India
Indian government infrastructure fund closes at $2.3b
NIIF Master Fund, a rupee-denominated infrastructure investment vehicle backed by the Indian government, has achieved a final close of $2.34 billion, beating its $2.1 billion target.
India renewables platform Ayana receives $70m
India’s Ayana Renewable Power has received $70 million in equity funding from a group of government-backed impact investors, including UK-based CDC Group.
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2021
Industry professionals process the upheavals of 2020 to inform outlooks for a range of markets and investment themes. Realist bullishness abounds
Partners Group invests $250m in India's Ecom Express
Partners Group has committed at least $250 million to Indian door-to-door delivery specialist Ecom Express, facilitating a partial exit for controlling shareholder Warburg Pincus.
Gaja leads $32m Series B for India SaaS start-up
Gaja Capital has led a $32 million Series B round for India-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider LeadSquared.
2020 in review: Surprise guest
The coronavirus pandemic has played havoc with Asian private equity, contributing to a resurgence in IPOs, increased bifurcation in fundraising, a rush for healthcare, and a generally staggered revival
Deal focus: Everstone secures 3x return on outsourcing play
Everstone Group helps outsourcing specialist Everise adapt to the work-at-home realities of the day before exiting the business to Brookfield Asset Management
Blackstone agrees $1b acquisition of India's Piramal Glass
The Blackstone Group has agreed to buy Piramal Glass, a glass packaging business owned by Indian conglomerate Piramal Group, for an enterprise valuation of INR75 billion ($1 billion).
Temasek to anchor Info Edge's debut India VC fund
Info Edge India, a holding company for Indian jobs portal Naukri, has secured an anchor LP commitment of INR3.7 billion ($51 million) from Temasek Holdings for its debut VC fund.
Everstone exits Singapore BPO business to Brookfield
Everstone Group has agreed to sell Everise, a business process outsourcing (BPO) company it formed through the amalgamation of several existing assets, to Brookfield Asset Management.
Everstone buys Indian pharma ingredients player
Everstone Group has acquired a controlling stake in Calibre, an Indian ingredients supplier for the pharmaceutical and nutrition industries, for an undisclosed sum.
India antitrust regulator to probe private equity
India’s competition regulator will conduct a study on the role of private equity in India – identifying any potential antitrust issues – in response to the asset class’ rising prominence.
India's PhonePe spins out from Flipkart, raises $700m
PhonePe, the digital payments platform of Indian e-commerce marketplace Flipkart, has been spun out as a stand-alone entity and raised $700 million in funding at a post-money valuation of $5.5 billion.
Deal focus: Cashfree targets merchants in India's payments boom
Apis Partners' support of India-based Cashfree is driven by a recognition that the democratization of digital payments is as much about empowering traditional merchants as unbanked consumers
PE-owned Burger King India pursues $110m IPO
The Indian franchise of US fast food giant Burger King will launch its IPO this week seeking to raise up to INR8.1 billion ($109.5 million), facilitating a partial exit for majority shareholder Everstone Group.
Faering backs India skincare start-up Pureplay
Faering Capital has led a INR1.1 billion ($14.9 million) Series B round for Pureplay Skin Sciences, an Indian direct-to-consumer beauty and hair care brand.
Tiger, Dragoneer back India's Unacademy at $2b valuation
Indian online education business Unacademy has received funding from Tiger Global Management and Dragoneer Investment Group at a valuation of $2 billion, up from $1.4 billion in its previous round just two months ago.
Apis invests $35m in India's Cashfree
Apis Partners has invested $35 million in Indian digital payments services provider Cashfree as part of a Series B round also featuring Smilegate Investment and Y Combinator.
DST leads $200m Series E for India's Cars24
Russia’s DST Global has led a $200 million Series E round for Indian used car platform operator Cars24 at a valuation of more than $1 billion.
India's Reliance Retail marks close of $6.4b fundraise
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has announced the completion of a funding round for its retail unit with INR472.7 billion ($6.4 billion) in commitments from eight investors.
India's True Balance gets $28m Series D
Indian financial technology provider True Balance has raised a $28 million Series D round from a group including SoftBank Ventures Asia.
Aavishkaar, Circulate invest $18m in Indian recycling company
Aavishkaar Capital and Circulate Capital have invested a combined $18 million in Indian waste recovery and recycling business Nepra.
India food delivery player Zomato raises $195m
India-based food delivery business Zomato has raised $195 million from a group of investors including US-based Kora Management and Luxor Capital, and Korea’s Mirae Asset Capital.
Virtual AGMs & IR: Up in the air
Private equity firms are still finding their feet with annual meetings that no longer take place on the ground. Like it or not, virtual engagement is set to become a larger part of investor relations from now on