News
Alibaba's Taiwan fund backs fitness brand
Space Cycle, a boutique fitness studio chain operating in mainland China and Taiwan, has raised a RMB100 million ($15.6 million) Series B round of funding led by Alibaba Taiwan Entrepreneurs Fund.
Creador targets $500m for Southeast Asia, India fund
Creador is targeting $500 million for its fourth Southeast Asia and India-focused fund. The private equity firm closed its previous vehicle at $415 million in late 2016.
Japan's SBI sets up $450m AI-blockchain fund
SBI Investment, the VC arm of Japan’s SBI Holdings, has launched a JPY50 billion ($450 million) fund that will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology.
Temasek leads Series C for China home automation player
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has led a Series C round of undisclosed size for Rokid, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) developer focused on home automation devices.
Ekuinas exits Malaysia’s Tenby Education
Malaysian government-backed private equity investor Ekuinas has exited its majority stake in private school chain Tenby Education Group to International Schools Partnership (ISP).
Clearwater, IFC plan $150m distressed asset JV
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank,and Clearwater Capital Partners will together invest $150 million in distressed assets in Asia.
Fosun Capital leads $80m Series B for China’s BingoBox
BingoBox, a Chinese unmanned convenience store operator, has raised an $80 million Series B round of funding led by Fosun Capital. Existing investors Prometheus Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, GGV Capital and Ventech China also took part.
Korean political crises present PE opportunities
A turbulent 2017 for South Korea in both domestic and international politics has complicated private equity agendas across a number of sectors, but GPs are tracking some positive aftereffects.
Asian credit remains attractive for investors
While global investors often express wariness about investments in Asian credit and special situations, industry veterans remain optimistic about the future of the strategy.
Overseas LPs find entering Asia challenging
Overseas institutional LPs – in particular those willing to write larger checks – have found it difficult to access Asia's private equity market, industry participants told the HKVCA Asia Private Equity Forum.
Carlyle hires Goldman executive for China growth deals
The Carlyle Group has hired Wanlian Liu from Goldman Sachs to lead the firm’s growth investments in China as a managing director.
Crescent buys Australian CRO business
Crescent Capital Partners has acquired Australia-based clinical research organization (CRO) Nucleus Network from The Baker Institute, an independent research institute that focuses on heart disease and diabetes.
ADB commits $50m to True North's India fund
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to invest up to $50 million in the sixth fund of Indian private equity firm True North, formerly known as India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA).
Lazard appoints head of Asia secondaries practice
Dominik Woessner, formerly head of Greenhill Cogent’s secondary advisory business in Asia, has joined Lazard to lead the origination and execution of secondaries transactions in the region.
Quadrant acquires Australia's Darrell Lea
Quadrant Private Equity has acquired Darrell Lea, a candy maker based in Australia and New Zealand.
China apartment rental firm Ziroom raises $621m
Ziroom, a Chinese apartment rental service provider, has raised a RMB4 billion ($621 million) Series A round of funding led by Warburg Pincus, Sequoia Capital, and Tencent Holdings.
China’s Bianlifeng acquires VC-backed Lingwa
Bianlifeng, a Chinese PE-backed cashier-free convenience store operator, has acquired a controlling stake in its peer Lingwa. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Morningside, Legend lead $112m round for China’s Pony.ai
Pony.ai, a China and US-based start-up that develops autonomous driving solutions, has completed a $112 million Series A round of funding jointly led by Morningside Venture Capital and Legend Capital.
Tiger co-leads $20m Series B for India's Razorpay
Tiger Global and Y Combinator have led a $20 million Series B round for India-based online payment gateway Razorpay.
Xiaomi, VC-backed Chinese wearables maker targets US IPO
Huami, a Chinese wearables manufacturer that has a strategic relationship with smart phone maker Xiaomi and several venture capital backers, has filed for a US IPO.
India's Pi Ventures reaches $25m second close on AI fund
Indian early-stage investor Pi Ventures has announced a second close of $25 million on its debut artificial intelligence (AI)-focused fund.
StepStone wins GPIF infrastructure mandate
Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) – the world’s largest pool of retirement savings – has awarded a global infrastructure fund-of-funds mandate to StepStone Group.
Partners Group exits Australia cancer clinic
Partners Group has sold its entire 21% stake in Australia’s Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) to AMP Capital.
KKR joins $1.75b investment in India's HDFC
KKR has joined a group of investors including Singapore’s GIC Private and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) to commit INR111 billion ($1.75 billion) to listed Indian financial institution HDFC.