Investments
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.
Macro uncertainty to drive increased Korean M&A
Difficult economic and political conditions bode well for the Korean PE industry in the near term, according to Michael Chung (pictured), head of Korea at Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA).
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.
Tencent Literature leads round for Chinese interactive filmmaker
AltStory, a Chinese interactive movie and television content company, has raised approximately RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series A funding led by China Literature, a listed unit of Tencent Holdings.
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
Deal focus: EQT fulfills Laobaixing's prescription
EQT spent 11 years helping Chinese pharmacy chain Laobaixing evolve from large-format laggard into a focused and efficient operator that meets the needs of modern customers. It has now exited with a 7.7x return
Australia cybersecurity start-up receives $47.6m
Australia-based cybersecurity start-up Secure Code Warrior has secured a $47.6 million Series B round led by Goldman Sachs.
Chinese digital logistics player secures $14m Series A
Kalihulian - a China-based digital logistics platform that offers an Uber-style service for cargo freight - has raised RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series A funding led by Sino-Ocean Capital, an investment arm of property developer Sino-Ocean Group....
Singapore e-scooter start-up raises $18.5m
Neuron Mobility, a Singapore-based e-scooter company, has secured a $18.5 million Series A round led by Australia’s Square Peg Capital and US-based GSR Ventures.
ClearVue joins $74 million round for China's Aibee
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Aibee has raised RMB522 million ($74 million) in an extended Series A round led by ClearVue Partners and technology-focused Singularity Power Capital (SPC).
Indonesia e-commerce player Evermos gets $8m Series A
Evermos, an Indonesian social e-commerce company focused on halal and sharia-compliant products, has raised an $8.2 million Series A round from a group of VCs.
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.
Carlyle offers $197m for Australian debt collector
The Carlyle Group is bidding to acquire Pioneer Credit, a listed financial services provider specializing in consumer debt collection in the Australia and New Zealand markets, for an enterprise valuation of approximately A$288 million ($197 million)....
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
Growth investors enable India buyouts - AVCJ Forum
A proliferation of venture capital and private equity players as minority investors in Indian companies is having a knock-on effect on the availability of control deals, industry participants told the AVCJ India Forum.
Succession, global expansion drive Taiwan deal flow - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors see helping solve succession planning issues and taking local companies global as the key opportunities in Taiwan.
PSP buys Australian almond orchards, water rights
Schroder Adveq has sold 12,000 hectares of almond orchards in Australia to Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP) for an undisclosed sum. The pension plan has also agreed to pay Olam International A$490 million ($332.5 million) for permanent...
Deal focus: One Store brings service to videogaming
A freshly spun-out private equity arm of SK Securities is helping Korea’s One Store break up a local monopoly in mobile videogame marketing.
India PE: Careful carving
Driven by distress and strategic rationale, Indian corporates are more willing to sell off attractive assets. Private equity investors must figure out what might be available before it comes on the market
LPs and secondaries: Subliminal stimulation
Global economic and political themes are exerting an almost invisible undertow on LP participation in the secondaries market. The boom in Asia will be touched but not redirected
Korea VC backs SE Asia ride-hailing start-up MVL
Korean VC firm SV Investment has led a KRW5.6 billion ($5 million) round for MVL, which operates the Tada ride-hailing service in Southeast Asia.