Investments
Singapore's EDBI invests US analytics player RetailNext
The investment arm of Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDBI) has made an undisclosed commitment to an Asia Pacific expansion drive by US-based analytics company RetailNext.
Ford leads $24m round for VC-backed India car rental start-up
Ford Motor Company has led a $24 million Series B round of funding for India-based car rental start-up Zoomcar, alongside existing investors Sequoia Capital, Nokia Growth Partners (NGP) and Empire Angels.
Singapore's Coda Payments gets $2m
Singapore-based digital payments services company Coda Payments has closed a $2 million round of funding with participation from Japan’s IMJ Investment Partners.
Size matters: Korea's heavily contested buyouts
Korea has delivered some of Asia's biggest private equity buyout opportunities, but the scarcity of these deals means processes are highly competitive and assets are richly priced
IFC invests $125m in Indian renewable energy platform
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, will invest up to $125 million in Hero Future Energies (HFE), a renewable energy platform based in India.
Korea exits: Seller central
Foreign buyers and restless chaebols could help deliver more exit opportunities for private equity firms in Korea – provided it is the right asset, at the right price, at the right time
Japan's INCJ invests $7m in domestic materials group
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has committed to invest up to JPY700 million ($7 million) in a fresh round of funding for domestic industrial materials specialist Nakayama Amorphous.
Cross-border consumer: The Korean wave
Driven by the popularity of music, TV dramas and beauty products, Korea’s cultural cachet has never been stronger. PE and strategic investors want to monetize the phenomenon, for as long as it lasts
China's VIPKID receives investment from Bryant Stibel
VIPKID, an English-language learning platform that connects North American teachers with students in China, has received an undisclosed investment from Bryant Stibel, a new VC firm launched by retired NBA star Kobe Bryant and his partner Jeff Stibel....
Platinum buys Chinese manufacturing business
US-based Platinum Private Equity has agreed to acquire two Chinese manufacturing units from Singapore’s Broadway Industrial Group for S$150 million ($111 million).
Australia's Quadrant buys Goodlife Health Clubs for $198m
Quadrant Private Equity, which recently closed its eighth Australia mid-market fund at $980 million ($754 million), has agreed to buy Ardent Leisure’s Goodlife Health Clubs business for A$260 million.
WestBridge invests $11m in India's La Opala
WestBridge Capital Partners has invested INR77 million ($11 million) in Indian tableware retailer La Opala.
Goldman, EastBridge buy majority stake in Korea's Happycall
Goldman Sachs and South Korean mid-market focused PE firm EastBridge Partners have agreed to buy a majority stake in Korean cookware and kitchen appliances maker Happycall.
Bridgeport takes full ownership of fellow Australia GP Hawkesbridge
Bridgeport Capital has taken full ownership of Hawkesbridge Private Equity and will integrate the latter’s portfolio into its own. This follows a management buyout of Hawkesbridge’s property unit at the end of last year.
Temasek in $1.8b exit from India's Bharti, Thailand's Intouch
Singapore's Temasek Holdings has exited its stakes in Bharti Airtel and Intouch, telecommunications service providers based in India and Thailand respectively, to Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) for a total of S$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion).
PE-backed consortium withdraws take-private bid for China's Momo
An investor consortium that includes several private equity firms has withdrawn their take-private offer for Chinese mobile dating app Momo.
TA Associates invests $140m in India's TCNS Clothing
TA Associates has contributed to a $140 million round for Indian women’s apparel retailer TCNS Clothing.
India's Scale Ventures buys Guerrilla Ventures portfolio
Scale Ventures, a recently launched Indian venture capital firm, has acquired the portfolio of seed-stage investor Guerrilla Ventures.
Aspirant Group to acquire Japan's Sagami
Japanese private equity firm Aspirant Group has committed to a JPY1.2 billion ($12.3 million) investment to take a 54% stake in Tokyo-listed kimono retailer Sagami.
China state asset manager launches $30b VC fund
Chinese Reform Holdings Corporation (CRHC), a Chinese state-owned asset manager, has launched a government-backed venture capital fund with a target of RMB200 billion ($30 billion).
China B2B food products platform secures $18m
You Pei Liang Pin, a Chinese B2B online food products supplier, has raised a RMB120 million ($18 million) funding round led by PE-backed online fresh-food retailer Yiguo and Chinese conglomerate GMK Group.
3D printing: Dimension jump
3D printing technology is expected to grow at an accelerated rate now that its practical applications have come into focus. As a global manufacturing leader, Asia could be at the center of the boom
Deal focus: NextVR takes live VR worldwide
US-based virtual reality broadcaster NextVR raises $80 million for expansion, mostly from Asian investors
Chinese consortium further scales back Opera deal to $575m
A PE-backed Chinese consortium has agreed to scale back its ongoing acquisition of the web browser business of Norway’s Opera Software to a value of $575 million. It follows a renegotiation earlier this year that agreed a $600 million deal as an alternative...