News
Dai-ichi Life backs energy-focused Japan VC fund
Japan’s Dai-ichi Life Insurance has agreed to invest JPY1 billion ($9.1 million) in a venture fund managed by local energy and cleantech specialist Energy & Environment Investment (EEI).
Chinese HR SaaS platform secures $80m Series C
Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sunshine Life Insurance have led a $80 million Series C round of funding for IfChange, a Chinese software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that specializes in human resources management.
CHAMP PE buys Australian defense sector supplier
CHAMP Private Equity is set to become the first Australian GP to invest in a company with significant exposure to the local defense sector, following an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Marand Precision Engineering.
South Africa's Naspers to list internet assets on Euronext
South Africa-based conglomerate Naspers plans to spin-off its internet businesses – which include stakes in Chinese giant Tencent Holdings and Indian food-ordering platform Swiggy – through a listing on Euronext in Amsterdam.
Golden Gate, Hanwha target SE Asia's Series B rounds
Singapore-based venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures has partnered with South Korea's Hanwha Asset Management to invest in Series B rounds for Southeast Asian start-ups.
Qiming leads $42m Series B for China cancer drug developer
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $42 million Series B round for Chinese cancer drug developer Abbisko.
NewMargin Ventures launches $1.5b RMB fund
Shanghai-based NewMargin Ventures is looking to raise up to RMB10 billion ($1.5 billion) for a renminbi-denominated fund that will focus on the defense sector.
Moonrise raises $106m for China venture vehicle
Moonrise Capital, a global venture capital-focused investment firm established by Don Pascal, formerly CEO of Commonfund Capital, has raised $105.7 million for a China fund-of-funds product.
Australia's Hostplus establishes US emerging managers program
Australian superannuation fund Hostplus has launched an investment program focused on middle-market US private equity managers with Flexstone Partners, a PE unit of Natixis.
China social e-commerce platform Yunji targets US IPO
Yunji, a Chinese membership-based e-commerce platform that typically works with small-scale retailers that don’t have the resources to compete online, has filed to list in the US.
Australia’s BGH closes in on Navitas buyout
Australian education services provider Navitas has agreed to a A$2.1 billion ($1.5 billion) buyout offer from BGH Capital, AustralianSuper, and Rod Jones, the company’s co-founder and CEO.
Dymon makes $145m take-private offer for Singapore's Challenger
Dymon Asia Private Equity (DAPE) has submitted a take-private offer for Singapore-listed digital marketing services provider Challenger Technologies that values the company at about S$195 million ($145 million).
General Atlantic, Tencent invest $31m in India’s Byju’s
Indian educational technology provider Byju’s has raised a INR2.14 billion ($31 million) round of funding from existing investors General Atlantic and Tencent Holdings.
GPs bullish on Chinese IPOs - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors believe it will become easier to take companies public in China as the country steps up the pace of capital markets reform, creating a system that is more in line with international norms.
LPs emphasize self-awareness in China GPs - AVCJ Forum
Chinese GPs that can identify where their strategies might go wrong – and therefore avoid problems before they emerge – are most likely to emerge as winners in a market characterized by rising competition and changing economic circumstances, LPs told...
East Ventures backs Indonesia auto platform
East Ventures has joined a Series A investment of undisclosed size in Indonesian car sales platform operator Mobilkamu.
Acuris buys Asian investigations firm Blackpeak
Blackpeak, an Asia-based investigative research firm that counts a number of PE players among its clients, has been acquired by Acuris, the parent company of AVCJ.
FOMO is the biggest risk for China investors - AVCJ Forum
The best way for private equity and venture capital investors to manage their China risk is to not deploy capital if they are only motivated by a fear of missing out (FOMO), GPs told the AVCJ China Forum.
Sequoia leads $7.6m round for Indonesia's Kargo
Sequoia Capital India has led a $7.6 million round for Indonesian logistics services provider Kargo Technologies.
China's Up Fintech trades up after $104m US IPO
Up Fintech, an online brokerage firm focused on global Chinese investors that operates in Asia as Tiger Brokers, gained more than 36% in its first day of trading on NASDAQ after raising $104 million in its IPO.
Chinese camera maker Insta360 gets $30m
Insta360, a China-based camera maker specializing in immersive imaging and virtual reality applications, has raised a $30 million funding round from a group of investors including Everest Venture Capital.
China PE investors prioritize long-term development - AVCJ Forum
Long-term structural reforms rather than short-term issues regarding trade tensions and liquidity preoccupy China-focused private equity investors, though they are happy to take advantage of any immediate moderation in valuations.
Hyundai, Kia invest $300m in India's PE-backed Ola
Korean car makers Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors have agreed to invest $300 million in Ola, an Indian ride-hailing platform backed by a number of PE and strategic investors.
India's Pine Labs acquires VC-backed Qwikcilver for $110m
Indian cloud-based payments platform operator Pine Labs has agreed to pay $110 million for Qwikcilver, a gift card technology provider backed by several VC and strategic investors including Accel Partners, Helion Venture Partners, Amazon, and Sistema...