MENA
Aramco backs Japan drone start-up
Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, has invested USD 14m in Japanese drone maker Terra Drone on the back of a JPY 8bn (USD 62m) Series B round.
Dalma Capital buys Singapore's Global CIO Office
Dalma Capital Group, a Dubai-headquartered alternative investment management platform, has agreed to buy The Global CIO Office, a Singapore-based outsourced CIO business that primarily serves family offices.
Korea's Bespin Global gets $100m Series D
Korea-headquartered cloud services company Bespin Global has raised a USD 100m Series D round led by a unit of Emirates Telecoms Group.
KKR, Mubadala form $1b Asia credit partnership
KKR and Mubadala Investment – a sovereign investor controlled by the government of Abu Dhabi – have established a partnership through which they will co-invest in performing credit opportunities across Asia Pacific.
Saudi Arabia's Sidra targets Asia, teams up with BlackRock
Sidra Capital, a Saudi Arabia-based alternative asset manager, has teamed up with BlackRock to offer shariah-compliant private equity opportunities in Asia Pacific.
TPG, Temasek invest $136m in India's Dr Agarwal’s
TPG Growth and Temasek Holdings have invested a combined INR 10.5bn (USD 136m) in Indian eyecare chain Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, setting up an exit for ADV Partners.
Q&A: Gulf Capital's Richard Dallas & Shantanu Mukerji
Richard Dallas, a senior managing director at Gulf Capital, and newly appointed Asia head Shantanu Mukerji on using Singapore as a regional hub, cross-border expansion, and why a dedicated regional fund is unlikely
Gulf Capital opens Singapore office
Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Capital has opened a Singapore office and appointed Shantanu Mukerji as its first on-the-ground private equity managing director in Asia.
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
Tiger Global leads $144m round for India's DealShare
Tiger Global Management has led a $144 million Series D round for Indian social e-commerce start-up DealShare.
China's Crystal Stream backs Egypt e-commerce platform
Chinese VC firm Crystal Stream Capital has doubled down on a Middle East and Africa strategy with participation in a $40 million investment in Egyptian logistics start-up MaxAB.
China's MSA Capital backs Saudi B2B start-up
China’s MSA Capital has joined a $30.5 million round for Saudi Arabian B2B services marketplace Sary as part of a deepening Asia-Middle East agenda.
GP profile: Samena Capital
Conservative yet contrarian, Samena Capital has carved its own path prioritizing patience, trust, and transparency. A younger generation of leadership is guiding entry into a new digital landscape
Japan's Samurai Incubate raises Africa fund
Japanese venture capital firm Samurai Incubate has closed its second Africa-focused fund above target at just over JPY2.02 billion ($18.6 million).
Media SPAC legitimizes MENA for Asia investors
The imminent US listing of a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) media app via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) is helping legitimize the region for Asian private equity.
Asia-Middle East: Bridge builders
Back-and-forth investment and business building between Asia and the Middle East is a fertile theme for private equity. Such activity appears set to steadily increase rather than boom
India's PolicyBazaar raises $75m for Middle East expansion
PolicyBazaar, India’s largest insurance comparison portal, has raised $75 million from US-based Falcon Edge Capital for a Middle East expansion.
Shariah investors in PE: Tailored exposure
Employees Provident Fund’s $600 million shariah-compliant co-investment mandate suggests increasing institutional appetite for Islamic finance solutions in private equity. Is the industry ready?
Israel's OTV raises $170m, plans Asia expansion
OTV, an Israeli VC firm focused on digital health, has closed its latest fund at $170 million, opened a China office, and appointed a new head of Asia to spearhead an expansion in the region.
Saudi fund invests $1.3b in India's Reliance Retail
Saudi Arabia’s Public investment Fund (PIF) has invested INR95.5 billion ($1.3 billion) in India’s Reliance Retail, taking a 2% stake.
Deal focus: Iron Pillar demonstrates conviction in FreshToHome
Social distancing is driving demand for FreshToHome's farm-to-fork fish and meat supply chain offering. The company's $121 million Series C will go towards expansion in India and the Middle East
China apps going global: Empires on hold
China’s data-driven consumer apps are having a harder time keeping politics out of business as they become increasingly competitive in global markets. Lessons are plentiful; solutions are not
Singapore GPs lead round for Israeli drone scouting start-up
Taranis, an Israel drone-based crop monitoring solution provider for farms, has raised $30 million in a Series C round eyeing expansion opportunities in Asian markets.
Q&A: Viola Ventures' Ronen Nir
Ronen Nir is a general partner at Viola Ventures, an early-stage technology investor under Israel’s Viola Group looking to expand its presence in Asia
