Expansion
Goldman Sachs, SK back Korea cold chain play
Goldman Sachs and SK Group have committed a combined KRW50 billion ($43 million) to a Korean expansion by cold chain logistics operator Belstar Superfreeze.
Tiger Global commits $300m to India's Byju's
Tiger Global Management has led a $300 million funding round for India-based online learning platform Byju’s, joining an investor roster that already includes Tencent Holdings, General Atlantic, Naspers Ventures, Sequoia Capital India, and the Chan...
India's Zomato taps Ant Financial again for $150m
Ant Financial has invested $150 million in Indian restaurant discovery and food delivery platform Zomato, pushing the company's valuation to $3 billion.
Zhiyun raises $144m for chronic disease management platform
Zhiyun Health, a Chinese online healthcare services provider, has raised more than RMB1 billion ($144 million) across two rounds. It describes the investment as the largest private funding event globally in the chronic disease management space.
China's Transcenta secures $100m funding round
Transcenta Holding, a Chinese biotech company formed last year through the merger of MabSpace Bioscience and Hangzhou Just Biotherapeutics (HJB), has raised $100 million in an extended Series B funding round.
Chinese drug developer wins General Atlantic backing
General Atlantic has led a $69 million Series D round of funding for Adagene, a Chinese drug developer with one cancer treatment currently in phase one clinical trials in China and the US.
EQT backs Southeast Asia hospital operator
EQT Partners has confirmed an investment of undisclosed size in Health Management International (HMI), a hospital operator with a presence in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
China's NextData gets $73m Series C
Tencent Holdings and XiangHe Capital have led a $73 million Series C round for China-based cybersecurity services provider NextData.
China’s CF PharmTech raises $90m Series E
CF PharmTech, a Chinese devices maker focused on respiratory health, has raised $90 million in Series E funding led by local private equity investor New Alliance Capital.
Everstone backs US, India-based generics developer
The Everstone Group has agreed to invest $50 million in Slayback Pharma, a developer of generic and specialty drugs with a presence in India and the US.
India's True North makes $75m biosimilars bet
True North has invested INR5.36 billion ($74.6 million) in the biosimilars business of India-listed pharmaceuticals giant Biocon.
Chinese genetic testing player secures $115m round
Geneseeq, a Chinese genetic testing company that focuses on treatments for cancer, has raised RMB800 million ($115 million) in a funding round led by state-owned China Reform Holding Corporation.
SoftBank Vision Fund invests $275m in India's Lenskart
SoftBank Vision Fund has led a Series G round of more than $275 million for Lenskart, an Indian omnichannel eyewear retailer, facilitating exits for several early investors.
Timeline: 2019 by numbers
A selection of the key fundraising, investment and exit events - presented in chronological order - from the past 12 months
Deal focus: China's Benlai takes a different approach to group buying
Community group buying businesses are beginning to struggle in China despite considerable VC investment. Fresh produce retailer Benlai believes its online-to-offline hybrid model is more sustainable
Deal focus: 2C2P brings enterprise to SE Asia fintech
Cento Ventures picked 2C2P as the first investment under its late-stage strategy, having been one over by the company's B2B approach to digital payments
Hong Kong's WeLab secures $156m Series C
WeLab, a Hong Kong financial technology start-up that abandoned plans for an IPO approximately 12 months ago, has raised $156 million in a new private funding round.
Malaysia's Carsome raises $50m Series C
Japan’s Daiwa Securities and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group have joined a $50 million Series C round for Malaysian used car trading platform Carsome.
Taiwan technology: Homeward bound?
Taiwan is encouraging its industrial technology manufacturers to relocate operations from the mainland to the domestic market in response to China-US tensions. This may create openings for PE and VC investors
2019 in review: Falling short
Fundraising, investment and exits in Asia are unlikely to match last year as pan-regional funds take a back seat, large-cap buyouts remain in short supply, growth-stage tech loses its edge, and IPOs flounder
India's Shadowfax receives $60m Series D
Indian last-mile delivery and logistics start-up Shadowfax has raised $60 million in Series D funding from a group including Eight Roads Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures.
Ping An leads $70m Series D for India's CarDekho
China’s Ping An Insurance has led a $70 million Series D round for Indian online auto marketplace CarDekho. It is Ping An’s first venture investment in the country.
Deal focus: Kujiale embraces SaaS
Having struggled to get traction with consumers, Chinese online interior design player Kujiale turned its attentions to enterprise. International expansion is now on the agenda
Portfolio: Warburg Pincus and ESR
ESR, an Asia-focused warehousing platform seeded by Warburg Pincus, stole a march on its rivals by tapping into the rise of e-commerce in China. It is now looking to stay ahead of the curve