Investments
AirTree leads Series B for Australia consulting marketplace
AirTree Ventures has led a A$13 million ($10.1 million) Series B round of funding for Expert360, an Australia-based online marketplace that connects small companies with independent consultants.
Asian space debris start-up gets $25m Series C
Astroscale, a Singapore-based satellite technology company focused on removing hazardous debris from orbit, has raised a $25 million Series C round with participation from a number of Japanese venture firms.
Singapore's GLP accepts $11.5b Hopu, Hillhouse-backed buyout offer
Singapore-listed warehouse operator Global Logistic Properties (GLP) has accepted a buyout offer from a consortium including Hopu Investment and Hillhouse Capital that values the company at S$15.9 billion ($11.5 billion).
Financial institutions and fintech: Bouncing checks
Southeast Asia’s traditional banks have begun to take a strong interest in the financial technology environment, but their early-stage involvement in the ecosystem is still tentative
Singapore’s BeMyGuest raises $8.4m Series A round
Singapore’s Raffles Venture Partners has led a Series A funding round for domestic travel start-up BeMyGuest that brings the company’s total equity funding to S$11.5 million ($8.4 million).
Baring Asia completes Joyful Honda exit, secures 45% IRR
Baring Private Equity Asia has completed its exit from Japanese home improvement center operator Joyful Honda – the first joint investment by the firm’s private equity and real estate funds – generating a gross IRR of around 45%.
HarbourVest raises $1.75b for co-investment fund
HarbourVest Partners has closed its fourth global co-investment fund at $1.75 billion, having raised the hard cap from $1.5 billion.
China warehouse robot developer gets $60m Series B
Geek+, a Chinese manufacturer of robots for use in logistics and warehousing, has received $60 million in Series B funding led by Warburg Pincus. Several existing investors, including Volcanics Ventures, also participated.
Warburg Pincus invests $100m in India’s CleanMax
Warburg Pincus has committed $100 million to CleanMax Solar, an Indian rooftop solar panel company backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Bessemer Venture Partners.
2Q analysis: All about Japan
Japan’s middle-market in fundraising flurry; Toshiba fails to make the second-quarter cut, but Asia buyouts still boom; public markets, particularly in Japan, deliver strong exits as trade sales stutter
China's Zhongzhi invests $80m in renewable energy producer
ZZ Capital, an alternative assets manager and private equity firm backed by China’s Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, has committed EUR70 million ($80 million) to Italy-based renewable energy producer Building Energy.
PE in Southeast Asia: Buyout blues
Private equity interest in Southeast Asia has yet to translate into a significant number of buyout deals. The region's sturdy economic fundamentals may prolong the stagnation
China PE challenge is micro, not macro - AVCJ Forum
Navigating micro intricacies rather than addressing macro uncertainties is the true challenge for private equity investors in China, industry participants told the AVCJ USA Forum.
China's PE-backed UrWork receives $29m investment
UrWork, a Chinese co-working space operator with a number of private equity backers, has received a $29.4 million investment from domestic conglomerate Beijing Love & Health Group.
China's SenseTime closes $410m Series B round
Sense Time, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning technology start-up has closed a $410 million Series B round of funding across two tranches, led by CDH Investments and Sailing Capital, respectively.
SBI invests Indian fintech player
Indian payments technology service Innoviti Embedded Solutions has raised a INR1.2 billion ($18.6 million) funding round led by SBI-FMO Fund.
Quadria invests Singapore, Vietnam hospitals
Healthcare-focused private equity firm Quadria Capital has acquired stakes in Singapore medical center operator MWH Holdings and Vietnam’s FV Hospital.
GGV leads $10m round for Asian snacks business
GGV Capital has led a $10 million Series A funding round for Yamibuy, a US-based e-commerce player focused on Asian snacks, beauty products, health supplements and home appliances.
Frontier markets: Late to the boom
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are among the last frontier markets in Asia but well positioned to benefit from accelerating interest in the ASEAN region. Private equity success will require a nimble approach
Affinity submits $1.6b offer for Australia's Vocus
Affinity Equity Partners has submitted a bid to buy Australian high-speed broadband internet provider Vocus Group for about A$2.2 billion ($1.6 billion), matching an offer made by KKR.
Hong Kong's CompareAsiaGroup gets $50m Series B
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has led a number of venture capital firms in a $50 million Series B funding round for Hong Kong-based financial comparison platform CompareAsiaGroup.
Verlinvest leads $14m Series B for Indian food player
Verlinvest has led a INR900 million ($14 million) Series B funding round for India-based Drums Food International, the parent company of the Epigamia yogurt brand.
Kalaari, Nexus back Indian online grocery marketplace
Kalaari Capital and Nexus Venture Partners have committed $8.5 million in Series A funding to Indian online grocery marketplace Jumbotail.
VC-backed Omise raises $25m, acquires Thai competitor
Omise, a Thailand-based financial technology company backed by a number of venture capital firms, has raised $25 million and acquired Paysbuy, a fintech subsidiary of domestic telecom player Dtac.