News
Affinity closes fifth Asia fund at $6b
Affinity Equity Partners has completed a first and final close on its fifth pan-Asian fund at the hard cap of $6 billion after approximately five months in the market.
Orchid raises $1.3b for Fund VII – update
Orchid Asia has closed its seventh fund at $1.3 billion. The vehicle had initially targeted a final close of $900 million by November 2017.
China's AIpark closes $15m Series A
AIpark, a Chinese start-up that applies artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the car parking industry, has closed a Series A round of about RMB100 million ($15.4 million) led by the US-China Green Fund.
OrbiMed re-ups in India's Vivimed Labs
OrbiMed has invested a further $7.5 million in the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) unit of India-listed drug maker Vivimed Labs.
MBK promotes COO to partner
MBK Partners has promoted Bryan Byungsuk Min, currently the firm’s COO, to partner.
Chinese smart phone maker gets $136m round
Intel Capital and Hua Capital have co-led a $136 million Series A round of funding for Huaqin Telecom, a Chinese smart phone and tablet manufacturer.
VCs invest $18m in Japan lifestyle media player
Every, a Japanese media company focused on lifestyle-oriented and smartphone-accessible content, has raised about JPY2.1 billion ($18.3 million) from a number of VCs, including World Innovation Lab.
J-Star exits Japan's Aisei Pharmacy to management team
J-Star has agreed to exit Japanese drugstore chain Aisei Pharmacy to company management less than two years after completing a JPY11.4 billion ($101 million) privatization.
Japan's Polaris sells power equipment supplier
Polaris Capital has agreed to sell Yodogawa Transformer, a Japanese power generation and equipment services company it acquired in early 2016, to Orix Rentec Corp.
MSPEA leads acquisition of Greek skincare business
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) and Profex, a Chinese skincare company, have agreed to pay EUR48.3 million ($57.7 million) for a majority interest in Korres, a Greek specialist cosmetics manufacturer.
Carlyle sells Japan's AvanStrate to Vedanta Resources
Vedanta Resources, a metals and mining company founded in India and now headquartered in London, has agreed to assume control of Japanese LCD glass manufacturer AvanStrate from The Carlyle Group.
Yunfeng joins $817m investment in Suning finance unit
Yunfeng Capital is among 15 investors that have committed RMB5.34 billion ($817 million) for a 16.5% stake in Suning Finance, a financial services subsidiary of Chinese home appliance retailer Suning Commerce Group.
China's LexinFintech makes gains after $108m US IPO
LexinFintech, a VC-backed Chinese financial technology start-up best known for consumer lending platform Fenqile, has traded strongly on NASDAQ following its $108 million IPO.
ClearVue leads round for China smart vending machine business
ClearVue Partners has led a Series B round of unspecified size for Chinese smart vending machine operator Citybox. The consumer-focused GP also participated in the company’s $15 million Series A in September.
Co-founder steps back from Australia's Pacific Equity Partners
Paul McCullagh has become the first of the four founders of Australia-based buyout firm Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) to step back, swapping his managing director position for a senior advisor role.
China's UrWork gets $45m Series C round
Chinese co-working space operator UrWork has raised RMB300 million ($45 million) in Series C funding led by Qianhai Wutong Mergers and Acquisitions Funds, a vehicle backed by Qianhai Equity Exchange.
Australia's Crescent loses partner
Tim Martin, a partner at Australian middle market private equity firm Crescent Capital Partners, has departed the firm ahead of its next fundraise.
Warburg Pincus invests in India's CAMS
Warburg Pincus has invested in Indian financial services provider Computer Age Management Services (CAMS).
Carlyle growth fund buys India BPO player
The Carlyle Group has acquired Indian healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) provider Visionary RCM Infotech through its latest Asia growth fund, Carlyle Asia Growth Partners V (CAGP V).
OTPP acquires Australia's Jasper Farms
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) has acquired Jasper Farms, a leading avocado producer in Australia.
SoftBank, Mubadala in $4b round for China's Didi Chuxing
Chinese ride-hailing app operator Didi Chuxing, which has received substantial PE and VC backing, has raised $4 billion in a new round of funding from investors including SoftBank Group and Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala.
Crescent sells Australia's GroundProbe to Orica
Australia's Crescent Capital Partners has sold domestic mining services technology supplier GroundProbe to explosives and blasting equipment company Orica for A$205 million ($157 million).
ICG invests $200m in Korean injection molding company
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) has invested $200 million for a substantial minority stake in Yudo China Holdings, a Korea-headquartered plastic injection molding specialist, as part of efforts to consolidate the business ahead of an IPO.
Quadrant buys Ardent's Australia entertainment business
Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to buy the bowling and entertainment division of Australia’s Ardent Leisure Group for A$160 million ($123 million). This will be the second acquisition by the GP’s family and children’s entertainment platform.