Investments
Gobi leads $3m round for Australia's Airwallex
Gobi Partners has led a A$5 million ($3 million) round of funding for Australia-based digital payment services developer Airwallex.
Q&A: Tata Capital Growth Fund's Pramod Ahuja
Tata Capital currently manages five private equity funds across different strategies. Pramod Ahuja, a partner responsible for the firm’s $240 million growth vehicle, discusses the opportunity set
American dreams: China targets US semiconductor assets
Chinese interest in semiconductor assets has again put the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US under the spotlight. Not all deals get through, but corporate China is generally braver and better informed
WuXi, Boyu, Oriza commit $150m to China's CStone
WuXi Healthcare Ventures, Oriza Seed Venture Capital, and Boyu Capital have committed $150 million in Series A funding to Chinese bio-pharmaceutical developer CStone Pharmaceuticals.
US-based Ayla gets $39m round for Asia expansion
Chinese boutique investment bank and asset manager Ants Capital has led a $39 million Series C round for Ayla Networks as the US-based internet-of-things (IoT) company consolidates its Asian footprint.
SCPE invests in Singapore food ingredients retailer
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has invested in Singapore-based food ingredients retailer Phoon Huat.
China opens local private funds space to foreign players
China has moved to open up its markets to overseas private fund managers by allowing wholly foreign-owned enterprises (WFOEs) and joint ventures to raise capital domestically and invest it in private companies and the stock markets.
First Reserve JV buys SE Asia oil industry servicing vessel
A joint venture controlled by energy-focused private equity firm First Reserve has acquired an 80% stake in a Southeast Asia servicing oil tanker for $166.3 million.
Armstrong, IFC back Vietnam hydropower producer
Armstrong Asset Management and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will invest in Vietnamese hydropower company Gia Lai Electricity (GEC).
Mandala buys India's EFRAC for $10m
Mandala Capital, a South-Asia focused PE firm that invests in the agricultural sector, has paid $10 million for a 51% stake in Indian testing laboratory EFRAC.
Navis seals healthcare deals in Indonesia, Vietnam
Navis Capital Partners has closed two Southeast Asia healthcare deals, with agreements to buy Indonesia-based medical devices distributor Tawada Healthcare and Vietnam’s Hanoi French Hospital.
Hahn & Co moves towards control of Korea's Ssangyong Cement
Korean GP Hahn & Company will assume majority control of Ssangyong Cement with the acquisition of a stake held by Japan-listed Taiheiyo Cement for KRW454.8 billion ($394 million).
Brand Capital invests $22m in India's Meru
Brand Capital has invested INR1.5 billion ($22.2 million) in Indian app-based taxi service provider Meru Cab.
China consumer data analysis business gets $20m Series A
GrowingIO, a Chinese data analysis company founded by executives from LinkedIn’s business analytics division, has raised a $20 million Series A round from Matrix Partners China, NEA and Greylock Partners.
MSPEA backs India NBFC Five Star
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has invested INR1.14 billion ($16.9 million) in Five Star Business Finance, an India-based non-banking finance company (NBFC) that specializes in small ticket business and housing loans.
Japan succession: The long goodbye
As Masayoshi Son's recent about-turn on giving up the leadership of SoftBank suggests, Japanese founders of a certain age can be even less willing to consider succession than their younger peers
Deal focus: IDG backs Circle’s payments play
Circle is ready to test its blockchain-based online peer-to-peer payments platform in China, with support from a string of local financial and strategic investors
Secondaries: Waiting for the shoe to drop
Asian secondaries players are counting on an explosion in demand for alternative liquidity solutions over the next few years, but cutting deals in this niche market requires a nimble approach
China Mobile fund leads $100m round for job site Liepin
A fund launched by China Mobile in partnership with the State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC) has led a $100 million Series D round of funding for online recruitment services provider Liepin.com.
OneVentures backs Australia's Employment Hero
OneVentures has led a A$3 million ($2.2 million) Series A round of funding for Australian online human resources services start-up Employment Hero.
Bertelsmann leads $32m round for India's Lendingkart
Bertelsmann India Investments has led a $32 million Series B round for Indian finance platform Lendingkart.
Altius to be sold to Canada’s Pavilion Financial
Canadian investment services firm Pavilion Financial has agreed to acquire Altius Associates, a PE advisor and fund manager with a presence across Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
Indonesia VC: Work in progress
As Indonesia’s start-up space matures, with ever more capital pouring in, VC players recognize that exits are the key to creating a sustainable investment environment. However, it is still early days
Deal focus: Asia-IO embraces machine learning
Asia-IO Advisors' strategic co-investment with Foxconn Technology Group has led to the creation of a systems integration specialist that will help manufactures embrace 'industry 4.0'