Expansion
KKR to invest $1.5b in India's Jio Platforms
KKR has made its largest private equity investment in Asia to date with a commitment of INR113.6 billion ($1.5 billion) in Jio Platforms, the holding company for various internet and telecom assets owned by Indian oil-to-retail conglomerate Reliance Industries.
Deal focus: Validus takes holistic approach to SME financing
Singapore peer-to-peer lender employs algorithm-based credit assessment tools and an unorthodox approach to origination as it seeks to address inefficiencies in Southeast Asian supply chain finance
Chinese smart car wash business closes $84m Series C
1km, China’s largest car wash company, has raised RMB600 million ($84 million) in Series C funding across three tranches. The most recent - worth $30 million - was led by ClearVue Partners.
Australia workforce training start-up Go1 gets $40m
Australian workforce training services start-up Go1 has raised a $40 million Series C round led by local strategic Seek and US-based Madrona Venture Group.
Chinese home fitness app raises $80m Series E
Keep, a Chinese mobile app that provides fitness training programs, has raised $80 million in Series E funding led by Jeneration Capital.
General Atlantic joins PE backers of Reliance's India app platform
General Atlantic has agreed to invest INR65.98 billion ($870 million) in Jio Platforms, becoming the fourth investor in the holding company for Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries' internet and telecom assets.
TA backs Australia's Honan Insurance
TA Associates has confirmed a growth investment of undisclosed size in Australian corporate insurance provider Honan Insurance.
Jio Platforms: India's giant in waiting
From Silver Lake to Vista Equity Partners to Facebook, international investors are flocking to Reliance Industries' internet and telecom platform. But can the business deliver on its undoubted potential?
Deal focus: Pop Mart dominates China’s dolls
Best known in China for the Molly series of fashion dolls, Pop Mart emerged as a leader before many others recognized the market potential. The Loyal Valley Capital-backed company is now preparing for an IPO
ADV backs China postgraduate, vocational training specialist
ADV Partners has completed its investment in Universal Education Holdings, a China-based online provider of postgraduate test preparation and vocational training under the Wanxue brand.
Tencent, Sequoia invest $244m in property manager Shimao
Shimao Services, the property management arm of Hong Kong-listed Shimao Property, has raised $244 million from Tencent Holdings and Sequoia Capital China.
Tencent invests in PE-backed Tim Hortons China expansion
Tencent Holdings has invested in the China franchise of coffee-and-donut chain Tim Hortons, which operates as a joint venture between Restaurant Brands International (RBI) and Cartesian Capital Group.
Dragon Ball, CDH lead Series C in China's Lehe Food
Lehe Food, a China-based distributor of fresh food and ingredients, has secured RMB400 million ($56 million) in Series C funding led by Dragon Ball Capital and CDH Investments. Existing backer Hezhi Investment re-upped.
Vertex leads $26.5m Series D for Taiwan’s M17
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has led a $26.5 million Series D round for Taiwan-based media streaming company M17 Entertainment.
Sunshine Life leads Series C-plus for China's Huisuanzhang
Huisuanzhang, a Chinese finance and tax management software developer, has raised $60 million in an extended Series C round of funding led by Sunshine Insurance Group. Existing investors Gaocheng Capital, Xiaomi and Swift Hover re-upped.
Korea's Kurly raises $164m Series E
Kurly, operator of Korean grocery delivery platform Market Kurly, has raised KRW200 billion ($164 million) Series E round from a group of domestic and international VCs.
Vista Equity to invest $1.5b in Reliance's India app platform
US-based Vista Equity Partners has agreed to invest INR113.67 billion ($1.5 billion) for a stake in Jio Platforms, a holding company for Indian internet and telecom assets, including Reliance Jio Telecom.
China enterprise software: PaaS vs SaaS
Platform-as-a-service has become the flavor of the month in China’s software industry, but there can be a big difference between what start-ups are and what they claim to be
Deal focus: Oriente’s plastic alternative
Well-capitalized though not immune to COVID-19 disruption, Indonesia and Philippines-focused online lender Oriente is waiting for the market to get back to normal
China car trading platform Chehaoduo raises $200m
Chehaoduo, a Chinese online auto services provider that runs used car trading platform Guazi and new car trading platform Maodou, has raised $200 million in an extended Series D round from SoftBank Vision Fund and Sequoia Capital China.
Australia SME lender Judo raises $147m
Judo Bank, a PE-backed start-up that provides loans to Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), has raised A$230 million ($147 million) from existing investors.
China chip maker ASR hits $1.6b valuation at Series D
ASR Microelectronics, a Shanghai-based manufacturer of chips for use in consumer electronics, has closed an extended Series D round of $119 million. The company is now valued at more than $1.6 billion.
Singapore's Ninja Van raises $279m Series D
GeoPost, a logistics division of French postal services giant La Poste, has led a $279 million Series D round for Singapore last-mile delivery start-up Ninja Van.
Chinese toy figurine retailer Pop Mart raises $100m
Chinese black-box doll retailer Pop Mart has raised more than $100 million in funding from China Renaissance and Loyal Valley Capital in what is expected to be its last round before an IPO.