Investments
KKR, 5Y lead Series C for China contact lens brand
Moody, a China-based cosmetic contact lens brand, has raised RMB1 billion ($156 million) in a Series C funding round led by KKR and 5Y Capital. Source Code Capital re-upped.
B Capital, Falcon Edge join $50m round for India digital bank
B Capital Group and Falcon Edge Capital have joined a $50 million Series B round for Indian digital banking services provider Fi at a valuation of $315 million.
Baring Asia buys Tricor from Permira for $2.7b
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) is set to expand its corporate services provider portfolio, having agreed to buy Tricor Group from Permira for an enterprise value of $2.76 billion.
Deal focus: KV Asia opts for beauty in Indonesia debut
KV Asia has paid $43 million for a 25% interest in Indonesian beauty and personal care brand Victoria Care, convinced by the company’s ability to stay ahead of the curve in a highly fragmented market
Q&A: CVC Capital Partners' Hans Wang
Hans Wang, who leads the Greater China and Asia cross-border teams at CVC Capital Partners, discusses uncertainty in China, the evolution of partnership and control strategies, and how to stay ahead in Asia
China e-commerce: Chaos in the community
With investor sentiment on China’s technology sector cooling, community group buying platforms are battling to conserve cash. This has done little for the government’s anti-monopoly drive
Blackstone buys Australia clinical trials specialist
The Blackstone Group has acquired Nucleus Network, which claims to be Australia’s largest phase-one clinical trials provider, for an undisclosed sum. It provides an exit for local GP Crescent Capital Partners.
China smart home specialist Aqara raises $156m
Aqara, a China-based provider of smart home appliances and internet-of-things (IoT) solutions, has raised RMB1 billion ($156 million) in Series C funding.
India grocery delivery player Zepto raises $60m
Zepto, an Indian grocery app that claims to deliver food in 10 minutes, has raised $60 million in its first institutional funding round with US-based Glade Brook Capital taking the lead.
Kedaara leads $75m round for India's Purplle
Kedaara Capital has led a $75 million Series E round for India-focused beauty e-commerce platform Purplle at a valuation of $630 million – up from $300 million when the start-up closed its previous round in March.
Korea's IMM leads $64m round for vertical farming company
Korea’s IMM Investment has led a $64.5 million round for Abu Dhabi-based vertical farming company Pure Harvest Smart Farms as part of an Asian expansion
Primavera joins $326m round for Taiwan EV supplier
Primavera Capital Group has made its second cleantech investment in a matter of days, with participation in a $326 million round for Taiwan-based battery manufacturer ProLogium Technology.
Qihoo leads $630m round for China EV maker Hozon
China security software provider Qihoo 360 Technology has led a RMB4 billion ($630 million) round for Hozon Auto, a local electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturer, making an individual contribution of RMB2 billion.
India's Acko achieves unicorn status with $255m round
General Atlantic and Multiples Alternate Asset Management have led a $255 million round for Acko, which claims to be India’s only digital-native insurer, at a valuation of $1.1 billion.
China ride-hailing app T3 Go raises $1.2b
T3 Go, a Nanjing-based ride-hailing platform, has raised a RMB7.7 billion ($1.2 billion) Series A round led by CITIC Investments. Redview Capital and Virtue Capital also took part.
Temasek platform to help Singapore businesses go global
Temasek Holdings is backing Singapore’s efforts to attract and develop high-growth businesses with the formation of an investment platform that will support local companies with regional and global expansion ambitions.
China e-commerce SaaS player Huice raises $312m
Huice, a China-based provider of software for e-commerce retailers, has raised $312 million in a Series D round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. This is the largest single round in China’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry year-to-date.
Primavera leads Series C for Southeast Asia's Love Bonito
Primavera Capital Group has led a $50 million Series C round for Love Bonito, which claims to be Southeast Asia’s largest omnichannel womenswear brand.
General Atlantic leads Series C for Philippines-based Kumu
General Atlantic has led a Series C round of undisclosed size for Philippines-based social media start-up Kumu, bringing total funding to date to $100 million.
India logistics provider Porter gets $100m Series E
Porter, which claims to operate India’s largest marketplace for intracity logistics, has raised an INR7.5 billion ($100 million) Series E round featuring Tiger Global Management.
Sofina, Lightrock lead $115m round for India's DeHaat
Sofina and Lightrock India have led a $115 million Series D round for Indian agricultural technology provider DeHaat. It is described as the country's largest-ever agtech round.
Chinese collaboration software provider Lanhu raises $157m
Chinese collaboration software company Lanhu has raised RMB1 billion ($157 million) in an extended Series C round led by GGV Capital, reaching a valuation of $1 billion.
Deal focus: Biotech gets more cerebral
As opportunity appears to plateau in the most popular biotech segments, brain health could come to the fore. Neurology specialist Cerecin is tracking greater interest amid industry traction in the lab
Deal focus: Crypto promises frictionless wire transfers
Hong Kong’s XanPool is tapping a growing universe of cryptocurrency holders to speed up traditional money transferring processes while reducing costs. Valar Ventures offers support