Hong Kong (China)
VC-backed Chinese O2O retail platform pursues HK listing
Dmall, a Chinese O2O retail platform provider for traditional retailers backed by IDG Capital among others, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
Hong Kong's AIA commits $200m to LeapFrog
Hong Kong-listed insurance company AIA Group has agreed to commit USD 200m to various funds managed by LeapFrog Investments, a UK-based impact investor with an extensive Asia footprint.
HSBC commits $3bn to Greater China venture debt fund
HSBC has earmarked USD 3bn for a Hong Kong and mainland China start-up lending programme. It marks the bank’s first foray into venture debt in Asia.
Asia private credit: Muffled momentum
The conservative virtues of private credit relative to private equity have come into fashion in a risk-off world. But global participation in the Asian side of the story will be limited
PE-backed CompareAsiaGroup merges with US-listed SPAC
CompareAsiaGroup, an Asia-focused financial products comparison platform also known as MoneyHero Group, has agreed to merge with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise value of approximately USD 342m.
Hong Kong family office SPAC agrees $27bn merger with Vingroup EV unit
A special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) launched by the family office of Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho, has agreed to merge with the electric vehicle (EV) unit of Vietnam’s Vingroup.
Deal focus: Hong Kong’s Gryfyn issues web3 passport
Gryfyn, the latest project from Hong Kong’s Animoca Brands, has attracted several VC investors, most of which are not existing backers of its parent. The mission is simple: expand the metaverse
Hong Kong's HKBN confirms talks with I Squared
HKBN, one of Hong Kong’s leading broadband internet providers, has confirmed that negotiations with infrastructure investor I Squared Capital over a potential acquisition are ongoing.
Logistics start-up Lalatech pursues Hong Kong IPO
Lalatech Holdings, the parent company of Hong Kong delivery platform Lalamove, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong. This would represent a liquidity event for the likes of Hillhouse Capital, MindWorks Ventures, and Shunwei Capital.
HKEX relaxes rules for IPOs by pre-profit tech companies
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) has loosened its listing requirements to allow pre-profit technology companies to go public with market capitalisations as low as HKD 6bn (USD 764m).
BPEA EQT seeks financing for Vistra, Tricor merger
BPEA EQT is pushing ahead with the merger of Asia-headquartered corporate services providers Vistra Group and Tricor Group, having initiated discussions on pricing a USD 1.66bn financing package.
Deal focus: Mapping malls and metaverses
Mapxus sees indoor maps of high-traffic areas in high-density cities as the last piece of infrastructure to digitalise. The Hong Kong start-up has won corporate and VC backing to expand region-wide
Hong Kong: Action on innovation
Efforts to turn Hong Kong into a technology ecosystem are still at an early stage. Investors and start-up founders believe many of the ingredients are there, but the recipe can be flawed or ignored
Hong Kong PE stalwart John Levack dies aged 64
John Levack, who spent over two decades with Electra Partners Asia and was a long-serving board member at the Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (HKVCA), has died aged 64.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Deal of the Year – Mid Cap: Honour Line Shipping
Nexus Point Capital secured the acquisition of Honour Line Shipping despite higher offers from rival bidders because it did its homework on the industry and established good relations with the founders
Hong Kong pledges more capital for local start-ups
The Hong Kong government is stepping up its investments in technology start-ups, pledging additional funding to programmes run by HKSTPC, an incubator under Hong Kong Science & Technology Park, and Cyberport.
Ex-Blue Pool partner targets $200m fundraise
Danny Lee, formerly head of global private equity at Blue Pool Capital, the family office of Alibaba Group co-founder Joe Tsai, has established his own firm and is looking to raise a USD 200m fund.
LPs want more transparency in Asia GP relationships
LPs are willing to back first-time managers and reengage with China, but they want to see more from GPs in return for taking these risks, the Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association’s (HKVCA) Asia Forum heard.
Bain backs Asia biorefinery platform
Bain Capital Private Equity has confirmed a significant equity commitment to EcoCeres, a Hong Kong-based biorefinery. The size of the investment was not disclosed.
Hong Kong's VMS appoints PE head
Hong Kong-based multi-strategy alternatives asset manager VMS Group has appointed Jianming Zou, formerly of New Horizon Capital, as head of private equity.
PAG closes fifth credit fund on $2.6bn
PAG has closed its fifth pan-Asian private credit fund at the hard cap with USD 2.6bn. It is said to be the largest direct lending fund raised in the region to date.