News
VC-backed Equitas files for India IPO
Indian microfinance institution Equitas Holdings has filed for an IPO, providing partial or complete exits for a number of VC and PE investors.
Matrix leads $5m Series A for Hong Kong's Klook
Matrix Partners has led a $5 million Series A round of funding for Klook, a Hong Kong-based online travel start-up.
Australia's Cardno backs improved buyout offer from Crescent
Crescent Capital Partners has moved closer to a buyout of Australian engineering company Cardno by winning board support for the deal with an improved offer.
Providence makes buyout offer for Australia's iSelect
Providence Equity Partners has submitted a buyout offer for iSelect, an Australian Securities Exchange-listed product comparison site specializing in insurance, household utilities and personal finance.
China's Wuxi Healthcare VC joins round for US genetics start-up
Wuxi Healthcare Venture, a corporate venture fund owned by China-based Wuxi Pharmatech, has participated in a $115 million Series E round of funding for 23andMe, a Silicon Valley-based genetics-testing company.
Alibaba seeks full ownership of video platform Youku Tudou
Alibaba Group is looking to take full ownership of Chinese online video platform Youku Tudou in a deal that values the US-listed company at approximately $4.2 billion.
PE-backed Jiuxian approved to list on China’s New Third Board
Jiuxianwang E-commerce, a PE-backed Chinese e-commerce site that sells wines and spirits, has won regulatory approval to list on China’s over-the-counter (OTC) board.
Good Resources, Bank of China set up $5b global M&A fund
Good Resources Holdings, a Hong Kong-listed investment firm controlled by Chinese billionaire Kin-Ming Cheng, will set up a joint global MA& fund worth $5 billion in conjunction with Bank of China’s Hong Kong asset management unit.
SingPost buys US e-commerce player from PE backer
Singapore Post (SingPost) has bought US-based online commerce provider TradeGlobal from its private equity backer Bregal Sagemount for $169 million.
Hera Capital exits China's ActSocial to Linkfluence
Singapore-based private equity investor Hera Capital has agreed to sell its entire stake in Shanghai and Singapore-based social media analytics firm ActSocial to Linkfluence, a European company with a similar remit.
Ant Financial leads round for China VC news platform 36kr
36Kr.com, a Chinese news portal that covers venture capital and technology start-ups, has raised a Series D round of funding led by Ant Financial, an online finance affiliate of Alibaba Group.
Carlyle appoints SE Asia head, fires Indonesia deal-maker
The Carlyle Group has promoted Sunil Kaul to head of its Southeast Asia buyout operations following the sacking of Indonesia-focused Rajiv Louis, who was sanctioned for insider-trading activities while working at UBS.
Australian regulator flags concerns about Brookfield's Asciano deal
Australia’s competition regulator has raised concerns about Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management’s A$8.9 billion ($6.5 billion) cash-and-stock acquisition of listed rail freight and cargo port operator Asciano.
IndEU to close debut India fund at $70m
IndEU Capital, a France-based private equity firm, will close its debut India-focused fund at $70 million before the end of the year.
Australian pub owner rebuffs takeover bid
ALE Property Group, owner of Australia’s largest portfolio of freehold pub properties, has rejected a takeover bid from private investment firm Caledonia that values the business at approximately A$770 million ($564 million).
China outbound travel site Qulv.com raises $20m
Qulv.com, a Chinese outbound travel-focused platform, has raised a $20 million Series A round of funding from domestic GP Yuantai Changqing Fund.
Cassia leads $5.5m Series A round for Vietnam's KAfé Group
Cassia Investments has led a $5.5 million Series A round for KAfé Group, a Vietnamese café chain operator, with participation by existing investor New Asia Partners (NAP).
Monk's Hill commits $5m to Hong Kong-based Playlab
Hong Kong-based mobile game studio Playlab has raised $5 million in Series B funding from Monk's Hill Ventures.
Malaysia's Hermo raises $2m Series A led by Gobi
Shanghai-based VC firm Gobi Partners has led a $2 million Series A round of funding for Hermo, a Malaysian cross-border cosmetics e-commerce platform.
India-focused ASK Capital names Evan Gallagher as CEO
India’s ASK Group has appointed Evan Gallagher, formerly of IDFC Alternatives, as CEO of Singapore-based ASK Capital Management.
High PE exposure drives Asia family office performance - study
Family offices in Asia Pacific produced the second-best performance globally in 2014, in part due to their relatively large private equity exposure, according to a new report.
Sailing, Yunfeng lead $158m round for China’s Rong360
Sailing Capital and Yunfeng Capital have jointly led a RMB1 billion ($158 million) Series D round of funding for Rong360, a Chinese online search platform for loan products.
IFC to invest $25m in India's BigBasket
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, will commit $25 million to Indian online grocer BigBasket.
Legend transfers CAR shares to PE-backed Ucar
Legend Holdings, the largest shareholder in Hong Kong-listed China Auto Rental (CAR), has transferred part of its shares in the company to Ucar Technology, a Chinese chauffeured car service provider.