Investments
Southeast Asia's Grab raises $150m from Yamaha
Japan’s Yamaha Motor has invested $150 million in Southeast Asia-based ride-hailing app Grab as part of a strategic partnership aimed at developing the company’s motorcycle hailing services in the region.
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2019
Industry participants share their outlooks on some of the biggest economic drivers of the day, including fast-growing sectors and shifting deal making factors across Asia’s varied markets
Deal focus: Bonchon flies the coop
VIG Partners acquires Bonchon, a Korean-headquartered fried chicken restaurant chain with a global presence, with an eye to growing the business worldwide
Chinese smart retail services provider raises $100m
Xianlife, a Beijing-based smart retail service provider, has received $100 million in funding together with its subsidiary Good Neighbors Convenience Stores.
KKR's global impact fund makes debut investment in Asia
KKR has committed up to S$45 million ($32.8 million) to Barghest Building Performance (BBP), a Singapore-based provider of energy saving solutions for heating and cooling systems. It is the first investment from the firm's global impact strategy.
SoftBank, Alibaba lead $1.1b round for Indonesia's Tokopedia
SoftBank Vision Fund and Alibaba Group have joined a $1.1 billion round for Indonesian e-commerce and related online services provider Tokopedia.
Chinese social e-commerce player raises $100m Series B
Fresh Buddy, a Chinese social e-commerce app that focuses on fresh produce, has raised a $100 million Series B round led by Genesis Capital.
Chinese coffee shop chain Luckin gets $200m Series B
Luckin Coffee, a Chinese coffee shop chain established last year, has raised $200 million in Series B round from existing investors GIC Private, Centurium Capital, and Joy Capital.
2018 in review: Volatility vortex
Pan-regional funds attract the bulk of capital while the renminbi space withers; mixed fortunes for internet IPOs and trade sales; big buyouts fail to deliver but growth-stage tech stays strong
Portfolio: Actis Capital and Sprng Energy
In renewable energy platform Sprng, Actis Capital sees an opportunity to replicate the success it enjoyed with recently-exited Ostro Energy. A strong foundation based on alignment with management is the key
India's PE-backed Byju's raises $400m
Indian online education start-up Byju’s has raised a $400 million funding round led by Naspers Ventures, an investment arm of South African media conglomerate Naspers.
New Zealand's Trade Me agrees to Apax acquisition
New Zealand e-commerce company Trade Me has agreed to be 100% acquired by Apax Partners at an enterprise value of NZ$2.7 billion ($1.89 billion) one week after receiving a similar proposal from Hellman & Friedman.
Q&A: Bain Capital's Jonathan Lavine
Asia’s private credit markets are underdeveloped given the size of the regional economy. Jonathan Lavine, co-managing partner of Bain Capital and CIO of Bain Capital Credit, assesses the growth potential
CX buys stake in India's Veeda Clinical Research
CX Partners has led a consortium of private equity investors to commit an undisclosed sum to Indian contract research organization Veeda Clinical Research.
India's Licious raises $25m Series D
Delightful Gourmet, operator of Indian online fresh meat and seafood ordering platform Licious, has raised $25 million in Series D funding to support its geographical expansion.
Japan's Axelspace gets $23m Series B
Axelspace, a Japanese start-up focused on ready-to-launch microsatellite technology, has raised a JPY2.6 billion ($23 million) Series B round led by Global Brain and property developer Mitsui Fudosan.
Chinese logistics fleet manager raises $320m
G7, a China-based logistics fleet management systems provider, has raised $320 million in funding round led by Hopu Investment Management.
Lexington leads $1b stapled secondary for TPG Asia
Lexington Partners has backed a GP-led tender offer for TPG Capital’s fifth and sixth Asia funds, taking out existing positions held by LPs and investing new capital into the firm’s seventh pan-regional vehicle. The transaction represents a total...
True North backs Zydus' acquisition of Heinz India
True North has invested INR10 billion ($140 million) in Indian health products manufacturer Zydus Wellness to support its acquisition of Heinz India.
Deal focus: Deputy punches the new timeclock
Employment management services company Deputy has raised what is said to be Australia’s largest ever Series B round as investors look to bring new technologies into long-outdated business processes
Korea's Viva Republica raises $80m at $1.2b valuation
Kleiner Perkins and Ribbit Capital have led an $80 million funding round for Viva Republica that values the Korean financial technology start-up at about $1.2 billion.
Baring Asia pursues privatization of Japan's Pioneer
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to privatize Pioneer Corporation through a two-stage revitalization plan that will see it invest JPY102 billion ($905 million) in the struggling Japanese conglomerate.
Centurium leads $100m round for China education platform
Zhangtong Jiayuan, a China-based online education platform, has raised $100 million in Series D round led by Centurium Capital, a private equity firm established by ex-Warburg Pincus China head David Li.
FountainVest-backed consortium makes tender offer for Amer
A consortium including FountainVest Partners and Chinese sportswear retailer Anta Sports has won board support for a EUR4.6 ($5.23 billion) tender offer for Finland-listed Amer Sports, which owns brands such as Salomon, Atomic, and Louisville Slugger.