Investments
Bain falls short in tender offer for Japan's Kosaido
The proposed JPY17.4 billion ($157 million) acquisition of Japanese printing and IT services provider Kosaido by Bain Capital has reached an impasse after the private equity firm’s tender offer failed to win sufficient shareholder support.
Rakuten Capital, EV Growth back Singapore's ShopBack
Rakuten Capital and EV Growth have joined a $45 million round for Singapore-based retail rewards platform operator ShopBack.
Singapore's TPG-backed AirTrunk raises $333m
TPG Capital and Goldman Sachs have joined a S$450 million ($332.6 million) investment in AirTrunk, a Singapore-based provider of data center services.
1Q analysis: China malaise
First quarter analysis: China uncertainty hits PE investment; public market instability holds back IPOs; distress strategies underpin India fundraising as commitments to China-focused managers plummet
Deal focus: Everstone revisits India’s hospitals
Everstone Group acquires Sahyadri Hospitals to serve as the seed asset for a planned national healthcare delivery strategy
India's SigTuple gets $16m Series C
Trusted Insight, a US-based syndicate of institutional investors focused on alternatives, has led a $16 million Series C round for Indian healthcare artificial intelligence (AI) company SigTuple.
Vision Fund leads $225m round for Hong Kong’s Klook
Klook, a Hong Kong-headquartered booking platform for attractions, tours, dining and local experiences, has raised $225 million in an extended Series D round led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
ADB, DEG join $144m round for India solar player
Indian renewable energy developer Avaada Energy has raised a INR10 billion ($144 million) investment from a consortium including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and development institutions DEG and FMO.
Southeast Asia's Grab ups capital-raising target by $2b
Southeast Asian ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Grab has confirmed it will seek to raise an additional $2 billion within 2019, bringing its ongoing Series H round to some $6.5 billion.
KTB leads round for Chinese EV trading platform
China-based Shenma Chuxing, which provides trading services for electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid dealers, has raised $20 million in Series A funding from South Korea’s KTB Ventures and China’s Frees Fund.
Bain-Piramal fund invests $144m in India's Panacea
India Resurgence Fund (India RF), a joint venture between Bain Capital Credit and Piramal Enterprises to invest in distressed assets in India, has agreed to invest up to INR9.9 billion ($144 million) in Indian pharmaceutical developer Panacea Biotec.
China's acquisitive conglomerates: Tables turned
The troubles at China's HNA Group, Wanda Group and Anbang Insurance have removed a once popular exit channel for private equity, but now GPs may see these companies as a source of deal flow
Baring Asia buys 30% stake in India's NIIT Technologies
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to pay INR26.3 billion ($379 million) in cash for a 30% stake in India-listed IT services provider NIIT Technologies with plans to eventually take a majority position.
Everstone acquires IDFC-backed India hospital chain
India’s Everstone Group has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Sahyadri Hospitals, a portfolio company of IDFC Alternatives that operates eight hospitals in Maharashtra, for an undisclosed amount.
Ekuinas exits Malaysia healthcare businesses
Malaysian government-backed private equity firm Ekuinas has exited its entire majority holdings in local healthcare players MediExpress and PMCare to Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation.
Tencent backs China e-commerce service provider
Tencent Holdings has led a HK$911 million ($116 million) investment in Hong Kong-listed e-commerce service provider China Youzan, with participation by Gaocheng Capital and Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments, operator of the Greater Bay Area Homeland...
Deal focus: Boomplay aspires to become Africa’s Spotify
Boomplay has leveraged demand for its Chinese parent's smart phones to become the leading music streaming platform in Africa. Maison Capital and Yunshi Capital were sufficiently impressed to back a $20 million Series A round
Korean online grocery player secures $88m Series D
Market Kurly, a four-year-old Korean start-up that provides online grocery delivery services, has raised KRW100 billion ($88 million) in Series D funding.
Deal focus: Airwallex plots Asia payments expansion
Airwallex recently became Australia's newest unicorn following a $100 million Series C round, but the company's growth is largely based on an understanding of Chinese demand. Regional expansion is now the priority
Deal focus: Carlyle backs Tokiwa’s global beauty push
Well-established as a manufacturer of choice for global cosmetics brands looking to tweak their products for the Japanese market, Tokiwa is now looking to go global. The Carlyle Group will provide assistance
Chinese tea shop operator raises $29m
Lelecha, which operates around 35 milk tea stores across China, has raised RMB200 million ($29 million) in a Pre-Series A round of funding led by Vertex Ventures China.
Singapore crypto platform hits $1b valuation with Series C
Liquid.com, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency trading platform, has passed the $1 billion valuation mark with the first close of a Series C round led by IDG Capital.
Capital Today leads round for Chinese convenience store chain
China-based convenience store chain operator Linji has raised $30 million in Series B funding led by Capital Today China Group, with participation from existing investor Source Code Capital.
NIIF, PSP form $2b India toll road investment platform
The Indian government-backed National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has teamed up with Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) to launch a platform that will invest up to $2 billion in local toll road projects.
