Expansion
Ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing to acquire Uber China
Didi Chuxing, the leading ride-hailing app operator in China, has announced that it will acquire Uber's local operation, ending a costly battle between the two unprofitable businesses. Both companies have received substantial private equity and strategic...
Sequoia leads $12m round for India's Healthkart
Sequoia Capital India has led an INR800 million ($12 million) Series E round of funding for Indian online health products vendor Healthkart.
WiL leads $10.6m round for Japan's Retty
World Innovation Lab (WiL) has led a JPY1.1 billion ($10.6 million) investment in Japanese social media-oriented restaurant guide operator Retty.
Deal Focus: L Capital taps Korea’s cultural clout
Clio Cosmetics hopes to leverage Korea's entertainment appeal throughout Asia
Malaysia's Ekuinas invests $16.9m in domestic sports retailer
Ekuinas, a private equity firm backed by the Malaysian government, has acquired a 35% interest in Al-Ikhsan Sports, the country’s leading sportswear retailer, for MYR68.6 million ($16.9 million).
Deal Focus: IvyCap sees upside in India's online jewels
Bluestone's work to reshape India's jewelry industry and change customers' attitudes appeals to the domestic VC firm
Temasek leads $105m round for Sprinklr
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has led a $105 million Series F round of funding in Sprinklr, a US-based social media company targeting growth in Asia Pacific.
Rocket, Kinnevik commit $33m to fashion portal
Rocket Internet and Sweden's AB Kinnevik have committed another EUR30 million ($33 million) to emerging markets-focused online fashion portal Global Fashion Group (GFG).
IFC to invest $15m in India-based Byju’s
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed a $15 million investment in Indian education start-up Byju’s.
L Capital Asia takes minority stake in Korea cosmetics player
L Capital Asia – the private equity arm of luxury goods giant LVMH – has acquired a minority stake in Clio Cosmetics, a South Korea-based color cosmetics manufacturer, for an undisclosed sum.
CDC to invest $149m in India Infoline Finance
CDC Group, the UK government-owned development finance institution (DFI), has agreed to invest INR10 billion ($149 million) in IIFL Holdings’ non-banking finance company (NBFC) India Infoline Finance.
KKR’s Kravis sees Asia promise amid global macro volatility
Henry Kravis, co-founder of KKR, emphasized the importance of Asia’s rising middle class and the diversification of his firm’s investment approach as continued volatility globally is likely to deliver both uncertainty and opportunity.
New Zealand’s Oceania Natural gets $2.5m for HK base
New Zealand-listed health food and supplements producer Oceania Natural has secured HK$19.5 ($2.5 million) from a group of domestic and Chinese investors for the establishment of a Hong Kong subsidiary.
Protean Electric gets $70m round led by GSR, targets China expansion
GSR Ventures has participated in a $70 million financing round for Protean Electric, a US automobile equipment developer with an expanding operations base in China.
IIFL leads $30m round for India's BlueStone
IIFL Asset Management has led a INR2 billion ($30 million) Series D round for online jeweler BlueStone.
Southeast Asia’s aCommerce raises further $10m
Southeast Asia-focused e-commerce solutions provider aCommerce has raised $10 million in new funding ahead of a planned Series B round. The latest commitment is led by MDI Ventures, a corporate VC fund run by Indonesian mobile operator Telkom.
China Resources fund unit backs Meituan-Dianping
CRE Alliance Management, a consumer-focused fund established by state-owned conglomerate China Resources, has invested an undisclosed sum in Meituan-Dianping, China’s leading online-to-offline (O2O) services platform.
Suning, Tencent invest in China VC-backed cosmetic surgery app
Gengmei, a Chinese cosmetic surgery social networking app backed by several VC investors, has raised an undisclosed amount of Series C funding from Chinese companies Suning Commerce Group and Tencent Holdings.
Bain, Goldman Sachs to acquire Korea’s Carver
Bain Capital Private Equity and Goldman Sachs have agreed to acquire a majority position in Carver Korea, a specialist cosmetics supplier.
Asia more attractive due to Western dysfunction - AVCJ Forum
The Asia opportunity for private equity has become all the more compelling for the political uncertainty blighting Western markets, investors told the AVCJ USA Forum.
Mekong invests $6.9m in Vietnam's Wrap & Roll
Mekong Capital has invested $6.9 million in Wrap & Roll, a Vietnamese cuisine restaurant operator aiming to expand internationally.
Creador invests $18m in India's Corona Remedies
Creador has committed INR1.2 billion ($17.6 million) to India-based pharmaceutical developer Corona Remedies.
Chinese investors in $181m round for US-based Unity
Unity Technologies, a US-based video game engine maker, has closed a $181 million Series C round of funding led by DFJ Growth, with participation from China Investment Corporation (CIC) and Chinese early-stage investor FreeS Fund.
KKR commits $78m to India's Kwality
KKR has agreed to invest INR5.2 bilion ($77.7 million) in Indian dairy products provider Kwality in a structured finance transaction.