News
Mainland Chinese investors barred from owning Taiwan start-ups
Chinese groups are free to make venture capital investments in Taiwan but they will not be able to gain control over local start-ups, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).
Alibaba leads $60 million Series C1 round for Quixey
Alibaba Group has led a Series C1 round of funding worth $60 million for US app search engine Quixey, as the Chinese e-commerce giant continues to ramp up its presence in the US tech sector.
Qiming leads Series A for China medical research, translation provider
Qiming Venture Partners has led a Series A round of funding for MedSci, a Chinese clinical research and academic translation services online platform.
Fosun buys $138 million stake in Thomas Cook
Chinese investor Fosun International has purchased a 5% stake in UK-based travel agent Thomas Cook Group for GBP91.8 million ($138 million).
Baird Capital backs China used car auction platform
Baird Capital has agreed to lead a Series A round of funding for Carsing, a Shanghai-based used car auction platform. FLAG Squadron Capital and Delta Capital are also contributing to the round.
Korean education social network raises $3.2m
Classting, a South Korean social networking site for students and teachers, has raised a KRW3.5 billion ($3.17 million) Series B round of funding led by Partner Investment, a tech-focused PE firm based in Seoul.
Ally Bridge participates in $57m round for US biotech firm
Healthcare-focused GP Ally Bridge has participated in a $57 million round of funding for EndoChoice, a US-based endoscopic imaging specialist, with a view to helping the company to expand in China.
CVC-backed HKBN IPO prices at top of range, raises $750m
Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN), an internet service provider controlled by CVC Capital Partners, has raised HK$5.8 billion ($750 million) in its Hong Kong IPO.
VC-backed Chinese home furnishing site Jia.com raises $160m
Jia.com, a Chinese home furnishing and decoration B2C online platform backed by several VC firms, has completed a Series D round of funding worth $160 million.
Markus Ableitinger to leave Capital Dynamics
Markus Ableitinger has resigned from his position of managing director and co-head of Asia Pacific investment management at Capital Dynamics after more than 10 years with the firm.
Taiwan's Bureau of Labor Funds issues real estate, infrastructure mandates
The Bureau of Labor Funds (BLF), Taiwan’s largest pension fund system, will allocate a total of $2.4 billion to 12 global alternatives managers - four in real estate and eight in infrastructure.
Chinese parenting site Lamabang raises $100m
China online retailer Vipshop has led a $100 million Series C round of funding for Lamabang, an online social networking platform that focuses on mothers.
Cool Japan invests $37m in TV channel Wakuwaku
The government-backed Cool Japan Fund will contribute JPY4.4 billion ($37 million) to a JPY 11 billion investment in entertainment channel Wakuwaku Japan alongside SKY Perfect JSAT Corp (SJC).
Japan's Recruit buys VC-backed restaurant booking site
Japanese employment and internet services company Recruit Holdings has acquired German VC-backed restaurant booking site Quandoo for EUR198.6 million (about $219 million).
Rocket Internet delivers Series A financing to Bridestory
Rocket Internet has participated in a Series A round of funding for Indonesian online wedding marketplace Bridestory. The size of the investment was not disclosed, but it is said to be between $1 million and $10 million.
Australian LPs sacrificing higher returns due to fee concerns - AVCJ Forum
Australians are missing out on higher returns on their retirement savings as a result of superannuation funds’ preoccupation with the fees charged by private equity managers and their reluctance to participate in the asset class, industry participants...
Singapore’s GIC boosts stake in Merlin Entertainments
GIC Private has nearly doubled its stake in London-based Merlin Entertainments, operator of Madame Tussaud’s and Legoland, to 5.2%.
Alibaba affiliate to invest $383m in China’s Enlight Media
Hangzhou Ali Venture Capital, a VC subsidiary owned by Alibaba Group founders Jack Ma and Simon Xie, has acquired a RMB2.4billion ($383 million) stake in Chinese TV and movie producer Enlight Media.
JD, Beijing Water to launch $320m environment fund
China-focused private equity firm JD Capital has partnered with Beijing Water Business Doctor to launch a RMB2 billion ($320 million) environment fund.
Singapore launches first equity crowdfunding platform
Andy Lim, co-founder of Tembusu Partners and founder financial services group MoneyWorld, has launched Singapore's first equity crowdfunding platform.
PE-owned AWAS to sell aircraft to Macquarie
AWAS Aviation Capital, which is owned by Terra Firma Capital Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), will sell an operating lease portfolio of 90 aircraft to Australia's Macquarie Group.
KIC, Kingdom Holdings to partner on PE investments
Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) and Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), an investment company controlled by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, have agreed to collaborate on private equity investment opportunities.
IMJ's Koichi Saito launches new VC fund
Koichi Saito, a former partner at Japanese venture capital firm IMJ Investment Partners, has launched his own VC outfit - KK Fund.
Exit timing, operations key to high-value Australia deals - AVCJ Forum
Acquiring a company at a high valuation means a PE firm has to draw more deeply on its operational expertise to turn a profit, but it is equally important to maximize returns by getting the exit timing right.