Expansion
China GPs target tech angles in consumer plays
All China consumer deals are now technology deals, but investors must back up this positioning with meaningful value-add capabilities in areas such as digital marketing and data analytics or risk being accused of embellishing a technology thesis for the...
Portfolio: Mekong and Pharmacity
Mekong Capital has spent the last two years helping Pharmacity bring Vietnam’s outdated retail pharmacy market into the modern age. Now the company is preparing to fend off a wave of copycats
China's New Horizon Health raises $66m Series C
China-based New Horizon Health, which produces home cancer test kits, has raised $66 million in a Series C round of funding led by VMS Group, a Hong Kong-based investment firm.
Technology key to Vietnam consumer deals - AVCJ Forum
Technology is a critical factor for any investor looking to participate in the Vietnam consumer story, whether they are backing retail businesses directly or any sector proxies, industry participants told the AVCJ Vietnam Forum.
Korea's CJ CheilJedang brings Bain into Schwan's deal
Korean consumer conglomerate CJ CheilJedang Corporation has agreed to sell a 27% stake in CJ Foods America – a vehicle established for the acquisition of US frozen foods provider Schwan’s – to Bain Capital for $320 million.
Creador invests $18m in India's iValue
Creador has acquired a minority stake in iValue InfoSolutions, an India-based provider of cybersecurity services, for INR1.25 billion ($18 million).
India used car marketplace raises $13m Series A
SAIF Partners and Accel Partners have led a $13.2 million Series A round for Indian online used car marketplace Spinny, with participation by existing investors Blume Ventures and Simile Ventures.
Tencent leads $250m round for Chinese travel platform Mafengwo
Chinese travel platform Mafengwo has raised $250 million in a round of funding led by Tencent Holdings.
Deal focus: Archipelago makes Philippines banking play
Archipelago Capital Partners takes a minority stake in One Network Bank to support its parent's plans to lead the country's rural banking sector
Deal focus: Grofers returns to growth with Series F
Grofers is emerging from a rough patch in its mission to leverage India’s online grocery boom with an overhauled business model and a $200 million Series F round led by SoftBank Vision Fund
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