News
Alibaba sets up non-profit VC unit to boost HK entrepreneurs
China’s Alibaba Group has created a HK$1 billion ($129 million) non-for-profit foundation to support Hong Kong start-ups.
Hahn & Co closes Fund II at $1.2b, raises $700m co-invest vehicle
Hahn & Co has reached a final close on its second South Korea buyout fund at the hard cap of $1.2 billion, and raised a separate $700 million co-investment pool to support the $3.6 billion acquisition of Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation (HVCC).
Clearwater's Petty becomes EMPEA chairman
Robert Petty, managing partner and co-founder of Asia-focused special situations and credit investor Clearwater Capital Partners, has been elected chairman of EMPEA.
Valiant leads $26m Series D for India's FirstCry
Valiant Capital Partners has led a $26 million Series D round for Brainbees Solutions, the Indian start-up behind babies and children-focused retailer FirstCry.com.
Sequoia leads Series B round for China P2P car-sharing app
Sequoia Capital has led a Series B round of funding for Tiantian Yongche, a Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) car-sharing platform.
L Capital Asia exits India's PVR Leisure via share buyback
L Capital Asia has exited its stake in PVR Leisure, a unit of India multiplex operator PVR, via a share buyback arrangement with the parent.
Qiming, IDG back China B2B plastics trading platform
Qiming Venture Partners and IDG Capital Partners have led a $20 million Series A round of funding for Zhaosuliao.com, a Chinese B2B plastics trading platform.
Longreach buys jeweler Primo Japan from Baring Asia
North Asia-focused GP The Longreach Group has acquired Primo Japan from Baring Private Equity Asia, with a view to expanding the bridal jewelry specialist into mainland China.
Canada’s Fairfax Financial raises $1b for India investment unit
Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings has raised $1 billion for its recently-formed India investment unit through a combination of an IPO and a private placement.
Gobi, ABC lead $6m Series A for China's AutoBot
Gobi Partners and ABC Capital have led a $6 million Series A round for Chinese start-up AutoBot, which makes diagnostic tools for cars.
CDC invests $25m in rural-focused India rail freight business
CDC Group, the UK development finance institution (DFI), has committed $25 million to Indian railway freight handler Pristine Logistics.
Facebook co-founder leads round for Singapore property site
Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook and Singapore resident, has led a S$2 million ($1.5 million) round of seed funding for 99.co, a local property listings site. Sequoia Capital also participated alongside several entrepreneurs-turned-investors.
Clearwater makes partial exit from India's Oricon
Special situations investor Clearwater Capital Partners has made a partial exit from Mumbai-listed diversified company Oricon Enterprises, selling a 2.9% stake via an open market trade.
Lakeshore Capital invests $4.5m in Thailand steakhouse chain
Thailand-focused GP Lakeshore Capital Partners has invested $4.5 million in KT Restaurant, the Bangkok-based operator of mid-market steakhouse chain Santa Fe.
Navis tops off Fund VII with shariah-compliant vehicle
Navis Capital Partners has reached a final close of $1.5 billion on its seventh fund with the addition of a shariah-compliant parallel vehicle. The bulk of the international LP commitments, totaling around $1.3 billion, came by February of last year.
Alvarez & Marsal adds transaction advisory to Asia services offering
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is expanding its Asia operations with the addition of a pre-investment due diligence unit to complement existing performance improvement, turnaround management and business advisory services.
Japan's Integral to refinance bankrupt airline
Japanese GP Integral Corp. has agreed to refinance ailing domestic airline Skymark which filed for bankruptcy protection this week.
Japan's Gumi Ventures reaches a $16.9m close on Fund II
Gumi Ventures - the corporate venture arm of the Japanese mobile gaming company of the same name - has reached a JPY2 billion ($16.9 million) final close on its second fund.
L Capital Asia backs Saudi Arabia gourmet confectioner
L Capital Asia - a PE firm sponsored by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH - has secured its first Middle East investment with the acquisition of a minority stake in Bateel, a luxury confectioner based in Saudi Arabia.
CICC funds exit China TCM business as rival agrees $1.3b buyout
Two PE funds managed by China International Capital Corporation (CICC) will exit Jiangyin Tianjiang Pharmaceutical as China Traditional Chinese Medicine (China TCM) buys a majority stake in the business for up to RMB8.34 billion ($1.34 billion).
Hillhouse leads Series B for India auto portal CarDekho
Hillhouse Capital has led a Series B round of funding worth $50 million for GirnarSoft, owner and operator of India-based automobile trading platform and information portal CarDekho.
First Eastern's Chu launches Nova Scotia fund
Victor Chu, chairman of Hong Kong-based First Eastern Investment Group, is leading a group of private investors that will create a C$50 million ($40 million) venture capital fund in Nova Scotia, Canada.
PE buyout talks with Australia's Bradken fall through
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Bain Capital have pulled their take-over bid for Australian mining industry supplier Bradken due to volatility in the commodities market.
YJ Capital launches Fund II, backs Indonesia fashion site
YJ Capital - the corporate VC arm of Yahoo! Japan - has announced the launch of its second fund, which has made its first investment in Indonesia fashion flash sale site VIP Plaza.