Consumer
Hong Kong's Klook gets $200m Series D
Hong Kong travel services company Klook has closed a $200 million Series D funding round from a group of investors including Sequoia Capital China, Matrix Partners, and Goldman Sachs.
India's Shadowfax raises $22m Series C
Shadowfax, an Indian online-to-offline (O2O) logistics provider focused on hyperlocal delivery, has raised a $22 million Series C round led by Nokia Growth Partners (NGP).
Tokio Marine agrees $163m sale of Japan's Izumi
Tokio Marine Capital has agreed to sell Izumi Products, a Japanese manufacturer of electric tools and home appliances, to Maxell Holdings and Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) for JPY18.2 billion ($163.5 million).
Singapore’s Keppel to launch Australia retail investment fund
Keppel Capital, the asset management arm of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation, has partnered with Australia-listed property developer Vicinity Centres to launch an investment fund targeting assets in Australia’s retail sector.
GLP invests $58m in China's Wangjiahuan
GLP, a private equity-owned warehouse operator based in Singapore, has invested RMB400 million ($58 million) in Chinese agricultural products distributor Wangjiahuan.
Sailing, Sanpower-owned Brookstone files for bankruptcy
US specialty retailer Brookstone, which was acquired in 2014 by Sailing Capital and Chinese retail conglomerate Sanpower Group, has filed for bankruptcy again and will close its 102 retail stores located in shopping malls.
Chinese second-hand goods trading platform raises $65m
Sequoia Capital China has led an extended Series B round worth $65 million for Xiangwushuo, a Chinese online trading platform for second-hand goods. The company, which was founded as recently as 2017, has now raised $110 million in cumulative funding.
Technology risk: Big brother
Advanced technologies experiencing rapid commercialization such as artificial intelligence will be subject to a range of social and regulatory risks. Investors must not ignore the debate on ethical deployment
NSSK acquires Japanese hotel operator
Japanese private equity firm NSSK has acquired hospitality business Hotel Castle Inn Group for an undisclosed sum.
India bus-hailing app Shuttl gets $11m
Amazon India has led an $11 million Series B funding round for India-based bus-hailing app operator Shuttl, with participation by several other VC investors.
SE Asia's Grab raises $2b in Toyota-led funding round
Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing business Grab has raised $2 billion in its latest round of funding led by Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation and involving a number of other global investors.
IDG, Accel, Kalaari lead $120m round for India's CureFit
IDG Ventures, Accel Partners, and Kalaari Capital have led a $120 million Series C round for CureFit, a health and fitness app developer based in India.
Ex-TPG China chairman launches blank check company
Sing Wang (pictured), who was formerly co-chairman of Greater China at TPG Capital and head of TPG Growth in North Asia, is looking to raise up to $230 million for a blank check company through the US capital markets.
Gaja invests $25m in India's Educational Initiatives
Gaja Capital has made a commitment of $25 million to Educational Initiatives (EI), an India-based developer of educational technology and assessment tools.
Singapore VC-backed hotel chain gains $15m strategic investment
Zen Rooms, a budget hotel operator and online booking platform based in Singapore, has raised a $15 million from Korean online-to-offline (O2O) local services platform Yanolja.
Keppel Capital launches $147m Asia education sector fund
Keppel Capital, the asset management arm of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation, will launch an investment fund focused on education assets alongside Singapore-based preschool operator MindChamps.
ClassPass raises $85m, targets SE Asia expansion
US-based fitness services company ClassPass has raised a $85 million Series D round led by Temasek Holdings and L Catterton as part of a global expansion effort that will emphasize Southeast Asia.
Fund focus: LPs queue up for a piece of Long Hill
China’s Long Hill Capital scales up with its latest VC fund with strong support from new and existing LPs. Sector specialization has helped underpin much of the progress
India healthcare: The growth infusion
Indian hospitals are increasingly attractive for private equity investors. GPs can thrive in the space with a well-defined growth strategy that takes local market requirements into account
India-focused blank check company files for US IPO
Tenzing Acquisition, a blank check company headed by New Silk Route Ventures (NSR) co-founder and CEO Parag Saxena, has filed for a $50 million IPO on NASDAQ. The firm will use the proceeds to invest in companies with a focus on businesses operating in...
China agriculture supply chain player adds $26m to Series B
Songxiaocai, a business-to-business (B2B) platform that provides agricultural wholesale services to Chinese retailers, has raised RMB180 million ($26.4 million) in the second tranche of its Series B funding, taking the overall round to RMB410 million.
China tech: Speedy returns
The emergence of a younger generation of Chinese consumers willing to pay for online content and services has shortened the path to profitability - and perhaps to IPO as well - for some start-ups
Navis to sell stake in Singapore's White Lodge Education
Navis Capital Partners has agreed to sell a 70% stake in White Lodge Education Group Services, a Singapore-based preschool and kindergarten operator, for S$13.3 million ($9.8 million).
Jungle targets $150m for third SE Asia VC fund
Singapore-based Jungle Ventures has launched its third Southeast Asia-focused VC fund with a target of $150 million.