Investments
IFC proposes $20m investment in Indian MFI
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a $20 million investment in Indian microfinance institution (MFI) RGVN Microfinance.
GE Ventures backs Hong Kong digital logistics business
GE Ventures, the VC arm of General Electric, has led a $25 million extended Series B round of funding for Freightos, a Hong Kong-based logistics technology company. It brings total funding for the business to $50 million.
Morningside closes debut renminbi VC fund at $143m
Morningside Venture Capital, a China-focused early-stage VC firm that used to manage only US dollar-denominated funds, has closed its first renminbi vehicle at RMB1 billion ($143 million).
TPG buys majority stake in Vietnam school, Mekong exits
TPG Capital has agreed to acquire a controlling position in Vietnam Australia International School (VAS), facilitating an exit for existing backers Mekong Capital and Denmark-based MAJ Invest.
Apax commits $388m to Guotai Junan's Hong Kong IPO
Apax Partners has agreed to invest $388 million in Guotai Junan Securities as the largest cornerstone investor in the Chinese brokerage’s HK$16.5 billion ($2.1 billion) Hong Kong IPO.
ClearVue leads $30m round for Chinese convenience store chain
Consumer-focused GP ClearVue Partners has led a RMB200 million ($30 million) Series B round of funding for I Believe, a Chinese convenience store operator.
India's PE-backed Byju's gets $30m
Indian online education start-up Byju’s has received a $30 million investment from Verlinvest, an investment holding company created by the founders of Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Deal focus: Carlyle backs Delhivery’s cutting edge
The Carlyle Group believes Delhivery has the business model, technology and management expertise to fill the gap in India's high-end e-commerce logistics market
China personal lending platform Yongqianbao raises $68m
Yongqianbao, a Chinese mobile app that provides personal loan services, has raised a RMB466 million ($68 million) Series C round co-led by Golden Brick Capital and CICC Alpha.
B Capital leads $25m Series C for India's Icertis
B Capital Group - a VC firm launched by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin - has led a $25 million Series C round for Icertis, an India and US-based company that provides cloud-based contract management software.
True North invests $200m in India hospital chain
Indian private equity firm True North - formerly known as India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA) - has invested $200 million in domestic hospital chain Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS).
China’s UCloud secures $140m Series D
Chinese cloud computing services provider UCloud has raised RMB960 million ($140 million) Series D round of funding from Oriza Holdings and CICC Alpha, a direct investment arm of China International Capital Corporation (CICC).
HgCapital invests $25m in New Zealand's Gentrack
HgCapital has agreed to invest NZ35.5 million ($25 million) in New Zealand industrial software specialist Gentrack to support an acquisition and expansion process in the UK.
KKR, CPPIB invest $953m in India's Bharti Infratel
KKR and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) have invested INR62 billion ($953 million) in the cell tower arm of Indian telecom services provider Bharti Airtel.
CDB, Sino IC Capital commit $22b to Tsinghua Unigroup
Tsinghua Unigroup, which is controlled by an investment arm of Tsinghua University, has secured RMB150 billion ($22 billion) financing from two government-backed investors - China Development Bank (CDB) and Sino IC Capital.
Solar-focused GP invests $120m in Japan projects
GSSG Solar, a US private equity firm focused exclusively on the solar energy sector, has agreed to invest at least $120 million in an expansion of its Japanese portfolio.
India's Intex launches VC fund, backs local mobile player
Indian electronics manufacturer Intex Technologies has launched a technology-focused venture capital fund and made its first investment in online media platform Rooter.
Deal focus: BlackBuck climbs the logistics ladder
BlackBuck receives $70 million in Series C funding as it continues its mission to cure the dysfunction in India's fragmented long-distance trucking industry
China edtech: Tangible teachings
Educational hardware remains an emerging investment segment globally. In China, cultural shifts are piquing expectations for a local boom, but success will depend on various cross-market diversifications
Secondaries: A cautionary tale
Cracks have appeared in the secondary transactions through which Standard Chartered Private Equity had sought to secure its future, underlining the challenges for investors of bank-led deals
India's Kaizen reaches $44m first close on second fund
Indian education-focused GP Kaizen Private Equity has reached a first close of $44 million on its second fund.
Korea to invest $102m in life science start-ups
The South Korean government has pledged to establish a KRW113.5 billion ($102 million) fund to support life science start-ups through related ecosystem and infrastructure investments.
China Growth Capital leads $14m round for Tiger Brokers
China Growth Capital has led an extended Series B round worth RMB100 million ($14 million) for Tiger Brokers, a Beijing-based online brokerage start-up, with participation from existing investor ZhenFund.
Greenko receives $155m from GIC, ADIA
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private has joined the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) to invest $155 million in Indian renewable energy developer Greenko Energy Holdings.