Sectors
Vietnam's Sendo raises $61m Series C
Vietnamese e-commerce company Sendo has received $61 million in Series C funding from a group of investors including SBI Group and SoftBank Ventures Asia.
Maritime start-up accelerator launched in Singapore
US-based accelerator business Techstars and Singaporean logistics giant Eastern Pacific Shipping have teamed up for a maritime start-up accelerator in Singapore.
Chinese guidance fund secures $21b in LP commitments
China’s Ministry of Finance has rallied state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and local governments to support a RMB147.2 billion ($20.9 billion) fund that will drive a transformation of the country's manufacturing sector.
Warburg Pincus, Bessemer invest India's Perfios
Warburg Pincus and Bessemer Venture Partners have led a $50 million Series B round for Indian financial technology provider Perfios.
Japan's SmartNews secures $92m Series E
Japan-based news app SmartNews has closed its Series E round at $92 million with contributions from Japan Post Capital and Globis Capital Partners.
Profile: Jungle Ventures' Amit Anand
Across the checkered early stages of his career, Amit Anand intuitively gravitated toward the technological engine of developing Asia. This underpinned the creation of Jungle Ventures
China SaaS: Dark side of the moon
Venture capital investors in China are turning their minds and manpower to the country’s nascent enterprise software opportunity, but the evolution curve is unlikely to be an exact match of the US
Allegro acquires Australasian furniture retail portfolio
Allegro Funds has agreed to acquire a portfolio of Australian and New Zealand furniture and household goods brands – including Best & Less, Harris Scarfe, Postie, and Debenhams Australia – from South Africa-based retail holding company Steinhoff International.
Japanese space rental platform files for IPO
SpaceMarket, a Japanese start-up that lists vacant spaces available for rent for corporate events, is looking to raise up to JPY933.2 million ($8.5 million) through a domestic IPO.
Chinese GPs back $120m Series B for OPay
A group of Chinese investors including Gaorong Capital and Sequoia Capital China have joined a $120 million Series B round for Nigerian logistics and payments technology company Opay.
Xiaomi-backed smart home player raises $100 million
Lumi United, a Chinese smart home appliances and internet-of-things (IoT) solutions provider backed by smart phone maker Xiaomi, has raised $100 million in the third tranche of a Series B funding round.
Advent buys Indian biopharma player
Advent International has agreed to acquire a controlling position in Bharat Serums and Vaccines, an Indian biopharmaceuticals supplier focused on the women’s health segment.
MBK, Mirae buy stake in Asia assets of Korea's CJ CGV
MBK Partners and Mirae Asset Daewoo Private Equity have agreed to pay KRW333.6 billion ($286 million) for a minority position in the China and Southeast Asia assets of Korean cinema chain operator CJ CGV.
PE-backed Chinese SaaS player pursues US IPO
CDP, a Chinese human resources software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that counts NASDAQ-listed 51job and China Broadband Capital (CBC) as its largest external investors, has filed for an IPO in the US.
Blackstone commits $244m to India's Future Lifestyle Fashions
The Blackstone Group has agreed to invest INR17.5 billion ($244 million) in India-listed clothing retailer Future Lifestyle Fashions (FLF).
Tech, policy changes the main risks in energy – AVCJ Forum
Technology disruption and short-term policy changes are the two key challenges facing investors in the energy sector, industry participants told the AVCJ Forum.
Pavilion, Gobi lead $18m round for Indonesia's Travelio
Pavilion Capital and Gobi Partners had co-led an $18 million Series B round for Indonesia’s Travelio, an Airbnb-style home rentals start-up.
PE-backed Ping An fintech spin-out pursues US offering
OneConnect Financial Technology, an affiliate of China’s Ping An Insurance backed by the likes of IDG Capital, SBI Group, and SoftBank Vision Fund, has filed to list in the US.
IMM set for 2.3x return from Korea's Tailim Packaging
IMM Private Equity is expected to deliver a 2.3x return on its investment in Tailim Packaging Group following an agreement to sell the cardboard box manufacturer to Sae-A Trading for an enterprise valuation of around $1.5 billion.
India’s Sanaka Capital invests $44m in Edelweiss
Sanaka Capital, an Indian private equity firm established by Shankar Narayanan, formerly co-head of The Carlyle Group's Asia growth team, has agreed to invest $44 million in local financial conglomerate Edelweiss.
China VCs get more selective - AVCJ Forum
Chinese venture capital firms are doubling down on areas in which they have domain expertise as the spectrum of opportunities widens, industry participants told the AVCJ Forum.
China electric car maker Xpeng closes $400m Series C
Xpeng Motors, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer established by Xiaopeng He, previously founder of web browser UCWeb and a senior executive at Alibaba Group, has raised $400 million in Series C funding.
Unison agrees $526m Japan pharma carve-out
Unison Capital has agreed to buy Kyowa Pharmaceutical Industry, a Japanese subsidiary of India-headquartered drug manufacturer Lupin for an enterprise valuation of JPY57.4 billion ($526 million).
Korean mobile app market One Store gets $86m
One Store, a Korean mobile app market controlled by SK Telecom, has raised a KRW100 billion ($86 million) round led by local VC firm Kiwoom Investment.