South Asia
Jio Platforms: India's giant in waiting
From Silver Lake to Vista Equity Partners to Facebook, international investors are flocking to Reliance Industries' internet and telecom platform. But can the business deliver on its undoubted potential?
India's Sixth Sense targets $200m for third fund
Sixth Sense, an Indian venture capital firm that invests in early-stage start-ups, has set a target of INR15 billion ($200 million) for its third fund.
Indian agtech start-up raises $5.9m Series A
Indian agricultural technology start-up Intello Labs has raised $5.9 million in a Series A funding round led by Saama Capital, Singapore’s Grow and SVG Ventures-Thrive.
India-China regulation: Punching bag
Chinese venture capital investors have become an increasingly significant presence in India’s venture capital ecosystem, but a recent regulatory reform calls their participation into question
Tribe Capital leads $13m round for Indian logistics aggregator
Shiprocket, an Indian logistics aggregator that primarily solves shipping needs of small businesses, has raised $13 million in a funding round led by US VC firm Tribe Capital.
Carlyle pursues control of India's SeQuent for $210m
The Carlyle Group has reached agreements that could see it pay INR16.3 billion ($216 million) for up to 74% of Indian animal healthcare services provider SeQuent Scientific.
CVC to invest in Indian cancer care chain operator
CVC Capital Partners plans to acquire 36.4% of HealthCare Global Enterprises (HCG) in a deal that ultimately could see it assume majority ownership of the Indian cancer care center operator.
Vista Equity to invest $1.5b in Reliance's India app platform
US-based Vista Equity Partners has agreed to invest INR113.67 billion ($1.5 billion) for a stake in Jio Platforms, a holding company for Indian internet and telecom assets, including Reliance Jio Telecom.
Everstone sells Asia payroll business to US strategic player
India and Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Everstone Group has agreed to sell Singapore-headquartered human resources software provider Excelity Group to US peer Ceridian. The size of the deal has not been disclosed.
Deal focus: Circulate makes early moves in a must-win battle
Specialist venture capital firm Circulate Capital is targeting overlooked start-ups with a view to stemming a global environmental crisis that puts Asia at center stage
Warburg Pincus invests $26.7m in IDFC First Bank
Warburg Pincus has invested INR2 billion( $26.7 million) in IDFC First Bank as part of an INR20 billion capital raise by the Indian lender.
Silver Lake to invest $750m in Reliance's India app platform
Silver Lake Partners has agreed to invest INR56.5 billion ($750 million) for a stake in Jio Platforms, the holding company behind a number of apps and the parent of India's largest telecom operator.
Beenext leads $13m Series B for Indian logistics platform
Indian logistics platform LoadShare Networks has raised INR1 billion ($13.2 million) in a Series B round led by Beenext.
Indian industry body proposes $3.3b state VC fund for start-ups
The Startup Association of India (SAI) has called on the government to bolster an existing state-backed venture capital fund and commit INR250 billion ($3.3 billion) to local companies.
Singapore’s Circulate Capital makes debut investments
Circulate Capital, a Singapore investor dedicated to ocean pollution management, has made its first investments in two plastic recycling start-ups in India and Indonesia.
RTP Global leads round for Indian B2B agritrading platform
Bijak, an Indian business-to-business (B2B) platform for trading agricultural commodities, has raised $12 million in a Series A funding round led by RTP Global.
KKR to acquire India solar assets for $204m
KKR has announced plans to acquire five solar energy assets from Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital (SP Infra) for INR15.5 billion ($204 million).
Indian brewer B9 Beverages raises $20m from Sofina, Sequoia
B9 Beverages, the owner of the Indian beer brand Bira 91, has raised INR1.5 billion ($20 million) in funding from Sequoia Capital India and Belgian investment firm Sofina.
US, India pharma company Bugswork raises $7.5m
Bugworks Research, a pharmaceutical company with operations in India, has raised $7.5 million in a funding round led by existing investors University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) and Global Brain.
Warburg Pincus re-ups in India's Apollo Tyres
Warburg Pincus has invested INR5.4 billion ($70.2 million) in Apollo Tyres to follow up on an earlier investment in the company. This continues a recent trend of PE players increasing their stakes in Indian public companies.
Facebook takes 9.9% stake in Reliance's India app platform
Facebook has acquired a 9.9% stake in Jio Platforms, the holding company behind a number of apps and the parent of India's largest telecom operator.
Coronavirus & India VC: Struggling to work
Investors don’t expect business activity in India to resume until the second half. Many start-ups will be desperate for capital before then
IFC proposes commitment to India Alternatives fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) plans to invest $10 million in the second fund raised by India Alternatives, a division of IIFL Wealth Management. The vehicle has an overall target of $70 million.
Indian corporate travel booking platform raises $13m
Itilite, a platform that helps Indian corporates manage travel-related expenses, has raised $13 million in a Series B round led by Greenoaks Capital and Vy Capital.
