Sectors
Rakuten, Techstars launch Singapore accelerator
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has launched a Singapore-based accelerator program in conjunction with Techstars. It is Techstars’ first program in an Asian city.
CDC leads $19m round for India's Veritas
UK-based development finance institution CDC Group has led an $18.6 million Series B round for Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Veritas Finance.
Finstar commits $50m to Southeast Asia fintech program
Finstar Financial Group, a Russia-based private equity firm focused on financial technology, will invest $50 million in an existing portfolio company as part of a Southeast Asian mobile consumer lending agenda.
Japanese start-up gets $90m for space trips
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has joined a $90.2 million round for Japanese lunar exploration company iSpace. It is said to be the largest Series A raised in the country to date.
Vertex leads $50m round for China’s Guoxiaomei
Vertex Ventures China has led an initial Series C round of funding worth $50 million for Guoxiaomei, a self-service smart shelf operator.
Profile: KPCB China's James Huang
James Huang, a managing partner at KPCB China, has launched his own healthcare-focused investment firm to put his incubation and operational skills to work with a new generation of Chinese start-ups
Western Digital drops challenge to Bain consortium’s Toshiba deal
Western Digital Corporation has dropped its legal challenge to the acquisition of Toshiba Memory Corporation (TMC), the Nand flash memory unit of Toshiba Corporation, by Bain Capital Private Equity-led consortium.
ICICI Venture set to part-exit India's KIMS via IPO
India’s ICICI Venture Funds Management will exit part of its stake in Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in a planned domestic IPO.
Deal focus: GPs smile at emotive robots
Kaname Hayashi, development leader of SoftBank's Pepper, is working on his own line of emotive robots. Few details have been disclosed but investors were happy enough to commit $57 million in funding
China autos: Wheeling and dealing
A nascent, fragmented and digitally savvy industry of traditional car services is set for expansion as China’s booming car market matures. Private equity investors are piling in enthusiastically
Chinese travel platform Mafengwo secures $133m Series D
Chinese travel services platform Mafengwo has raised $133 million Series D round from new investors including Ocean Link, General Atlantic, Temasek Holdings, Yuantai Investment, and Hopu Investment.
Warburg Pincus invests $350m in India's Bharti Telemedia
Warburg Pincus has invested $350 million in Bharti Telemedia, the direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television services arm of Indian telecom services provider Bharti Airtel.
Cathay Capital launches $227m China automobile fund
Cathay Capital Private Equity has launched a RMB1.5 billion ($227 million) China automobile sector fund with cornerstone investments from Yangtze River Industry Fund and French auto supplier Valeo.
Japanese online media player Candee gets $21.6m round
Eight Roads Japan has led a JPY2.45 billion ($21.6 million) funding round Tokyo-based online media start-up Candee.
Baring sells Korea's Halla Cement to trade buyer
Baring Private Equity Asia has finalized an agreement to sell its majority stake in Korean construction materials business Halla Cement to Asia Cement.
Sequoia-CMC sports fund backs China’s Supermonkey
Chinese fitness start-up Supermonkey has raised a Series C round of funding led by Jiansheng Sports Fund, a vehicle established by Sequoia Capital China and CMC Holdings.
GTI-backed Sandhar files for India IPO
Indian auto components maker Sandhar Technologies has filed for an IPO that will provide an exit for its private equity backer GTI Capital.
Baidu Capital leads round for China’s WM Motor
Baidu Capital, a VC firm backed by Chinese search engine Baidu, has led a round of funding for WM Motor Technology, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer.
NSI hits first close on Fund II, backs Singapore healthcare start-up
NSI Ventures has reached a first close of approximately $60 million on its second Southeast Asia venture capital fund and also participated in a $5 million Series A round for Singapore-based digital healthcare company Biofourmis.
China’s GenBridge closes debut fund at $500m hard cap
GenBridge Capital, a private equity firm set up by former executives from Chinese online retailer JD.com and TPG Capital, has closed its debut consumer-focused fund at the hard cap of $500 million.
KKR completes tender offer for Japan's Hitachi Kokusai
KKR has completed its tender offer for Japanese high-tech manufacturer Hitachi Kokusai Electric, having surpassed the 24.1% shareholder support required for the JPY322 billion ($2.9 billion) deal to proceed.
Yao Capital, IDG back sports marketing business Shankai
Yao Capital and IDG Capital have invested RMB300 million ($45.3 million) in Shankai Sports, coinciding with the Chinese sports management company signing an agreement to manage the China operations of golf’s PGA Tour.
SparkLabs hires venture partner for HK fintech accelerator
SparkLabs Global has hired Sameer Chishty, founder and chairman of Hong Kong-based merchant bank Streeton Partners, as a venture partner for its new financial technology accelerator in the territory.
Yunfeng joins Chinese consortium in Italy healthcare acquisition
Yunfeng Capital has teamed up with a group of Chinese strategic and financial investors to acquire 100% of Esaote, an Italy-headquartered manufacturer of medical diagnostic systems. The deal facilitates an exit for Ares Life Sciences among other investors.