Investments
Blackbird backs Australian space, IoT start-up
Australia’s Blackbird Ventures has led a A$5 million ($3.7 million) Series A funding round for Fleet, a domestic space technology start-up targeting growth in the internet of things (IoT) industry.
Indonesia's GP landscape: Slim pickings
While the number of GPs active in Indonesian venture capital has mushroomed in recent years, there has been no change on the private equity side. The market suffers from talent and perception issues
Hastings, First State Super buy Australian state land registry
First State Super and Hastings Fund Management have agreed to acquire the New South Wales (NSW) land title and registry business for A$2.6 billion ($1.9 billion).
1Q analysis: Whale watching
KKR’s first close dominates fundraising activity, but mid-market showing still impresses; Japan leads the way as Asia exits remain reasonably strong; investment slows, if China state-backed deals are ignored
China semiconductor fund to buy Xcerra for $580m
Sino IC Capital, a technology-focused private equity fund manager backed by the Chinese government, has agreed to acquire US semiconductor and electronics manufacturer Xcerra in a deal that values the company at about $580 million.
China's SDIC to invest $47m in US-based Maxwell
SDIC Fund Management has agreed to invest $47 million in US-listed energy storage and delivery solutions developer Maxwell Technologies.
NZ Super joins $172m investment in Kiwibank
New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZ Super) has participated in a NZ$247 million ($172 million) investment in Kiwibank, a banking and finance services provider controlled by New Zealand Post.
Indonesia resources: Storms and blue sky
Indonesia’s resources sector has proven a socially and politically tumultuous investment environment in recent years. GPs are monitoring the headline issues and maintaining long-term confidence
Indonesia VC: Corporate kingpins
The corporates and family groups that dominate Indonesia’s economy are becoming increasingly active in the VC space. To independent GPs, they are more friend than foe, but agendas and approaches vary
VC-backed real estate start-up gets $11.7m from Mitsui
Mitsui & Co has agreed to invest JPY1.3 billion ($11.7 million) in Renoveru, a VC-backed start-up focused on online services in Japan’s home renovations market.
India's Flipkart confirms $1.4b downround
Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has confirmed an investment of $1.4 billion from Microsoft, eBay, and China’s Tencent Holdings at a post-deal valuation of $11.6 billion, down from $15 billion as of its previous round.
True North-led group to buy Religare Health Insurance for $162m
A consortium led by True North Managers will buy a majority stake in India’s Religare Health Insurance (RHI) for INR10.4 billion ($162 million).
Volkswagen China invests $180m in VC-backed Mobvoi
Volkswagen's China unit has agreed to invest $180 million in Beijing-based Mobvoi, a venture capital-backed start-up that is developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for the automotive sector.
Hillhouse, FountainVest agree $1b Zhaopin take-private
Hillhouse Capital and FountainVest Partners, along with Australia’s Seek International, have agreed to buy US-listed Chinese recruitment website Zhaopin in a deal that values the company at $1.01 billion.
Deal focus: PE proves the right fit for fintech
Creador has exited its stake in Malaysian financial technology company GHL Group to Actis after scanning a field of strategics and deciding PE was the best backer for the sector
China auto trading platform Souche gets $180m Series D
Warburg Pincus has led a $180 million Series D round of funding for Chinese online second-hand car trading platform Souche, less than five months after the company’s previous round worth $100 million.
Adamantem buys New Zealand's Heritage Lifecare
Adamantem Capital, an Australia-based mid-market PE firm set by former executives from Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), has acquired New Zealand’s Heritage Lifecare for an enterprise valuation of NZ$115 million ($80 million).
VCs back Series C for China mother-and-baby player
Eight Roads Ventures has led a group of investors in a Series C round of funding for Mama+, a social networking and e-commerce platform focused on China’s mother-and-baby market.
Warburg Pincus invests $77m in Indian jeweler
Warburg Pincus has committed INR5 billion ($77 million) to Indian jewelry retailer Kalyan Jewellers.
Jafco invests $12m in Singapore adtech firm AdAsia
Jafco Asia has invested $12 million in a Series A funding round for Singapore-based advertising technology company AdAsia Holdings.
The devil you know: PE and Southeast Asian entrepreneurs
Due to a shortage of companies in Southeast Asia that have proved themselves capable of working private equity, when GPs identify a group they like it is not uncommon for them to work together more than once
Deal focus: True North keeps healthcare ball rolling
Having turned down Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences once due to potential conflicts of interest, True North moved quickly to deploy $200 million when presented with a second opportunity to invest in the hospital chain
Mahindra leads $21m round for India's Medwell
Mahindra Partners has led a $21 million Series B round for Indian home healthcare start-up Medwell Ventures, operator of Nightingales Home Health Services.
Deal focus: KKR returns to Masan, PENM exits
KKR will team up with Vietnam's Masan Group for a second time, committing $250 million to the parent and its meat industry subsidiary. The GP's entry facilitates a partial exit for long-standing investor PENM Partners