Articles by Holden Mann
Cassia leads $5.5m Series A round for Vietnam's KAfé Group
Cassia Investments has led a $5.5 million Series A round for KAfé Group, a Vietnamese café chain operator, with participation by existing investor New Asia Partners (NAP).
Monk's Hill commits $5m to Hong Kong-based Playlab
Hong Kong-based mobile game studio Playlab has raised $5 million in Series B funding from Monk's Hill Ventures.
IFC to invest $25m in India's BigBasket
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, will commit $25 million to Indian online grocer BigBasket.
Nippon Life to raise stake in India's Reliance Capital
Japanese life insurance firm Nippon Life will pay INR12 billion ($184 million) to increase its stake in Indian asset manager Reliance Capital Asset Management (RCAM).
Fund focus: Venturra taps experience for SE Asia start-ups
Venturra Partners will draw on its founders' investment and entrepreneurial experience, plus a strategic connection to Lippo Group, as it helps Southeast Asian start-ups achieve scale
Temasek, Silver Lake back Dell in $67b acquisition of EMC
Singapore's Temasek Holdings is supporting the $67 billion acquisition of data storage and cloud computing company EMC Corporation by US-based computer maker Dell. Other backers include Silver Lake and MSD Partners.
Everstone pays $54m for controlling stake in India's SJS - update
Everstone Capital has reportedly bought a 51% stake in India-based industrial graphics maker SJS Enterprises for INR3.5 billion ($54 million).
Fund focus: Lighthouse bets on consumer sophistication
India-focused Lighthouse Funds is looking to capitalize on consumers' concern for practical needs and their desire to build better lives for their families
India's Elgi Equipments gets $6.5m from Nalanda
Singapore-based Nalanda Capital has bought an approximately 2% stake in compressed-air equipment manufacturer Elgi Equipments for INR420 million ($6.5 million).
Aion invests $90m in India's Varun Beverages
Aion Capital has invested INR6 billion ($90 million) in India's Varun Beverages (VBL), a major drinks manufacturer and bottler for PepsiCo in South Asia.
QIC leads $1.3b purchase of Australian gas storage facility
QIC Global Infrastructure Fund has led a consortium to purchase the Iona Gas Storage Facility in Australia for A$1.78 billion ($1.3 billion).
Sequoia, Kalaari commit $10m to India's Grabhouse
Sequoia Capital and Kalaari Capital have committed $10 million in Series B funding to Indian start-up Cryptopy Technologies, the developer of rental property listing platform Grabhouse.
Lippo sponsors Southeast Asia VC fund
Former Monk's Hill Ventures partner Stefan Jung has announced the launch of Venturra Capital, a new Southeast Asia-focused VC fund backed by the Lippo Group.
AGIC reaches $550m first close on China-Europe fund
Asia-Germany Industrial Promotion Capital (AGIC), a PE firm focused on China-Europe cross-border investments, has reached a first close of $550 million on its debut fund.
Motilal Oswal commits $13.8m to India's Kurlon
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) has invested INR900 million ($13.8 million) in Indian mattress maker Kurlon Enterprise.
Convergence, Golden Gate in Series A for Singapore's MoneySmart
Singapore-based personal finance portal MoneySmart has raised S$2.8 million ($2 million) in a Series A round led by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Media Fund, with participation by Convergence Ventures, OPT SEA and Golden Gate Ventures.
Media-for-equity: Outside the box
Media-for-equity investing has become a well-established niche market in Europe. To take hold in Asia, the model requires the right investors and the right customers
Peepul Capital commits $15m to Indian online jeweler Voylla
Peepul Capital has committed $15 million to Indian online jewelry and accessory retailer Voylla.
Gaja Capital invests $10m in India's SportzVillage
Gaja Capital has committed INR650 million ($10 million) to Indian fitness education start-up Junior Sports and Services, which manages the SportzVillage brand.
Vertex raises $600m for China, US, Israel investments
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, has received $600 million from its parent to invest in start-ups in China, the US and Israel.
Spice PE invests in Clearwater's India NBFC
Switzerland-based alternative investment firm Spice Private Equity has committed $10 million to Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Altico Capital India.
Apollo completes exit from India's Dish TV
Apollo Global Management has fully exited India-based direct-to-home TV service provider Dish TV, selling its remaining 3.58% stake for INR3.99 billion.
India's Quick Heal, Parag Milk Foods file for IPOs
Indian security software developer Quick Heal Technologies and dairy firm Parag Milk Foods have filed for IPOs, seeking INR2.5 billion ($38 million) and INR3.25 billion, respectively. Parag has also raised an additional INR600 million from existing backer...
Sequoia, SAIF in $36m Series B for India's PepperTap
PepperTap, an India-based hyperlocal online grocery delivery start-up, has raised a $36 million Series B round led by online marketplace Snapdeal, with participation from existing investors Sequoia Capital and SAIF Partners.