News
Singapore’s Credence hits $50m first close on debut VC fund
Credence Partners, a growth-stage private equity firm in Singapore, has achieved a $50 million first close for a venture capital fund that will invest in Southeast Asia. The full target is $100 million.
Burda Principal promotes Albert Shyy to Asia head
Burda Principal Investments (BPI), the investment arm of European technology and media company Hubert Burda Media, has promoted Albert Shyy to managing director and head of Asia.
Sequoia leads $30m Series B in Chinese RPA player
Encoo Technology, a Chinese robot process automation (RPA) service provider, has raised a $30 million Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China. GSR Ventures and Future Capital re-upped, while Shenzhen Venture Capital came in as a new investor.
Partners Group rebuffed in pursuit of Australia's Healius
Australian healthcare services provider Healius has rejected a A$2.1 billion ($1.4 billion) buyout offer from Partners Group, saying it doesn’t reflect the fundamental value of the company.
China's Harbour BioMed gets $75m Series B extension
China-based biotech developer Harbour BioMed has closed an extended Series B round with a fresh $75 million commitment from a group of VCs. It initially raised $85 million in 2018.
Europe's Eurazeo promotes Asian agenda
Eurazeo’s Europe-China fund – a joint effort with China Investment Corporation (CIC) and BNP Paribas – will come online at the end of this month with an initial EUR400 million ($445 million) in dry powder. It is the France-based GP’s latest milestone...
ByteDance invests $26m in Chinese talent manager
Chinese celebrity management agency Mountain Top has closed a RMB180 million ($26 million) Serie B funding round provided by ByteDance Technology, operator of the Toutiao news aggregation and TikTok short video platforms.
Temasek leads extended round for Singapore's ShopBack
ShopBack, a Singapore-based rewards platform that generates sales for online and offline retailers, has completed a $75 million extended round of funding led by Temasek Holdings.
VC-backed Chinese driverless delivery start-up gets $28m
Addor Capital and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Lixiang Automotive have led a RMB200 million ($28 million) in an extended Series A round for Neolix, a domestic unmanned distribution start-up.
Indian payment network for teens raises $4.7m
A group of investors including Y Combinator, Sequoia Capital India and angel investors have contributed $4.7 million in funding to FamPay, a social network for Indian teenagers centered on a parent-supervised payment service.
UK strategic acquires China's VC-backed Yimian Data
UK-based enterprise IT services provider Ascential has acquired Yimian Data, a Chinese e-commerce analytics business backed by local VC firms ZhenFund and Legend Star.
CDH closes sixth China PE fund at $1.5b
CDH Investments has closed its sixth flagship US dollar-denominated fund with $1.5 billion in commitments. The initial target was $2.5 billion.
Meituan-Dianping invests $87m in China food supply chain player
Shenzhen-based agricultural products distributor Wangjiahuan has raised RMB600 million ($87 million) in Series B funding led by Meituan-Dianping. Existing backer Hidden Hill Capital - a PE firm established by warehouse operator GLP - also took part.
VCs back Chinese expense management start-up
Fenbeitong, an enterprise payment and expense management services provider based in Beijing, has raised $36 million in an extended Series B round led by Ribbit Capital, Eight Roads Ventures and Glade Brook Capital.
Korea's SK Telecom launches digital healthcare JV with local GP
Korea’s SK Telecom has spun out its digital healthcare development unit to form a joint venture (JV) with local private equity firm Newlake Alliance Management.
Coronavirus intensifies Asia exit, performance concerns - Bain
Asian private equity investors face considerable challenges in 2020 with the coronavirus outbreak likely to exacerbate existing concerns around an impending global downturn, a drop-off in exits and dwindling deal-making activity in China, according to...
US GP Jaguar acquires China logistics player
US private equity investor Jaguar Growth Partners has launched its first Asia fund with the acquisition of Chinese logistics operator Brilliant.
OrbiMed targets $750m for Asia healthcare fund
US-based healthcare investment firm OrbiMed has launched its fourth Asian private equity fund with a view to raising $750 million.
Japan's Jafco closes sixth flagship VC fund at $765m
Jafco, Japan’s largest venture capital investor, has confirmed a final close on its sixth flagship fund at the hard cap of JPY80 billion ($765 million).
KKR looks to invest one-third of its impact fund in Asia
KKR expects to deploy one-third of its recently closed debut global impact fund in Asia and is adding dedicated resources in the region to work on deal sourcing and execution.
Chinese restaurant robot supplier raises $28m Series B
Keenon Robotics, a Chinese manufacturer of robots for use indoors, has raised a RMB200 million ($28 million) in Series B funding led by Source Code Capital, Walden International and Shanghai Kechuang Fund, an investment arm of state-owned Shanghai International...
PEP's secure assets fund to buy Australia-listed Zenith Energy
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to acquire 100% of Australia-listed off-grid power company Zenith Energy in deal that values the company at A$250 million ($163 million).
Northern Arc reaches first close on India debt fund
Northern Arc Investments, an India-focused private debt investor, has achieved a first close of $23 million on its Northern Arc India Impact Fund.
China facilitates faster public market exits for PE and VC investors
China's securities regulator has revised rules on public market sell-downs, making it easier for PE and VC investors to exit their positions in portfolio companies post-IPO.