News
China internet players Dianping, Meituan agree merger
Rival Chinese online-to-offline (O2O) services platforms Dianping and Meituan – both of which have received substantial private equity and strategic funding – have agreed to merge. It is thought the combined entity would be worth at least $15 billion....
China's CreditEase reaches first close on Israel fund
CreditEase, a leading Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) microcredit lender, has reached a first close of $30 million on its debut Israel-focused fund.
Golden Gate leads $3.3m Series A for Singapore's HipVan
Golden Gate Ventures has led a S$4.7 million ($3.3 million) Series A round for HipVan, a Singapore-based online store for designer furniture.
Abraaj, Aditya Birla to build India solar platform
The Abraaj Group has teamed up with conglomerate Aditya Birla Group to build a renewable energy platform that will focus on developing solar power plants in India.
2015 AVCJ Awards - voting has closed
Voting for the 2015 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards has closed. Many thanks for your participation.
Indonesia's Falcon House targets $300m for Fund II
Indonesian GP Falcon House Partners is targeting $300 million for its second fund and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) may once again come on board as an LP.
India's Lighthouse reaches $138m final close on Fund II
Lighthouse Funds has reached a final close on its second Indian mid-market focused fund at $138 million, well above the $125 million target.
Australian design platform Canva raises $15m in Series A
Canva, an Australian online design platform, has raised $15 million in a Series A round of funding led by Felicis Ventures alongside existing investors Blackbird Ventures and Matrix Partners.
Motilal Oswal commits $13.8m to India's Kurlon
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) has invested INR900 million ($13.8 million) in Indian mattress maker Kurlon Enterprise.
Convergence, Golden Gate in Series A for Singapore's MoneySmart
Singapore-based personal finance portal MoneySmart has raised S$2.8 million ($2 million) in a Series A round led by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Media Fund, with participation by Convergence Ventures, OPT SEA and Golden Gate Ventures.
CHAMP PE sells Australia's Alleasing to Monash
CHAMP Private Equity has sold Alleasing, an Australia-based leasing business, to Monash Private Capital in a deal said to be worth A$190 million ($135 million).
PE-backed China Huarong launches Hong Kong IPO
Huarong Asset Management, one of four groups tasked with managing non-performing loans (NPLs) from Chinese state-owned banks, is looking to raise up to $3 billion in a Hong Kong IPO.
Peepul Capital commits $15m to Indian online jeweler Voylla
Peepul Capital has committed $15 million to Indian online jewelry and accessory retailer Voylla.
Gaja Capital invests $10m in India's SportzVillage
Gaja Capital has committed INR650 million ($10 million) to Indian fitness education start-up Junior Sports and Services, which manages the SportzVillage brand.
Anchor Equity closes second Korea fund at $850m
Anchor Equity Partners has raised $850 million for its second South Korea-focused fund, less than two years after closing Fund I at $500 million.
ChinaEquity Group to list on New Third Board
ChinaEquity Group, a Beijing-based private equity firm, has won regulatory approval to list its renminbi investment business on China’s National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), also known as the New Third Board.
Vertex raises $600m for China, US, Israel investments
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, has received $600 million from its parent to invest in start-ups in China, the US and Israel.
SoftBank leads $1b round for Renren-backed US online lender
Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group has led a $1 billion Series E round of funding for Social Finance (SoFi), a Silicon Valley online lending marketplace also backed by China social networking site Renren.
PE-backed IMAX China raises $248m in Hong Kong IPO
Private equity-backed movie theater operator IMAX China has raised HK$1.92 billion ($248 million) in its Hong Kong IPO after pricing shares towards the bottom end of the indicative range.
Spice PE invests in Clearwater's India NBFC
Switzerland-based alternative investment firm Spice Private Equity has committed $10 million to Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Altico Capital India.
CDIB Capital appoints Steven Wu as managing director
CDIB Capital, the PE arm of Taiwan’s China Development Financial (CDF), has appointed Steven Wu as managing director.
Philippines' Monde Nissin to buy Quorn Foods from PE owners
Philippines food conglomerate Monde Nissin has agreed to buy Quorn Foods from UK-focused GP Exponent Private Equity and Intermediate Capital Group (IGC) at an enterprise valuation of GBP550 million ($835 million).
RRJ Capital closes Fund III at $4.5b
RRJ Capital has closed its third fund – which invests globally, with an emphasis on China and Southeast Asia – at $4.5 billion after approximately nine months in the market.
Japan virtual currency player gets $2.3m from VC backers
Orb, a Japanese start-up that has developed an authentication technology to facilitate the use of virtual currencies, has raised JPY274 million ($2.28 million) from a group of investors.