South Asia
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
Atul Phull rejoins Everstone in business development role
Atul Phull, who left Everstone Group in 2018 after a seven-year stint spent primarily on fundraising activities, has rejoined the India and Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm.
Flipkart buys India mobile gaming start-up Mech Mocha
Indian e-commerce marketplace Flipkart has bought Mech Mocha, a local mobile gaming start-up that has previously received VC funding from Blume Ventures, Accel Partners, and China’s Shunwei Capital.
Asia e-sports: Pumping up in a timeout
A recent slew of deals targeting e-sports in Asia has coincided with the live events that generate most of the industry's revenue going on hiatus. Investors appear happy to play the long game
Ex-CEO of India's HDFC Bank takes advisory role at Carlyle
Aditya Puri, previously CEO of HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector lender, has joined The Carlyle Group as a senior advisor in Asia.
KKR launches India renewable energy platform
KKR has launched a renewable energy platform in India called Virescent Infrastructure, which will build out a portfolio primarily comprising investments made by KKR’s existing infrastructure business.
India's Finova gets $55m in equity, debt funding
Finova Capital, an Indian small business lending start-up, has raised $55 million in equity and debt, including $35 million in equity from Sequoia Capital India and Faering Capital.
India's FreshToHome raises $121m Series C
FreshToHome, an Indian food delivery platform backed by local VCs Iron Pillar and Ascent Capital, has raised a $121 million Series C round.
India's Taxmantra launches Singapore VC unit, $100m fund
Indian tax and legal services firm Taxmantra Global has launched a Singapore-based VC unit called ProfitBoard Ventures and established a debut fund with $100 million in commitments.
SAIF India closes $400m VC fund, rebrands as Elevation Capital
SAIF Partners India has closed its fourth fund at $400 million within a few weeks of launch and rebranded as Elevation Capital.
Sequoia joins $22.5m round for Bangladesh's ShopUp
Sequoia Capital India and US-based Flourish Ventures have led a $22.5 million Series A round for Bangladesh B2B platform ShopUp. It is both firms’ first investment in the country.
Walmart, Flipkart re-up in India's Ninjacart
US retailer Walmart and Flipkart, its India-based e-commerce platform, have made an additional investment in local fresh produce delivery business Ninjacart.
India's Razorpay raises $100m Series D
Indian digital payments start-up Razorpay has achieved unicorn status following a $100 million Series D round led by GIC Private and Sequoia Capital India.
PAG-led consortium buys India drug maker
PAG Asia Capital has made its second substantial investment in India in the past two months, leading a consortium that has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Anjan Drug, a Chennai-based manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).
SAIF launches fourth India VC fund
SAIF Partners India has launched its fourth VC fund with a target of $400 million.
ADIA joins Reliance Retail investor roster
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has become the latest investor to follow its commitment to Reliance Industries-owned Jio Platforms with an investment in Indian conglomerate’s retail unit.
India, US-based Chargebee raises $55m Series F
Chargebee, an India-founded and now US-headquartered financial technology provider, has raised $55 million in Series F funding led by Insight Partners.
Investcorp ramps up India ESG build-out
Investcorp will establish an environment, social and governance (ESG) pilot project in India as a stepping stone to implementing a global framework.
Warburg Pincus to invest $95m in India's Home First Finance
Warburg Pincus has agreed to invest INR7 billion ($95.7 million) in Home First Finance, an India-based provider of home loans to the low and middle-income segments.
GIC backs Reliance Retail's India digitization drive
Singapore’s GIC Private has committed INR55.1 billion ($754 million) to the retail unit of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, joining a growing roster of blue-chip backers.
Lee Fixel's Addition backs India news aggregation app
Inshorts, an Indian news aggregation app, has raised $35 million in funding led by Addition, an investment firm launched by Lee Fixel, who was previously involved in Tiger Global Management’s India deals.
PE-owned Asia data center business trades up after $540m IPO
Bain Capital-controlled data center operator Chindata Group Holdings gained 20% on its NASDAQ trading debut following a $540 million IPO.
Prosus leads $12m Series B for Pakistan's Bykea
Prosus Ventures, formerly a VC arm of South African media conglomerate Naspers, has led a $12 million Series B round for Pakistan ride-hailing and courier app Bykea.
Investors commit $1.6b to India's Reliance Retail
General Atlantic, TPG and Mubadala Investment have doubled down on Reliance Industries’ plans to reinvent digital consumer services in India, following earlier commitments to Jio Platforms with investments in the conglomerate’s retail unit.