Articles by Suhas Bhat
Deal focus: Validus takes holistic approach to SME financing
Singapore peer-to-peer lender employs algorithm-based credit assessment tools and an unorthodox approach to origination as it seeks to address inefficiencies in Southeast Asian supply chain finance
B Capital leads Series B for Indian bookkeeping start-up
B Capital has led a $60 million Series B round for Khatabook, a digital ledger software provider for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in India.
Iron Pillar adds $45m to debut India fund
Indian venture capital firm Iron Pillar Capital Management has added $45 million to its maiden fund to support the capital needs of existing portfolio companies.
TPG partner set to lead KKR's India PE business
KKR has recruited Gaurav Trehan, a partner at TPG Capital, to head up its private equity operations in India.
General Atlantic joins PE backers of Reliance's India app platform
General Atlantic has agreed to invest INR65.98 billion ($870 million) in Jio Platforms, becoming the fourth investor in the holding company for Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries' internet and telecom assets.
India's Sixth Sense targets $200m for third fund
Sixth Sense, an Indian venture capital firm that invests in early-stage start-ups, has set a target of INR15 billion ($200 million) for its third fund.
Indian agtech start-up raises $5.9m Series A
Indian agricultural technology start-up Intello Labs has raised $5.9 million in a Series A funding round led by Saama Capital, Singapore’s Grow and SVG Ventures-Thrive.
UAE’s EMPG acquires Rocket-backed Lamudi Global
EMPG, a real estate classifieds marketplace group headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, has acquired Lamudi Global, which runs property market portals in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Deal focus: GudangAda fills FMCG distribution void
Keeping every small store in Indonesia well-stocked is a monumentally complex challenge that GudangAda tackles by bringing buyers and sellers together online.
Coronavirus & Vietnam: Hobbled winner
A successful COVID-19 containment plan has underlined Vietnam’s status as a leading investment destination in Southeast Asia. GPs are impressed but still hamstrung
Singapore SME financing platform gets $20m
Validus, a Singapore-headquartered financing platform for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia, has raised $20 million in a Series B+ round co-led by Vertex Growth and Orion Fund.
India-China regulation: Punching bag
Chinese venture capital investors have become an increasingly significant presence in India’s venture capital ecosystem, but a recent regulatory reform calls their participation into question
Tribe Capital leads $13m round for Indian logistics aggregator
Shiprocket, an Indian logistics aggregator that primarily solves shipping needs of small businesses, has raised $13 million in a funding round led by US VC firm Tribe Capital.
Carlyle pursues control of India's SeQuent for $210m
The Carlyle Group has reached agreements that could see it pay INR16.3 billion ($216 million) for up to 74% of Indian animal healthcare services provider SeQuent Scientific.
CVC to invest in Indian cancer care chain operator
CVC Capital Partners plans to acquire 36.4% of HealthCare Global Enterprises (HCG) in a deal that ultimately could see it assume majority ownership of the Indian cancer care center operator.
Vista Equity to invest $1.5b in Reliance's India app platform
US-based Vista Equity Partners has agreed to invest INR113.67 billion ($1.5 billion) for a stake in Jio Platforms, a holding company for Indian internet and telecom assets, including Reliance Jio Telecom.
Deal focus: Oriente’s plastic alternative
Well-capitalized though not immune to COVID-19 disruption, Indonesia and Philippines-focused online lender Oriente is waiting for the market to get back to normal
Everstone sells Asia payroll business to US strategic player
India and Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Everstone Group has agreed to sell Singapore-headquartered human resources software provider Excelity Group to US peer Ceridian. The size of the deal has not been disclosed.
Cashlez gains on debut after Indonesia IPO
Indonesian mobile point-of-sale solution provider Cashlez - a portfolio company of Mandiri Venture Capital - traded up on debut following an IDR87.5 billion ($5.7 million) domestic IPO.
Indonesia's GudangAda gets $25m Series A
Indonesian B2B e-commerce platform GudangAda has raised $25.4 million in a Series A round led by Sequoia Capital India and Alpha JWC Ventures.
Asia private debt: Inflection point?
With other pools of capital running dry for many companies, private debt has become a more appealing proposition. Institutional funds have a chance to impose themselves on a bank-driven market
Warburg Pincus invests $26.7m in IDFC First Bank
Warburg Pincus has invested INR2 billion( $26.7 million) in IDFC First Bank as part of an INR20 billion capital raise by the Indian lender.
Silver Lake to invest $750m in Reliance's India app platform
Silver Lake Partners has agreed to invest INR56.5 billion ($750 million) for a stake in Jio Platforms, the holding company behind a number of apps and the parent of India's largest telecom operator.
Beenext leads $13m Series B for Indian logistics platform
Indian logistics platform LoadShare Networks has raised INR1 billion ($13.2 million) in a Series B round led by Beenext.