Investments
Deal focus: KKR's Vietnam macro proxy
KKR's investment in Vietnam property developer Vinhomes is supposed to tap into infrastructure development as well as the home-ownership ambitions of a burgeoning middle class
Asia lending start-ups: Bump in the road
Digital lenders in emerging markets need to survive a tricky year under the shadow of potential defaults, but the survivors might become significant players in a renewed financial landscape
India's Milkbasket raises $5.5m Series B
Inflection Point Ventures has led an INR420 million ($5.5 million) Series B round for Indian grocery delivery startup Milkbasket.
Hillhouse invests $400m in China data center player
Hillhouse Capital has taken a 3.9% interest in US-listed Chinese data center developer GDS Holdings for $400 million.
Australia's Canva raises $60m at $6b valuation
Canva, an Australian graphic design platform, has raised $60 million in VC funding, almost doubling its valuation to $6 billion. It attributed the growth to a shift online amid COVID-19.
Blackstone invests $150m in China's 21Vianet
The Blackstone Group has invested $150 million in 21Vianet, a US-listed Chinese data center developer backed by Singapore’s Temasek Holdings.
Chinese IPOs: One less option
Will Chinese companies listed in the US become the latest casualties of tensions between the two countries? It could lead to a narrowing in IPO exit options for PE and VC investors
Deal focus: Yidui delivers love by video
Sky9 Capital and Xiaomi have thrown their support behind a Chinese video-dating platform designed for Generation Z, complete with virtual meeting rooms, live audiences, and mechanisms for crashing other people's dates
SCB 10X, Sparx lead $80m round for Thai fintech player
Thailand-based financial technology provider Synqa, formerly known as Omise, has raised an $80 million Series C round led by local VC firm SCB 10X and Japan’s Sparx Group.
Chinese car parts supplier Casstime raises $50m
Chinese aftermarket car parts supplier Casstime has raised $50 million in the second tranche of Series C round led by Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments.
Five V buys New Zealand software developer
Australian private equity firm Five V Capital has acquired a controlling stake in New Zealand employee management software provider Totara for an undisclosed sum.
China logistics robot specialist raises $200m Series C
Geek+, a manufacturer of robots used to move merchandise around warehouses, has closed a Series C funding round, having raised $200 million across two tranches.
Carlyle invests $198m in Korea's KB Financial
The Carlyle Group has invested KRW240 billion ($198 million) in KB Financial Group and agreed to work with the Korean company on investment opportunities and structuring and financing its deals in the country.
A91 invests $16m in India spices maker
India’s A91 Partners has invested INR1.2 billion ($16.4 million) in local spices and condiments brand Pushp.
India's Jio Platforms set for record Asia growth capital fundraise
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has agreed to invest INR113.6 billion ($1.5 billion) in India’s Jio Platforms. This takes its overall funding to INR1.15 trillion, the largest single growth capital haul for an Asian technology company.
Deal focus: Indonesia’s GoPlay changes the channel
Golden Gate Ventures is backing GoPlay, a media streaming spin-out from Indonesia's GoJek, to tap an underserved Southeast Asian audience with local recreations of popular international TV shows
Japan’s Daiwa backs Vietnam cinema operator
Japan’s Daiwa Securities Group has invested $8 million in Vietnam cinema chain operator Beta Media via its private equity unit.
Mercury buys Bauer Media’s Australia, New Zealand assets
Sydney-based private equity firm Mercury Capital has agreed to acquire the Australia and New Zealand assets of Germany’s Bauer Media, including an extensive magazine portfolio.
Chinese cloud player Qiniu gets $141m Series F
Chinese enterprise cloud service provider Qiniu Cloud has raised RMB1 billion ($141 million) in Series F funding from the state-owned China Structural Reform Fund, Bocom International, and Hongzhao Fund.
China's Miaoshou Doctor raises $85m
Miaoshou Doctor, a Chinese online healthcare services platform, has raised RMB600 million ($85 million) in the first tranche of Series D funding round backed by the likes of Qiming Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital China, Ince Capital Partners, CITIC...
KKR, Temasek commit $650m to Vietnam property developer
A consortium led by KKR has invested VND15.1 trillion ($650 million) in Vinhomes, Vietnam’s leading integrated real estate developer, which went public in 2018.
Deal focus: Korean start-up disrupts the laundry
Korean on-demand laundry service Laundrygo will use its Series B funding to widen coverage within Seoul and improve automation levels at its facilities to further boost margins
Asia secondaries: Waiting for the flood
Secondary investors expect deal flow to rebound strongly once there is more certainty on valuations. In Asia, the opportunity will be larger and more nuanced than the post-global financial crisis frenzy
Singapore's One Championship raises $70m
One Championship, a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization backed by Sequoia Capital India, has raised $70 million in funding.
