round for Indian textbook publisher S Chand, with participation by existing investor Everstone Capital.
Shenzhen Qianhe leads $47m round for China education platform
Shenzhen Qianhe Capital, an investment firm set up by former leading Chinese mutual fund manager Yawei Wang, has led a RMB300 million ($47 million) Series B round for education group Uniquedu.