South Asia
Everstone exits Singapore BPO business to Brookfield
Everstone Group has agreed to sell Everise, a business process outsourcing (BPO) company it formed through the amalgamation of several existing assets, to Brookfield Asset Management.
Everstone buys Indian pharma ingredients player
Everstone Group has acquired a controlling stake in Calibre, an Indian ingredients supplier for the pharmaceutical and nutrition industries, for an undisclosed sum.
India antitrust regulator to probe private equity
India’s competition regulator will conduct a study on the role of private equity in India – identifying any potential antitrust issues – in response to the asset class’ rising prominence.
India's PhonePe spins out from Flipkart, raises $700m
PhonePe, the digital payments platform of Indian e-commerce marketplace Flipkart, has been spun out as a stand-alone entity and raised $700 million in funding at a post-money valuation of $5.5 billion.
Deal focus: Cashfree targets merchants in India’s payments boom
Apis Partners' support of India-based Cashfree is driven by a recognition that the democratization of digital payments is as much about empowering traditional merchants as unbanked consumers
PE-owned Burger King India pursues $110m IPO
The Indian franchise of US fast food giant Burger King will launch its IPO this week seeking to raise up to INR8.1 billion ($109.5 million), facilitating a partial exit for majority shareholder Everstone Group.
Faering backs India skincare start-up Pureplay
Faering Capital has led a INR1.1 billion ($14.9 million) Series B round for Pureplay Skin Sciences, an Indian direct-to-consumer beauty and hair care brand.
Profile: Aavishkaar's Vineet Rai
Vineet Rai’s career in impact investing started before the concept really existed. Spurred – but also slightly troubled – by mainstream awareness, he has big plans for India-based Aavishkaar Group
Tiger, Dragoneer back India's Unacademy at $2b valuation
Indian online education business Unacademy has received funding from Tiger Global Management and Dragoneer Investment Group at a valuation of $2 billion, up from $1.4 billion in its previous round just two months ago.
Apis invests $35m in India's Cashfree
Apis Partners has invested $35 million in Indian digital payments services provider Cashfree as part of a Series B round also featuring Smilegate Investment and Y Combinator.
DST leads $200m Series E for India's Cars24
Russia’s DST Global has led a $200 million Series E round for Indian used car platform operator Cars24 at a valuation of more than $1 billion.
India's Reliance Retail marks close of $6.4b fundraise
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has announced the completion of a funding round for its retail unit with INR472.7 billion ($6.4 billion) in commitments from eight investors.
India's True Balance gets $28m Series D
Indian financial technology provider True Balance has raised a $28 million Series D round from a group including SoftBank Ventures Asia.
Aggression pays off in times of crisis - AVCJ Forum
Going on the offensive is the best response to COVID-19 - taking advantage of market uncertainty to make new investments and help portfolio companies complete bolt-on acquisitions - the AVCJ Forum heard.
Warburg Pincus, Advantage honored at AVCJ Awards
Warburg Pincus and Advantage Partners triumphed in the firm of the year categories at the 2020 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards, with The Carlyle Group and Affinity Equity Partners also among the winners with two trophies apiece.
Aavishkaar, Circulate invest $18m in Indian recycling company
Aavishkaar Capital and Circulate Capital have invested a combined $18 million in Indian waste recovery and recycling business Nepra.
India food delivery player Zomato raises $195m
India-based food delivery business Zomato has raised $195 million from a group of investors including US-based Kora Management and Luxor Capital, and Korea’s Mirae Asset Capital.
Virtual AGMs & IR: Up in the air
Private equity firms are still finding their feet with annual meetings that no longer take place on the ground. Like it or not, virtual engagement is set to become a larger part of investor relations from now on
Asia consumer & brands: Mark tank
Local consumer brands in developing Asian markets are beginning to displace established global players. Investors are supporting the uprising and contemplating global breakouts of their own
Asia consumer & technology: Multifarious merchants
Technology is changing the way consumers interact with retailers both concrete and virtual. Ramping up the sociability factor has become a priority amid increasingly pervasive mechanization
Goldman invests $150m in India biosimilars business
Goldman Sachs has invested INR11.2 billion ($150 million) in Biocon Biologics, the biosimilars business of Indian pharmaceuticals manufacturer Biocon, at a post-money valuation of $3.94 billion.
Asia consumer: Sale of the century
The traditionally slow-changing retail sector received an unexpected incentive to smarten up quickly this year. When the dust settles, shopping will never be the same again
India supply chain player Xpressbees raises $110m
Indian e-commerce delivery start-up Xpressbees has raised INR8 billion ($110 million) from Investcorp, Norwest Venture Partners, and Gaja Capital.
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.