News
China's VIPKID receives investment from Bryant Stibel
VIPKID, an English-language learning platform that connects North American teachers with students in China, has received an undisclosed investment from Bryant Stibel, a new VC firm launched by retired NBA star Kobe Bryant and his partner Jeff Stibel....
India's PE-backed Laurus Labs file for IPO
Indian pharmaceutical products developer Laurus Labs has filed for a domestic IPO, offering a partial exit for backers Warburg Pincus and Eight Roads Ventures.
Northstar's Ashish Shastry to join KKR
Ashish Shastry, managing partner at Indonesia-focused Northstar Group, has agreed to join KKR. He will start work later in the year as head of Southeast Asia, succeeding Ming Lu, who was promoted to co-head of Asia private equity in 2015, according to...
VC-backed app developer Meitu files for Hong Kong IPO
Chinese mobile internet company and photo app provider Meitu has filed for a Hong Kong IPO, offering potential exits to investors including IDG Capital Partners and Qiming Venture Partners.
Platinum buys Chinese manufacturing business
US-based Platinum Private Equity has agreed to acquire two Chinese manufacturing units from Singapore’s Broadway Industrial Group for S$150 million ($111 million).
KKR seeks up to $7b for third Asian fund
KKR will target between $6 billion and $7 billion for its third pan-regional fund, taking a relatively small step up from the previous vehicle, which closed at $6 billion in mid-2013.
Indian recruiters launch $10m VC fund
Indian recruitment companies Kelly Services India and Temp Holdings have launched a INR670 million ($10 million) venture capital fund focused on human resources-focused start-ups.
India biopharma player Vyome gets $14m Series C
Indian biopharmaceutical company Vyome Biosciences has raised a $14 million Series C funding round led by US investors Perceptive Advisors and Romulus Capital.
TPG hires Ex-MSPEA executive as partner in Korea
TPG Capital has appointed Sanghoon Lee, formerly a managing director with Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), as a partner to lead the firm’s investments in South Korea.
Jaganath Swamy leaves HarbourVest to lead start-up
Jaganath Swamy, a vice-president at HarbourVest Partners, has left the firm to join Good Parents, a health and wellness-focused start-up based in San Francisco and Hong Kong.
Malaysia's Ekuinas sells 20% stake in Alliance Cosmetics to Navis
Navis Capital Partners has paid MYR61.8 million ($15.3 million) to Malaysian government-backed PE firm Ekuinas for a 20% stake in local cosmetics brand Alliance Cosmetics Group.
Australia's Quadrant buys Goodlife Health Clubs for $198m
Quadrant Private Equity, which recently closed its eighth Australia mid-market fund at $980 million ($754 million), has agreed to buy Ardent Leisure’s Goodlife Health Clubs business for A$260 million.
Blue Sky founder Mark Sowerby to step back
Mark Sowerby, founder and managing director of Australia-based Blue Sky Alternative Investments, will retire from the firm.
WestBridge invests $11m in India's La Opala
WestBridge Capital Partners has invested INR77 million ($11 million) in Indian tableware retailer La Opala.
Brand Capital commits $19m to India's Quikr
Brand Capital, an investment arm of The Times Group, has invested INR1.3 billion ($19 million) in Indian online classifieds services provider Quikr.
Goldman, EastBridge buy majority stake in Korea's Happycall
Goldman Sachs and South Korean mid-market focused PE firm EastBridge Partners have agreed to buy a majority stake in Korean cookware and kitchen appliances maker Happycall.
Bridgeport takes full ownership of fellow Australia GP Hawkesbridge
Bridgeport Capital has taken full ownership of Hawkesbridge Private Equity and will integrate the latter’s portfolio into its own. This follows a management buyout of Hawkesbridge’s property unit at the end of last year.
Temasek in $1.8b exit from India's Bharti, Thailand's Intouch
Singapore's Temasek Holdings has exited its stakes in Bharti Airtel and Intouch, telecommunications service providers based in India and Thailand respectively, to Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) for a total of S$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion).
PE-backed consortium withdraws take-private bid for China's Momo
An investor consortium that includes several private equity firms has withdrawn their take-private offer for Chinese mobile dating app Momo.
New Zealand's Oriens Capital raises $21.8m
New Zealand private equity firm Oriens Capital has received commitments for its debut fund in excess of the vehicle’s first-close target of NZ$30 million ($21.8 million).
TA Associates invests $140m in India's TCNS Clothing
TA Associates has contributed to a $140 million round for Indian women’s apparel retailer TCNS Clothing.
China online finance site Lancai raises $24m
Chinese online finance platform Lancai.com has raised a RMB180 million ($27 million) Series B round of funding led by Leshi Internet Information & Technology, also known as LeEco. Existing investor Legend Capital also participated.
India's Scale Ventures buys Guerrilla Ventures portfolio
Scale Ventures, a recently launched Indian venture capital firm, has acquired the portfolio of seed-stage investor Guerrilla Ventures.
Aspirant Group to acquire Japan's Sagami
Japanese private equity firm Aspirant Group has committed to a JPY1.2 billion ($12.3 million) investment to take a 54% stake in Tokyo-listed kimono retailer Sagami.