Investments
Cross-border tech pollination: Mutually assured disruption
Southeast Asia and Latin America are trying to leverage complementary aspects of their start-up ecosystems, much like China and Africa before them. These endeavors are not as straightforward as they might seem
Deal focus: A digital protector for the cloud era
Inspired by the Korean word for tiger and how it symbolizes protection, cybersecurity start-up Horangi wants to ensure Southeast Asia’s growing pack of digital cubs are well-guarded
China AI player 4Paradigm closes $230m Series C
4Paradigm, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up, has raised about $80 million in an extended Series C round, bringing its valuation to more than $2 billion.
L Catterton backs Japan cosmetics brand Etvos
Consumer-focused private equity firm L Catterton Asia has confirmed a significant investment of undisclosed size in Japanese cosmetics brand Etvos.
Ocean Link seeks $7b privatization of China's 58.com
Ocean Link, a Chinese private equity firm that targets travel, tourism and related consumer subsectors, has made a take-private offer for online classifieds marketplace 58.com that values the business at approximately $7 billion.
Blackstone increases stake in India’s Mphasis
The Blackstone Group has purchased shares worth INR51.7 billion ($67.9 million) to increase its stake in Indian IT services provider Mphasis by 4.01% to 56.21%.
Jumpstarted: Investors target China's EV charging networks
Telaidian’s recent Series A round underlines the opportunities in China’s electric vehicle charging space. While growth seems certain, some industry dynamics have yet to play out
China's Haier raises $134m for industrial internet platform
COSMOPlat, an industrial internet platform developed by Chinese home appliance giant Haier Group, has raised RMB950 million ($134 million) in Series A funding led by the state-owned China Structural Reform Fund.
LeapFrog leads $55m round for India's MedGenome
MedGenome, an India-focused provider of genetic testing solutions, has raised $55 million in a funding round led by LeapFrog Investments.
Openspace co-leads $17m round for Indonesia's TaniHub
TaniHub, an online marketplace for farm products in Indonesia, has raised more than $17 million in a funding round led by Openspace Ventures and Intudo Ventures.
Portfolio: Capital Square Partners and Aegis/StarTek
Capital Square Partners’ acquisition of Indian business processing outsourcing (BPO) player Aegis ultimately helped two different companies find global relevance after a turbulent and disruptive decade
Indian fintech Juspay raises $21m Series B
Juspay, a developer of mobile payment solutions for online businesses, has raised $21.6 million in a Series B round led by Vostok Emerging Finance, a Swedish investment firm.
Japan mobile banking player gets $45m Series C
Kyash, a Tokyo-based mobile banking start-up, has received $45 million in Series C funding led by Greenspring Associates and Goodwater Capital.
Square Peg joins Series B for Singapore's Doctor Anywhere
Australian VC firm Square Peg Capital has joined a $27 million Series B round for Singapore-based healthcare technology provider Doctor Anywhere.
Hillhouse leads $1b round for China’s Yuanfudao
Chinese online education start-up Yuanfudao has seen its valuation soar to $7.8 billion on closing a $1 billion funding round led by Hillhouse Capital.
Shanghai CDMO player gets $51m Series A
Zhenge Biotech – a Shanghai-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for large molecule drugs – has raised $51 million in Series A funding led by Lyfe Capital.
BGH, OTPP pull out of New Zealand dentistry deal
BGH Capital and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) have scrapped plans to acquire New Zealand dentistry chain Abano Healthcare citing material changes caused by COVID-19.
China's Wanda exits Ironman to strategic, PE buyers
Wanda Sports Group, the sports, media and marketing subsidiary of Chinese real estate conglomerate Wanda Group, has sold the Ironman brand to two US-based investors for an enterprise valuation of $730 million.
Integral buys Japanese contact lens maker
Integral Corporation has acquired T-Garden, a Japanese company that makes cosmetic contact lenses, for an undisclosed sum.
Chinese expense management specialist secures $42m
China Renaissance has led a RMB300 million ($42 million) extended Series C round for Chinese expense management solution provider Huilianyi. Additional contributions came from existing investors SBCVC, Blue Lake Capital and Z Capital.
Amatil X invests in Indonesia's Kargo Technologies
Amatil X Indonesia, the venture arm of Coca-Cola's joint venture in Indonesia, has invested in Indonesian logistics start-up Kargo Technologies. The size of the commitment was not disclosed.
Coronavirus & take-privates: Opportunity knocks
With public equities prices sliding to multi-year lows across the region as a result of coronavirus disruption, GPs willing to take the leap might find value in privatizations
Deal focus: Vivriti aims to bring debt online
India's private debt markets lack coordination and standardization. Vivriti Capital hopes to fix this by bringing issuance online. LGT Lightstone Aspada has provided $50 million in support of this effort
Temasek, Tencent lead $300m round for China's MiningLamp
MiningLamp Technology, a Chinese big data company, has raised $300 million Series E led by Temasek Holdings and Tencent Holdings. Kuaishou, a local short-video sharing platform backed by Tencent, also took part in the round.