Funds
Vertex leads $5m investment in Singapore's InstaRem
Singapore-based fintech start-up InstaRem has raised a $5 million Series A round led by Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Temasek Holdings.
China fintech: Transition time
Capital continues to flow into China’s internet finance industry, but competition and regulation are changing the dynamics. VC investors can do well, provided they stay ahead of the game
China unicorns: Which bubble?
Differentiated business models and strong underlying consumer demand are integral to identifying a start-up that can reach a $1 billion valuation - and retain it once the bubble bursts
Profile: Trifecta's Rahul Khanna
Rahul Khanna drew on his experiences in Silicon Valley to identify and then fill a gap in India’s VC landscape. The result was Trifecta Capital, the country’s first venture debt fund
CPPIB, Kotak form $525m India distressed asset vehicle
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) will partner with Kotak Mahindra Group to invest up to $525 million in distressed assets in India.
Australia's Asciano accepts Qube-Brookfield joint $6.8b bid
Australian rail freight and cargo port operator Asciano has accepted a joint takeover offer from consortiums led by Qube Holdings and Brookfield Asset Management worth A$9 billion ($6.8 billion).
Japan design firm Goodpatch raises $3.5m
Goodpatch, a Japan-based user interface design company that focuses on digital products, has received a Series A round of funding worth JPY400 million ($3.5 million).
JC Flowers, Ambit form India stressed asset JV
US-based private equity firm J.C. Flowers will form a joint venture with India's Ambit Holdings to buy stressed assets in India.
NewQuest reaches first close on Fund III, hires ex-CVC executive
Direct secondaries specialist NewQuest Capital Partners has reached a first close of just over $500 million on its third fund, beating the initial target for the entire vehicle.
Lightspeed closes latest funds at $1.2b
Lightspeed Venture Partners has closed its latest global fund at $715 million, and raised an additional $500 million for a follow-on vehicle.
China co-working space operator raises $31m
UrWork, a co-working space for Chinese start-ups, has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) in an extended Series A round of funding.
India cloud enterprise start-up Icertis raises $15m
Icertis, a provider of cloud-based contract management software based in India and the US, has raised a $15 million Series B round.
China GPs wary of inflated unicorns – AVCJ Forum
China has no shortage of technology unicorns with valuations in excess of $1 billion, but picking the right team to back requires careful assessment, China-focused GPs said at the AVCJ China Forum.
Fund focus: Asia LPs in Morgan Stanley infra push
Morgan Stanley raises $5.8 billion for global infrastructure investments as the asset class matures in Asia
Japan e-commerce: Shopping for fun
Mercari has become Japan’s first unicorn on the back of an innovative approach to e-commerce. Can the company blaze a trail for others to follow by replicating its domestic success overseas?
Indian healthcare: Booster shots
Technological progress and changing consumer habits are bringing long-overdue change to India’s overworked healthcare system. Taking advantage will mean mastering the unique challenges of the market
500 Startups launches $10m Vietnam fund
US-based accelerator 500 Startups has launched its latest country-specific fund with a target of $10 million for investments in Vietnam.
Ex-Advent executive Avnish Mehra joins Everstone
India-focused GP Everstone Capital has hired Avnish Mehra, former India country director at Advent International, as a managing director for its private equity business.
BlueRun leads $100m Series C for China's QingCloud
China-based cloud computing platform QingCloud has raised a $100 million Series C round led by existing investor BlueRun Ventures.
G.S.K. Velu launches India VC fund
G.S.K. Velu, a former promoter of medical diagnostic chain Metropolis Healthcare, has launched a $100 million venture capital fund.
Accel leads $3m Series A round for India's Ninjacart
Accel Partners has led a $3 million Series A round for Indian business-to-business (B2B) online marketplace Ninjacart.
Philippines-based PDS secures funding
Philippines-based mobile fintech start-up Pitaca Digital Services has raised a funding round managed by Carillion Partners, a boutique investment services and financial advisory company affiliated with Hong Kong-based Angeon Advisors.
Philippines online pawn store secures VC funding
Manila-based online pawnshop PawnHero has raised an undisclosed amount of pre-Series A funding from a group of venture backers.
China VC-backed online campus store 8Dol raises $30m
8Dol.com, a Chinese campus O2O services provider backed by several VC investors, has raised an extended Series B round worth RMB200 million ($30 million) led by Longrich, a Chinese cosmetics company.