Investments
Norwest leads $40m Series C for India's MindTickle
Norwest Venture Partners has led a $40 million Series C round for MindTickle, an online sales enablement platform based in India and the US.
Deal focus: Allegro secures stake in Australia radiology business
The doctors who own and operate Perth Radiologic Clinic know Allegro Funds from their time as a subsidiary of I-Med Networks. This familiarity helped the Australian GP secure one of its largest-ever deals
Gates Foundation, global insurers back Indonesia's Halodoc
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has made a rare direct investment in Southeast Asia, participating in an extended Series B round for Indonesian healthcare technology provider Halodoc.
Japan space tech start-up raises $100m
Synspective, a Japan-based satellite developer and orbital data services provider, has raised $100 million in a Series A round with participation from a group including SBI Investment.
Aion to invest $44m in India's Future Lifestyle
Aion Capital Partners has agreed to invest INR3 billion ($43.5 million) in India-listed integrated fashion retailer Future Lifestyle Fashions (FLF).
Deal focus: Smartly plans pan-SE Asia robo advisory
Keir Veskivali defied the odds to introduce robo advisory services for retail investors to Singapore. Now he brought in VinaCapital to help take the business global
Legal tech segment to see consolidation
Rapid growth in the legal tech segment globally will create M&A opportunities as the market consolidates, according to Dan Jansen, CEO of US-based specialist investor Nextlaw Ventures.
Toyota invests $600m in China’s Didi
Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation has agreed to invest $600 million in Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing and to expand their joint venture focused on services for Didi’s drivers.
Q&A: Adamantem Capital's Anthony Kerwick
Anthony Kerwick, co-founder of Australian mid-market GP Adamantem Capital, discusses the challenges of setting up a new firm, the importance of future-proof investments, and Australia’s growing overseas angle
Deal focus: Olympus backs big plans for Thailand's smallest bank
Olympus Capital has paid $91 million for a 25% stake in microfinance and micro-SME lending specialist Thai Credit Retail Bank. It wants to double the loan book and support digitization of services
Australia establishes wine industry accelerator
South Australia is launching an accelerator program to help start-ups in the wine and tourism industries take advantage of new technologies.
Sequoia, Lightspeed make partial exits from India’s Oyo
Sequoia Capital India and Lightspeed India Partners have made a partial exit from India-based online hospitality platform Oyo through a $2 billion round comprising primary and secondary shares. The round brings the company’s valuation to around $10...
Accel leads $25m round for India's Drip Capital
Drip Capital, an India-based trade finance provider targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets, has raised a $25 million Series B round led by Accel Partners.
Asia legal tech: Order in court
Legal tech investment is quietly booming from a small base, with the under-digitalized nature of law firms presenting both an opening and an inhibitor. First-mover ecosystems are self-organizing quickly
India's Five Star raises $50m round led by TPG
TPG Capital has led a $50 million funding round for Five Star Business Finance, an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Burda leads $40m Series B for Singapore's Hmlet
Germany’s Hubert Burda Media has led a $40 million Series B round for Singapore-based co-living operator Hmlet.
CDC makes first direct equity investment in Myanmar
UK government-backed CDC Group has made its first direct equity investment in Myanmar with a $30 million commitment to internet service provider Frontiir.
Deal focus: Igloohome puts smart home tech to work
Igloohome made its name providing smart locks for vacation rental properties listed on Airbnb and Booking.com. Breaking into the corporate security market is the next step
Deal focus: Greater Pacific to help Near monetize data points
Singapore's Near secures $100 million from Greater Pacific Capital with a view to expanding its suite of SaaS products that offer commercial insights by tracking consumer behavior
Global credit: Speed or scale?
The winners from a widely anticipated shakeout in global credit markets will be defined by different qualities. Direct lenders expect size to be a decisive factor, while distress players prioritize nimbleness
Hopu leads $100m Series D for Singapore’s Trax
Singaporean retail industry technology provider Trax has raised $100 million in Series D funding led by Hopu Investments.
Fidelity leads funding round for Malaysia's Iflix
Malaysia-based video streaming service Iflix has raised a funding round of more than $50 million led by Fidelity International.
New Horizon buys Japan cosmetics player from Ant Capital
Japanese private equity firm New Horizon Capital has acquired 100% of Kagayaku Cosmetics from Ant Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum.
Brookfield to lead $3.7b investment in Reliance India telecom unit
A consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to invest INR252 billion ($3.66 billion) in the telecommunication tower unit of India’s Reliance Industries. It is said to be the largest foreign investment in an Indian infrastructure asset...