South Asia
China's ICBC sets up $200m India venture fund
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has launched a $200 million fund to invest in Indian start-ups and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
India GPs focus on investee alignment – AVCJ Forum
Investment and exit opportunities in India’s private equity market continue to improve, thanks in part to growing confidence among GPs in their ability to partner with portfolio companies through crucial stages of development.
China's Gobi Partners enters Pakistan
China’s Gobi Partners has made its first investment in Pakistan by leading a $1.5 million Series A round for online travel services start-up Sastaticket.
Mixed impact on exits as early-stage VC heats up – AVCJ Forum
VCs face new challenges and opportunities in exit markets across Asia as later-stage investors and strategic players participate more deeply in early-stage ecosystems.
India PE outlook: Momentary frights
Investors see potential in India as valuation concerns ease, but exits and the macro picture present challenges in the short term
Operational value-add: Sign of the times
Budding interest in operational value-add marks a new level of maturity in Asian private equity. Trial-and-error experimentation has progressed slower than the macro motivators
India's Meesho raises $50m Series C
Meesho, an Indian e-commerce platform focused on small businesses and emerging brands, has raised a $50 million Series C round led by Shunwei Capital, RPS Ventures, and DST Partners.
Indian NBFC Veritas raises $27m Series D
Norwest Venture Partners has led a INR2 billion ($27.4 million) Series D round for Veritas Finance, an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
TPG Growth leads $42m round for Indian NBFC
Ess Kay Fincorp, an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on automotive and small business loans, has raised a $42 million round led by TPG Growth, the middle market investment platform of TPG Capital.
Deal focus: MOPE re-enters India’s automotive market
Having tracked India-based Happy Forgings for five years, Motilal Oswal Private Equity is now confident in the company's ability to build its presence in the domestic and export auto components markets
India's NIIF to acquire infrastructure lender
India’s National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has agreed to acquire IDFC Infrastructure Finance (IDFC IFL), an infrastructure-focused non-banking finance company (NBFC), in its first solo control transaction.
India proposes regulatory changes to boost start-up listings
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has floated a number of proposals intended to ease the listing process for technology-focused start-ups.
Motilal Oswal closes third India fund at $325m
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) has closed its third growth equity fund at INR23 billion ($325 million), beating its target of INR20 billion.
SCPE exits India's Dolvi Metals & Minerals
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has exited its stake in Dolvi Minerals and Metals, a trader of metallic and non-metallic minerals based in India.
Composite Capital leads $50m round for India's ClearTax
Hong Kong-based hedge fund Composite Capital has led a $50 million funding round for Indian online financial services provider ClearTax.
TVS reaches $113m first close on third India growth fund
TVS Capital Funds, a PE investment firm sponsored by the TVS Group and Shriram Group, has reached a first close of INR8.3 billion ($113 million) on its third India growth fund.
Q&A: Wellington Management's Michael Carmen
Michael Carmen, a senior managing director and PE lead portfolio manager at Wellington Management, discusses the growing opportunity in the late-stage pre-IPO market and the challenges for investors
India's IvyCap launches $8m angel fund
India’s IvyCap Ventures has launched an angel fund targeting INR600 million ($8.2 million) that will make seed to Series A-stage investments.
Sequoia India establishes separate VC, growth teams
Sequoia Capital India has split its investment staff, creating separate teams for India and Southeast Asia focused on venture and growth capital investments. The firm's China and US affiliates already employ a similar strategy.
Accel leads $13.6m round for India's Universal Sportsbiz
Accel Partners has led a INR1 billion ($13.6 million) Series E round for Indian fashion retailer Universal Sportsbiz (USPL).
Profile: Apis' Matteo Stefanel
Matteo Stefanel discovered a passion for financial services early in his career. This led to the formation of Apis Partners, which seeks to back the sector’s most innovative entrepreneurs in Asia and Africa
CDPQ invests $100m in India's Azure Power
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has invested $100 million in Azure Power, an Indian solar panel company listed in the US.
Motilal Oswal invests $27m in India auto player
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) has invested INR2 billion ($27 million) in Happy Forgings, an Indian manufacturer of forged and machined components focused on the automotive industry.
Fund focus: New name, new era for IDG in India
IDG Ventures India has rebranded as Chiratae Ventures, marking the end of its association with IDG and underlining its commitment to the local start-up community
