Regions
IDG partners Unilever, AWS on India early-stage program
IDG Ventures India has joined Unilever Ventures and Amazon Web Services (AWS) for an initiative aimed at supporting early-stage technology start-ups in India.
Thailand's Kasikorn Bank launches $29m fintech fund
Beacon Venture Capital, the VC arm of Thailand-based Kasikorn Bank, has launched a fund aimed at financial technology start-ups with a corpus of THB1 billion ($29 million).
Deal focus: CounterTack locks up funding for security
At a time when websites have never seemed more vulnerable, CounterTack has a software solution that can plug holes in online security systems. It has raised $20 million in Series D funding to support expansion
Singapore's VC-backed MoneySmart gets $10m Series B
MoneySmart, a personal finance portal backed by Golden Gate Ventures, has received a $10 million Series B funding round led by Japanese shopping price comparison site operator Kakaku.
Qualgro leads $8m Series B for Singapore's Wavecell
Singapore-based cloud communications platform Wavecell has raised an $8.2 million Series B round led by Qualgro, a VC firm active in Southeast Asia and Australia.
Hong Kong tech IPOs: Compromise solution
Hong Kong wants to reinvest itself as a destination for Chinese technology listings with a new board that would be open to companies that are pre-profit and have dual-class share structures. Will it fly?
Blackbird joins $12m round for Australia-US marketing player
Blackbird Ventures has led a $12 million round for Sydney and San Francisco-based marketing software provider Autopilot.
GPs sell French crystal maker to Chinese investment group
Chinese investment group Fortune Fountain Capital has agreed to buy a controlling stake in French luxury crystal maker Baccarat from Starwood Capital and L Catterton Partners, in a deal worth EUR164 million ($184 million).
Fund focus: Safe hands
With $9.3 billion in dry powder, KKR aims to capitalize on growing big-ticket opportunities in the region. The large and rapid fundraise is further evidence of the flight to quality among LPs
Deal focus: IP Group targets tech commercialization
IP Group has built a business in the UK and US working with universities to turn academic ideas into investable business models. It has now raised $149 million for expansion in Australia and New Zealand
Gobi leads $6m round for Malaysia's Carsome
Gobi Partners has led a $6 million funding round for Malaysia-based online used car purchasing platform Carsome.
KKR bids $1.6b for Australian telecom player Vocus
KKR has offered to acquire Vocus Group, one of Australia's leading high-speed broadband internet providers, in a deal worth approximately A$2.1 billion ($1.6 billion).
China cloud computing business Huayun Data raises $220m
Wuxi Huayun Data Technology Service, a Chinese cloud computing infrastructure provider, has raised RMB1.5 billion ($220 million) in a pre-IPO round from a group of domestic investors.
Legend raises $448m for seventh China VC fund
Legend Capital has closed its seventh China-focused venture capital fund at $448 million. The vehicle is smaller than the firm’s previous vehicle – which raised $500 million in about five months – and spent longer in the market.
Warburg Pincus invests $300m in emerging markets TMT platform
Warburg Pincus has invested $300 million in Princeton Growth Ventures (Princeton GV), a telecom, media and technology (TMT) buy-out platform that seeks to acquire assets in emerging markets.
Deal focus: Swiggy aims to deliver on food promise
Swiggy plans to use its $80 million Series E round of funding to challenge the likes of Zomato and Food Panda for market leadership in India's online food delivery industry
Q&A: Vertex Ventures' Ben Mathias
Ben Mathias, managing director and head of India at Temasek Holdings-backed Vertex Ventures, discusses the firm’s priorities for adding value to Indian start-ups looking to the global stage
Legend leads $18m round for Chinese beauty clinic chain
Legend Capital has led a $18 million funding round for PhiSkin, a China-based chain of beauty clinics backed by H&Q Asia Pacific.
PE and Islamic finance: Underlying themes
Encouraging trends in population, social mobility, commodities, technology, and governance standards are converging on Islamic finance. PE plays a small role with strong upside in Asia
Chinese courier start-up gets $50m Series C-plus
Chinese intercity courier services provider Shansong has secured an extended Series C round of funding led by Shunwei Capital Partners and Chinese retailer Beijing Hualian Group.
Sequoia discloses China, India fundraising activity
Sequoia Capital has topped up its fourth India fund – having closed the fifth country vehicle early last year – and disclosed that its most recent China growth vehicle closed at $899.5 million.
Emerging India invests $50m in domestic travel site
Emerging India Focus Funds has invested $50 million in Indian online travel portal Goomo, a division of its portfolio company Orbit Corporate & Leisure Travels.
Australian VCs invest $16m in domestic drug developer
Australian VC investors Brandon Capital and Uniseed have committed $16 million to Que Oncology, a clinical-stage drug development company established by the University of Queensland (UQ) and US-based Emory University.
China regulator relaxes exit rules for PE, VC firms
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has eased rules for private equity and venture capital firms by reducing their post-IPO lock-up period in an A-share listed companies from three years to one year.