Investments
India's Ascent invests in women's pharma producer
Indian private equity firm Ascent Capital has invested INR1.25 billion ($17.5 million) in Naari Pharma, a women's health pharmaceutical business focused on hormonal generics.
Samsung Ventures backs Japan tourism operator
Samsung Ventures has led a group of Korean investors in a Series B round for H2O Hospitality, which claims to be Japan’s largest vacation rentals provider.
Japan's Global Brain invests biometric ID player
Japan’s Global Brain has led a Series B round of undisclosed size for Gtriip, a biometrics-focused identity authentication technology provider pursuing a pan-Asia expansion.
Deal focus: Navegar dips its toe in e-commerce
Navegar sees Great Deals E-commerce, a provider of delivery and digital services to traditional retailers in the Philippines, as a proxy for growth in online shopping
AVCJ Awards 2019: Deal of the Year - Small Cap: AffaMed Therapeutics
CBC Group established biosimilars specialist AffaMed Therapeutics to remove uncertainties in the development process and to tap Chinese demand for affordable treatments
MSPEA backs Indian affordable housing financier
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has invested INR1.9 billion ($26.6 million) in Centrum Housing Finance (CHF), an Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) that offers loans for affordable housing projects.
Joy Capital leads $88m round for China's Shihuituan
Joy Capital has announced its participation - as the lead investor - in an $88.3m funding round for Chinese community group buying platform Shihuituan, which is also known as Nice Tuan.
Brookfield buys into Everstone's India NBFC
Brookfield Asset Management has offered to buy up to 40% of IndoStar Capital, an Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) established by Everstone Group, for INR14.5 billion ($202 million).
Chinese genetic testing player for infectious diseases gets Series B+
Chinese genetic testing specialist Genskey raised an RMB50 million ($7.1m) extended Series B round of funding led by Shenzhen-based Fortune Capital. Existing investor Legend Capital re-upped.
RTP Global, Sequoia lead Series B for India's MoneyTap
Indian app-based lending start-up MoneyTap has raised $70 million in a Series B round led by Aquiline Technology Growth (ATG), RTP Global, and Sequoia India.
Japan's TDK invests air mobility developer
Japan’s TDK Corporation has made a VC commitment of undisclosed size in AutoFlightX, an electric air mobility company based in Germany with a significant China presence.
Integral pursues $316m buyout of Japanese software developer
Integral Corporation has won management support for a tender offer for Japanese software development and IT consulting business Mamezou Holdings at a valuation of JPY34.4 billion ($316 million).
GIC, Norfund invest Myanmar's Yoma Bank
Singapore’s GIC Private and Norway’s Norfund have acquired a combined 30% stake in Myanmar-based Yoma Bank for MMK130 billion ($88.7 million).
Australia's Five V makes another BPO bolt-on
Australia’s Five V Capital has acquired Philippines business process outsourcing (BPO) player Beepo as a portfolio company bolt-on. It is the GP’s second such transaction this month.
Raffles Family Office backs Hong Kong co-working space player
Hong Kong-based multi-family office Raffles Family Office will invest $15 million in local co-working space operator WorkTech.
AVCJ Awards 2019: Firm of the Year - Mid Cap: Centurium Capital
China-focused Centurium Capital has enjoyed a productive 12 months, closing its debut US dollar fund, deploying most of the capital, and securing an early liquidity event
India's Bizongo gets $30 million Series C
Indian B2B packaging marketplace Bizongo raised $30 million in a Series C round led by Schroder Adveq.
Tiger Global, Steadview lead Series B for LogiNext
India-focused route optimisation software firm LogiNext raised $39 million in a Series B round led by Tiger Global Management and Steadview Capital.
MasterCard invests India payments player Pine Labs
MasterCard has invested an undisclosed sum in Pine Labs, an Indian payments technology provider backed by PayPal, Temasek Holdings, and Sequoia Capital India.
Bain pursues $824m buyout of Japan's Showa Aircraft Industry
Bain Capital has submitted a tender offer for Showa Aircraft Industries, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in paneling for aircraft interiors, that values the business at JPY90 billion ($824 million).
Navegar backs Philippines e-commerce enabler
Philippines private equity firm Navegar has invested $12 million in local online retail industry services provider Great Deals E-commerce.
AVCJ Awards 2019: Responsible Investment: Organica
SEAF’s commitment to a farm-to-shop natural foods retailer highlights the idea that even sustainability-focused businesses may have room for improvement beneath the surface
CITIC Capital targets OBOR deals with blank check company
CITIC Capital has launched a special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) – or blank check company – on the New York Stock Exchange to pursue deals under its One Belt One Road (OBOR) strategy.
Fund focus: Baring sees stability in scale
Jean Eric Salata, CEO of Baring Private Equity Asia, argues that a $6.5 billion fund is not too large for Asia – he wishes he’d raised more – and explains why size increasingly represents a competitive advantage