Sectors
Hillhouse establishes China VC unit
Hillhouse Capital has launched a China venture capital arm under the name GL Ventures. The first fund will reportedly be RMB10 billion ($1.4 billion) in size.
Blackstone buys Chinese Logistics business for $38m
The Blackstone Group has bought 80% interest in Guangdong-based Foshan Ruixin Logistics Management from Chinese conglomerate Dongbai Group for a tentative price of RMB269 million ($38 million).
CMC raises $950m for third China fund
CMC Capital Partners, a Chinese private equity firm set up by Ruigang Li (pictured), formerly president of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), has closed its third US dollar-denominated fund with more than $950 million in commitments.
Translink joins $94m round for Germany’s Volocopter
Translink Capital, a US-based VC focused on facilitating cross-border connections with Asia, has joined a EUR87 million ($94 million) for German flying car developer Volocopter.
ADP sweeps in to claim GMR Airports
Groupe Aéroports de Paris (ADP), a French airport operator, will acquire a 49% stake in India’s GMR Airports (GAL) for INR107.8 billion ($1.49 billion), outbidding a PE-backed consortium.
IFC to invest $29m in India’s Future Lifestyle Fashions
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has agreed to invest INR2.1 billion ($29.6 million) in India-listed fashion retailer Future Lifestyle Fashions (FLF).
Malaysia’s Socar gets $18m from Korean investors
Korea’s Eugene Private Equity and KH Energy have provided $18 million in Series A funding to the Malaysian arm of local car sharing company Socar.
Chinese cross-border e-commerce player raises $14m
Cathay Capital has committed RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series B funding to Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform OrderPlus.
Prosus leads $113m Series I for Swiggy
Swiggy, an Indian food and grocery delivery platform, has received $113 million in a Series I round led by Prosus Ventures, formerly known as Naspers Ventures and Food.
Sequoia leads Series C for Indian onboarding SaaS
Sequoia Capital India has led a $32 million Series C round for Whatfix, an Indian software-as-a-service (SaaS) firm that helps enterprises increase digital adoption rates.
Globis backs two Japan marketing services companies
Japan’s Globis Capital Partners has invested in two marketing services providers in separate transactions, including web conferencing player BellFace and data-focused Flywheel.
GP profile: DSG Consumer Partners
A relentless curiosity about the Indian consumer’s journey has helped DSG Consumer Partners carve out a niche in the early stage investment space for companies with emerging local brands
China-focused online English teaching platform raises $14m
Whales English, a Chinese online language tuition business also known as Jingyu Peiyou, has raised RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series B funding led by Sino Ocean Capital. Hike Capital and Fresh Capital also participated.
Deal focus: India's WayCool in fresh approach
A $32.9 million equity and debt investment is unusually large for an Indian agricultural technology start-up.
Deal focus: Circles.Life strives to be different
Circles.Life wants to think bigger, and broader, about its telecom offering than competing mobile virtual network operators in Asia. A $75 million investment from Warburg Pincus will fuel these ambitions
India’s Unacademy secures $110m round
Indian educational learning platform Unacademy has closed a $110 million funding round, bringing Facebook and General Atlantic on to its investor roster.
Chinese GPs provide Series A for Mexican digital bank
Stori, a Mexican digital bank founded by a team with China backgrounds, has raised $10 million in an extended tranche of Series A led by Source Code Capital and Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI). Existing investor Vision Plus Capital also participated.
India’s Blume closes Fund III at $102m
Indian venture capital investor Blume ventures achieved a final close of $102m on Blume Ventures Fund III, its third early-stage fund.
Indonesia's Eureka AI gets $20m Series B
Eureka AI, an Indonesia-based artificial intelligence-enabled enterprise software platform, has received $20 million in Series B funding led by Apis Partners, Gobi Partners, Riyad Capital’s Riyad Taqina Fund, and MEC Ventures.
Affirma backs Vietnam recruitment business
Affirma Capital, a PE firm launched last year as a spin-out of Standard Chartered’s private equity business, has agreed to invest $34 million in Transcendental Human Resources, a Vietnam-focused online recruitment platform.
Kinnevik cuts valuation for India's Quikr
Swedish investment firm Kinnevik has revised downward its valuation of Indian online classifieds platform Quikr, citing fraud-related concerns and a changed measurement metric.
China technology training platform 51CTO raises $20m
51CTO, a Chinese online technology training platform, has raised $20 million in a Series C funding round led by Gaocheng Capital.
India’s Barbeque Nation re-files for IPO
Indian restaurant chain Barbeque Nation has re-filed for an initial public offering that will provide an exit opportunity for its private equity investors.
First responders: China VCs on a healthcare crisis
The coronavirus outbreak has thrust Chinese healthcare services into the spotlight, prompting investors to identify to sub-segments with potential for significant growth