Articles by Holden Mann
China Everbright reaches first close for global fund
China Everbright has reached a first close of $264 million on a new global investment fund.
Profile: Blackbird Ventures' Rick Baker
Blackbird Ventures’ Rick Baker sees his unplanned career path as essential to helping build the strengths needed to help revive Australia’s venture capital scene
Deal focus: NextVR takes live VR worldwide
US-based virtual reality broadcaster NextVR raises $80 million for expansion, mostly from Asian investors
Tencent, Foxconn lead $175m round for India's Hike
Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings and manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group have led a $175 million funding round for Indian mobile messaging app Hike.
IFC proposes $40m investment in China's Anyou
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a $40 million investment in Chinese animal feed producer Anyou Biotechnology Group.
IFC commits $45m to two China funds
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has committed $45 million between two Chinese PE funds.
SoftBank leads $62m investment for India's Oyo
Indian budget hotel booking app Oyo has raised a INR4.1 billion ($62 million) funding round from existing investor SoftBank Group.
India's Suryoday Micro Finance raises $15m, Aavishkaar exits
Indian micro-finance institution (MFI) and non-banking finance company (NBFC) Suryoday Micro Finance has raised INR1 billion ($15 million) in fresh capital, with Aavishkaar Goodwell fully exiting the company in a separate transaction.
MDI leads funding round for Singapore's Red Dot
Metra Digital Innovation Ventures (MDI), the corporate venture arm of state-controlled telecommunications firm Telkom Indonesia, has led a funding round for Singapore-based online payment solutions provider Red Dot Payment.
ICICI in $15m exit from India's TeamLease
ICICI Venture has exited nearly all of its remaining stake in Indian staffing services company TeamLease for INR1 billion ($15 million).
Malaysia-based FirstFloor invests in Skeleton Technologies
Malaysian VC firm FirstFloor Capital has led a EUR13 million ($14.5 million) Series C round for Estonian energy storage system developer Skeleton Technologies to support its growth plans in Southeast Asia.
Creation, Gawa in $24m round for India's Fusion
US-based PE firm Creation Investments Capital Management and Spain's Gawa Capital have led a INR1.6 billion ($24 million) funding round for Indian financial institution Fusion Microfinance.
BCCL, GVFL lead $7m round for India's Travelyaari
Gujarat Venture Finance (GVFL) and Bennet, Coleman & Co. (BCCL), owners of the Times of India, have led a $7 million Series B round for Indian online bus booking platform Travelyaari.
Fund focus: Reinventure seeks disruptive fintech
Leveraging its synergies with Westpac, Reinventure Group will invest in start-ups through which the bank can access innovations that complement its business model or integrate technology solutions directly into its systems
CDPQ buys 20% stake in Plenary's Australia business
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has agreed to acquire a 20% stake in Plenary Group Holdings, which controls the Australian operations of the global specialist infrastructure investor Plenary Group.
Asian investors back $80m global expansion for NextVR
NextVR, a US-based start-up developing live streaming content for virtual reality (VR), has raised an $80 million Series B round, mostly from investors in Asia.
India tech M&A: Power plays
Recent consolidation moves in India’s technology sector are a welcome sight for investors that have poured money into battles for market share. However, not all start-ups should be resigned to this fate
Oak Hill exits India's Vertex to strategic buyer
Oak Hill Capital Partners has reportedly exited its stake in the India branch of business process outsourcing (BPO) company Vertex Data Science to domestic mobile communications company Altruist.
PE investors buy Fugro's Asia subsea business
US private equity firm SCF Partners and Australia's Viburnum Funds have agreed to acquire the Asia Pacific subsea services business of Netherlands-based Fugro.
Australia's Westpac invests $38m in Reinventure
Australia's Westpac Banking Corp. has committed A$50 million ($38 million) to the second fund of Reinventure Group.
RGT Capital invests in Australia's AxiCorp
RGT Capital, a multi-family office investment vehicle based in Australia, has acquired a stake in Australian investment company AxiCorp.
Sequoia leads $7.5m investment in Singapore crowdfunding platform
Sequoia Capital India has led a $7.5 million Series A round for Singapore-based crowdfunding platform Funding Societies.
Fidelity, DBJ lead $20m round for Japan's Raksul
Fidelity Investments and the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) have led a JPY2.1 billion ($20.3 million) round of funding for Japanese online printing start-up Raksul.
PICC leads $64m round for China's Neusoft Xikang
PICC Property and Casualty, a subsidiary of People's Insurance Company of China (PICC), has led a $64 million funding round for cloud-based medical and healthcare services provider Neusoft Xikang.