Sectors
Ford leads $24m round for VC-backed India car rental start-up
Ford Motor Company has led a $24 million Series B round of funding for India-based car rental start-up Zoomcar, alongside existing investors Sequoia Capital, Nokia Growth Partners (NGP) and Empire Angels.
Singapore's Coda Payments gets $2m
Singapore-based digital payments services company Coda Payments has closed a $2 million round of funding with participation from Japan’s IMJ Investment Partners.
China's Suning invests in VC-backed VR camera maker
Insta360, a Shenzhen-based virtual reality (VR) camera maker backed by several VC investors, has received an undisclosed sum of funding from Chinese electronics retailer Suning Commerce Group.
IFC invests $125m in Indian renewable energy platform
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, will invest up to $125 million in Hero Future Energies (HFE), a renewable energy platform based in India.
Japan's INCJ invests $7m in domestic materials group
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has committed to invest up to JPY700 million ($7 million) in a fresh round of funding for domestic industrial materials specialist Nakayama Amorphous.
Cross-border consumer: The Korean wave
Driven by the popularity of music, TV dramas and beauty products, Korea’s cultural cachet has never been stronger. PE and strategic investors want to monetize the phenomenon, for as long as it lasts
China's VIPKID receives investment from Bryant Stibel
VIPKID, an English-language learning platform that connects North American teachers with students in China, has received an undisclosed investment from Bryant Stibel, a new VC firm launched by retired NBA star Kobe Bryant and his partner Jeff Stibel....
India's PE-backed Laurus Labs file for IPO
Indian pharmaceutical products developer Laurus Labs has filed for a domestic IPO, offering a partial exit for backers Warburg Pincus and Eight Roads Ventures.
Korea VC: Leaps of faith
Korean e-commerce start-ups have seen breakthroughs in fundraising over the last few years, but investors are already concerned about the future of the industry
VC-backed app developer Meitu files for Hong Kong IPO
Chinese mobile internet company and photo app provider Meitu has filed for a Hong Kong IPO, offering potential exits to investors including IDG Capital Partners and Qiming Venture Partners.
Indian recruiters launch $10m VC fund
Indian recruitment companies Kelly Services India and Temp Holdings have launched a INR670 million ($10 million) venture capital fund focused on human resources-focused start-ups.
India biopharma player Vyome gets $14m Series C
Indian biopharmaceutical company Vyome Biosciences has raised a $14 million Series C funding round led by US investors Perceptive Advisors and Romulus Capital.
Jaganath Swamy leaves HarbourVest to lead start-up
Jaganath Swamy, a vice-president at HarbourVest Partners, has left the firm to join Good Parents, a health and wellness-focused start-up based in San Francisco and Hong Kong.
Malaysia's Ekuinas sells 20% stake in Alliance Cosmetics to Navis
Navis Capital Partners has paid MYR61.8 million ($15.3 million) to Malaysian government-backed PE firm Ekuinas for a 20% stake in local cosmetics brand Alliance Cosmetics Group.
Australia's Quadrant buys Goodlife Health Clubs for $198m
Quadrant Private Equity, which recently closed its eighth Australia mid-market fund at $980 million ($754 million), has agreed to buy Ardent Leisure’s Goodlife Health Clubs business for A$260 million.
WestBridge invests $11m in India's La Opala
WestBridge Capital Partners has invested INR77 million ($11 million) in Indian tableware retailer La Opala.
Brand Capital commits $19m to India's Quikr
Brand Capital, an investment arm of The Times Group, has invested INR1.3 billion ($19 million) in Indian online classifieds services provider Quikr.
Goldman, EastBridge buy majority stake in Korea's Happycall
Goldman Sachs and South Korean mid-market focused PE firm EastBridge Partners have agreed to buy a majority stake in Korean cookware and kitchen appliances maker Happycall.
Temasek in $1.8b exit from India's Bharti, Thailand's Intouch
Singapore's Temasek Holdings has exited its stakes in Bharti Airtel and Intouch, telecommunications service providers based in India and Thailand respectively, to Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) for a total of S$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion).
PE-backed consortium withdraws take-private bid for China's Momo
An investor consortium that includes several private equity firms has withdrawn their take-private offer for Chinese mobile dating app Momo.
TA Associates invests $140m in India's TCNS Clothing
TA Associates has contributed to a $140 million round for Indian women’s apparel retailer TCNS Clothing.
China online finance site Lancai raises $24m
Chinese online finance platform Lancai.com has raised a RMB180 million ($27 million) Series B round of funding led by Leshi Internet Information & Technology, also known as LeEco. Existing investor Legend Capital also participated.
India's Scale Ventures buys Guerrilla Ventures portfolio
Scale Ventures, a recently launched Indian venture capital firm, has acquired the portfolio of seed-stage investor Guerrilla Ventures.
Deal focus: Tutwo cuts out the middleman
CDIB Capital commits $30 million to China's Tutwo Outdoor to help its supply chain consolidation play