Expansion
Matrix leads $15m Series C for China’s Easemob
Matrix Partners China has led a RMB103 million ($15 million) Series C round of funding for Easemob, a Chinese start-up that provides instant-messaging services to mobile app developers.
Ping An leads Series C for Singapore’s Bigo Live
Bigo Live, a Singapore-based social video streaming app, has raised a Series C round of funding from a Hong Kong-based investment arm of Ping An Insurance Group.
China chauffeured car service Ucar raises $668m
Chinese chauffeured car service provider Ucar, which is backed by Warburg Pincus and Yunfeng Capital, has raised RMB4.6 billion ($668 million) through a private placement on the National Equities Exchange and Quotation (NEEQ).
CLSA invests in China’s Azoya
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has invested in Chinese cross-border e-commerce solutions provider Azoya.
Partners Group to acquire 30% of Chinese restaurant chain operator
Partners Group plans to acquire a 30% stake in Affluent Fine, a holding company that operates restaurant chains in China.
EDBI, Hewlett Packard back US IT player's Asia push
Singapore's EDBI and the venture arm of Hewlett Packard’s software spin-off HPE have joined a $21.5 million Series C funding round for an Asian expansion drive by US-based IT company Hedvig.
Alibaba, SAIF invest $200m in India's Paytm
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and SAIF Partners have invested $200 million in the online marketplace unit of Indian online payments platform Paytm.
Deal focus: GPs target healthy scale
Oaktree Capital Management and Navis Capital Partners are merging Fitness First and Celebrity Fitness in the expectation that scale will be rewarded in Southeast Asia's gym market
China bike-sharing start-up Ofo raises $450m Series D
Ofo, a Chinese bike-sharing company, has completed a $450 million Series D round of funding led by DST Global.
Welkin invests $17m in Chinese camellia oil brand
China-focused PE firm Welkin Capital has acquired a 15% stake in Hunan Guitaitai Camelia Oil Technology, a camellia oil specialty brand listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), for RMB120 million ($17 million).
India: Draining the PIPEs
PIPE deals remain a significant part of private equity in India, but a slowdown in recent years has prompted investors to evaluate strategies and the place for public market deals in private portfolios
India's Updater Services gets $15m from Motilal Oswal
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) has invested INR1 billion ($15 million) in Indian facilities management company Updater Services.
IFM invests Australian fashion retailer
IFM Investors’ private equity arm has acquired a significant minority stake in Colette By Colette Hayman, an Australian retailer of handbags and fashion accessories.
KKR invests in China’s Gambol Pet Group
KKR has invested in Gambol Pet Group, a China-based company that sells pet food products.
IFC considers $100m investment in Indian solar
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has proposed a $100 million investment in Indian infrastructure-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC) L&T Infrastructure Finance (LTIF) to support solar energy projects in the country.
US online lender SoFi raises $500m to expand in Australia
US online lender and financial services company SoFi has secured a $500 million Series F funding round led by Silver Lake for an expansion effort into Australia.
Kickstart, BPI invest in Zalora Philippines alongside parent
Kickstart Ventures and BPI Capital have joined their parent Ayala Group to buy a 49% stake in the Philippines business of online fashion retailer Zalora.
China P2P car rental site Atzuche raises $58m Series C
Atzuche, a Shanghai-based peer-to-peer (P2P) car rental start-up, has completed a RMB400 million ($58 million) Series C round of funding.
Oaktree merges Fitness First Asia with Navis-owned gym business
The Hong Kong and Southeast Asia business of Fitness First, which is controlled by Oaktree Capital Management, has agreed to merge with Celebrity Fitness, a Southeast Asia gym operator owned by Navis Capital Partners.
IDG Capital invests in CreditEase's insurance unit
CreditEase Insurance Agency, an insurance unit of China’s CreditEase Wealth Management, has raised RMB80 million ($12 million) from investors including IDG Capital through a private placement on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ).
AirTree leads $19m investment in Australia's Prospa
AirTree Ventures has led a A$25 million ($19.2 million) investment in Australian financial technology company Prospa.
US materials group gets $15m for China, Korea push
A group of investors including GSR Ventures has committed $15 million to C3Nano, a US-based supplier for the touchscreen and digital display industry looking to expand its footprint in China and Korea.
China's Ant Financial invests $200m in Kakao payment unit
Ant Financial, the financial services affiliate of China’s Alibaba Group, has agreed invest $200 million in a dedicated mobile finance platform that will soon be launched by South Korean internet giant Kakao Corp.
PE investors join $1.53b financing round for Baidu’s iQiyi
China’s iQiyi.com, a video-streaming platform majority-owned by search giant Baidu, has raised $1.53 billion from a group of private equity investors through the sale of convertible notes.