Expansion
Australia’s Canva raises $70m at $2.5b valuation
Australian graphic design start-up Canva has raised $70 million from investors including US-based General Catalyst and Bond Capital, the new vehicle of Silicon Valley veteran Mary Meeker. It values Canva at $2.5 billion.
Archipelago completes investment in Philippines bank
Southeast Asia-focused GP Archipelago Capital Partners has completed its investment in One Network Bank (ONB), the rural subsidiary of Philippines-listed financial services provider BDO Unibank.
Impact investment faces tricky path to standardization
Impact investing has reached a “fundamental inflection point” in terms of the availability of investment opportunities and interest from LPs, but the institutionalization process is not straightforward.
SoftBank leads $200m round for India's Grofers
Indian online grocer Grofers has raised more than $200 million in a Series F funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
IDG re-ups in Chinese co-working space provider
Kr Space, a China-based co-working space operator, has received RMB1 billion ($145 million) in a new round led by existing investor IDG Capital and new backers Gopher Asset Management and Yixing Capital.
Matrix exits India eye care chain
Matrix Partners India has made a full exit from Centre for Sight, operator of a chain of eye clinics in India, to Mahindra Partners after a holding period of nearly 10 years.
Temasek, Horizon lead $300m round for Impossible Foods
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and Horizon Ventures have led a $300 million round for Impossible Foods, a US vegetarian food technology company expanding into Asia.
CITIC Capital invests in Singapore marketing firm
CITIC Capital has invested an undisclosed sum in Cityneon, an entertainment media-focused marketing firm based in Singapore.
Deal focus: CDIB finds media consumption proxy
CDIB Capital is backing VHQ China to leverage the growing demand for visual effects in China's domestic movie and TV production industry
Chinese gene tech equipment maker raises $200m
MGI Tech, a Chinese manufacturer of equipment used in gene sequencing, has raised $200 million in funding led by Goldstone Investment, the PE arm under CITIC Securities, Green Pine Capital Partners and Orient Securities Capital Investment.
Mekong invests in Vietnam pizza chain
Mekong Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in Pizza 4P’s, a Vietnamese farm-to-table pizza restaurant chain.
India's Kinara raises $14m funding round
Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Kinara Capital has raised INR1 billion ($14.3 million) from a group of investors including Gaja Capital, Gawa Capital, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and US-based VC firm Patamar Capital (formerly Unitus...
Japan crowdfunding player raises $20m Series C
Campfire, a Japanese crowdfunding platform operator, has raised a JPY2.2 billion ($20 million) Series C round with support from Global Brain and KDDI Corporation.
Deal focus: BlackBuck in it for the long haul
India's Blackbuck has gained traction with a digital platform that connects truckers with shippers. Achieving greater scale means convincing veteran fleet owners that the model can work for them
Asia fintech player GoBear raises $80m
GoBear, an online financial products marketplace focused on young Asian consumers, has raised $80 million from its Netherlands-based sponsors Walvis Participaties and Aegon.
China AI player Megvii raises $750m Series D
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) developer Megvii Technology has raised $750 million in Series D funding led by Bank of China Group Investment. It brings the company’s valuation to around $4 billion.
Qiming re-ups in Chinese car rental platform Zuzuche
China-based third-party car rental platform Zuzuche has received Series C funding from Qiming Venture Partners.
Accel, Kalaari, Chiratae invest in India's CureFit
Indian health and fitness start-up CureFit has raised $75 million from a group of investors including Accel Partners, Kalaari Capital, and Chiratae Ventures.
Kyobo Life: The mother of all puts
Put options amount to threats seldom acted upon. By demanding that the chairman of Korea’s third-largest life insurer buy back their shares, a group of investors has taken Asian PE into uncharted territory
Q&A: Xpeng's Brian Gu
Brian Gu, vice chairman and president of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng, explains how the private equity-backed company is trying to stand out in a competitive and fast-changing market
India NBFC raises $14m Series E round
Dvara KGFS, a non-banking finance company (NBFC) backed by Indian financial inclusion investor Dvara Trust, has raised INR970 million ($14 million) in Series E funding led by Stakeboat Capital.
Deal focus: Gaosi Education stresses its B2B credentials
As China's mainstream online tuition players battle for the hearts, minds and wallets of end users, Gaosi Education found a niche targeting the B2B market. It recently raised $140 million to accelerate expansion
Goldman, Accel lead Series D for India’s BlackBuck
Indian online long-distance trucking marketplace BlackBuck has raised a $150 million Series D round led by Goldman Sachs and existing investor Accel Partners.
GP profile: IMM Private Equity
As one of oldest GPs in South Korea, IMM Private Equity has helped to show both domestic and global investors that the PE community can bring major benefits to the country’s corporate sector
