News
China education player Zuoyebang raises $750m
Zuoyebang, a Chinese K-12 education platform that spun out from domestic search giant Baidu, has raised $750 million in Series E funding led by Fountainvest Partners and Tiger Global Management.
CapitalG leads $27.5m Series E for Indian NBFC
CapitalG, Google’s corporate venture arm that focuses on growth equity investments, has led an INR2.1 billion ($27.5 million) funding round for Indian non-bank lender Aye Finance.
Bond Capital backs India education platform Byju's
Bond Capital, the technology investment firm established by Silicon Valley veteran Mary Meeker, has struck its debut deal in India with a commitment to online learning provider Byju’s.
CLSA acquires Japan household jobs marketplace
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has acquired Assist, a Japanese marketplace that facilitates sourcing helpers for daily household jobs.
East Ventures reaches $57m first close on eighth fund
Indonesia’s East Ventures has reached a first close of $57 million on its eighth fund. The target is $88 million.
China's Agora more than doubles in value after $350m US IPO
Agora.io, a real-time voice and video communication platform established by Tony Zhao, formerly CTO of Chinese social networking player YY.com, saw its stock gain 151% on its NASDAQ trading debut following a $350 million IPO.
Carlyle to buy 20% of Piramal's India pharma business
The Carlyle Group has agreed to invest approximately $490 million for a 20% stake in pharmaceutical division of India’s Piramal Enterprises, which has interests ranging from outsourced drug development to an ophthalmology joint venture with Allergan.
Tencent buys Malaysia streaming platform Iflix
Tencent Holdings has agreed to acquire the assets of Malaysia-headquartered streaming platform Iflix, which was previously backed by a number of private equity and strategic players.
Indonesia's BRI Ventures launches fund
BRI Ventures, a unit of Bank Rakyat Indonesia, has launched a locally incorporated fund that will invest local start-ups.
General Atlantic invests $100m in Chinese drug maker
General Atlantic has invested $100 million in NASDAQ-listed Chinese cancer drug developer Hutchison China MediTech - also known as Chi-Med - a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings.
Japan Industrial Partners to buy Olympus' imaging division
Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has agreed to acquire Olympus Corporation’s camera and lens business, which has posted losses in each of the last three years.
Australia cleantech start-up secures $7m
Horizons Ventures – a VC firm controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing – has joined a A$10 million ($7 million) round for an Australian start-up specializing in fungi-based carbon capture technology.
Ascent Capital backs Myanmar internet provider Frontiir
Ascent Capital, a Singapore-based private equity firm, has made its debut investment in Myanmar by leading a $26 million commitment to internet service provider (ISP) Frontiir.
Bain to buy Virgin Australia
Bain Capital has entered into an agreement to acquire and recapitalize beleaguered airline Virgin Australia Holdings (VAH).
China establishes $5b SME support fund
China has launched a government guidance fund intended to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with initial capital commitments of RMB35.75 billion ($5 billion).
Clifford Capital takes 50% stake in Singapore's Pierfront
Singapore-based infrastructure investor Clifford Capital has acquired a 50% stake in local private credit and mezzanine player Pierfront Capital for an undisclosed sum.
India's Milkbasket raises $5.5m Series B
Inflection Point Ventures has led an INR420 million ($5.5 million) Series B round for Indian grocery delivery startup Milkbasket.
KKR set for $10b first close on flagship Asia fund
KKR expects to complete a first close of $10 billion on its fourth pan-Asian fund at the end of June.
Hillhouse invests $400m in China data center player
Hillhouse Capital has taken a 3.9% interest in US-listed Chinese data center developer GDS Holdings for $400 million.
AVCJ daily bulletin returns June 26
AVCJ's daily bulletin will not be published on June 25 due to the public holiday in Hong Kong.
VC-backed SinocellTech enjoys strong Star Market debut
Chinese drug developer SinocellTech nearly trebled in value on its first day of trading on China's Science and Technology Innovation Board (Star Market) following a RMB1.28 billion ($181 million) IPO.
Australia's Canva raises $60m at $6b valuation
Canva, an Australian graphic design platform, has raised $60 million in VC funding, almost doubling its valuation to $6 billion. It attributed the growth to a shift online amid COVID-19.
Southern Capital, HPEF agree exit from Singapore school
Southern Capital Group and HPEF Capital Partners – formerly Headland Capital Partners – have agreed to sell Singapore-based Canadian International School (CIS) to Hong Kong-listed China Maple Leaf Educational Systems for S$680 million ($488 million),...
Toshiba seeks exit from PE-controlled flash memory business
Toshiba is exploring ways to fully exit its 40.2% stake in Kioxia Holdings, two years after selling control of the Japanese flash memory division to a Bain Capital-led consortium for an enterprise valuation of JPY2 trillion ($18.7 billion).