Sectors
Cherubic launches $120m fund for US, China
Early-stage venture capital firm Cherubic Ventures is targeting $120 million for its latest fund aimed at investments in the US and China.
Gobi, Mavcap launch $14.5m ASEAN seed fund
Gobi Partners and Malaysia Venture Capital Management (Mavcap) have launched a MYR60 million ($14.5 million) fund that will make seed-stage investments across Southeast Asia.
OPIC commits $250m in debt funding to India's ReNew Power
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development finance institution backed by the US government, will provide up to $250 million in debt funding to Indian renewable energy producer ReNew Power Ventures.
Abraaj leads $150m round for India’s BigBasket
Dubai-based Abraaj Group has led a $150 million funding round for Indian online grocery business BigBasket.
PE investors make part-exit from IMAX China
CMC Capital Partners and FountainVest Partners have made a partial exit from IMAX China after agreeing to an extended lock-up period for the rest of their shares.
China’s Travelzen raises $93m, plans for onshore exit
Travelzen.com, a Chinese B2B online travel platform, has raised a RMB600 million ($93 billion) Series C round from a group of domestic GPs, having removed its variable interest entity (VIE) structures in preparation for an onshore exit.
Thailand’s Medical Departures raises $2.5m
Singapore-based venture capital firm DMP has led a $2.5 million Series A round for clinical services marketplace Medical Departures.
Alibaba, Yunfeng-backed YTO Express set for $2.7b backdoor listing
Chinese clothing maker Dalian Dayang Trands has agreed to acquire Shanghai's YTO Express, which is backed by Alibaba Group and Yunfeng Capital, for RMB17.5 billion ($2.7 billion), resulting in a backdoor listing in Shanghai for the courier service provider.
China hospitals: Long-term cure?
Hospitals have emerged as a phenomenally popular target for private equity in China, but it may take time for ambitious growth projections to be realized
Portfolio: Unison Capital and Gong Cha
Bubble tea chain Gong Cha’s Korean franchise started out with an entrepreneurial approach that suited its needs. Now Unison Capital is transforming management style and building a regional lifestyle brand
Deal focus: AID plugs HMV into music value chain
By taking HMV Asia public in Hong Kong through a backdoor listing, AID Partners' objective was to secure China 3D Entertainment as a strategic partner for the business
Sequoia, Sofina commit $75m to India-based Byju's
India education start-up Byju’s has raised $75 million from Sequoia Capital and Belgium’s Sofina to diversify its product pipeline and for international marketing.
KKR wins approval to back India bad debt manager
India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has approved KKR's request to buy a stake in distressed asset manager International Asset Reconstruction Company (IARC).
Google Capital invests in India's CarDekho
Indian automobile trading platform CarDekho has secured an undisclosed investment from Google Capital, with participation from existing investor Hillhouse Capital.
China third-party insurance platform Hzins raises $30m
Hzins.com, a Chinese third-party insurance service provider, has raised RMB200 million ($30 million) in a Series B round of funding from domestic GPs including Beijing Wanrong Times Capital and Shenzhen CDF-Capital.
Sequoia targets $1.45b for China VC, growth funds
Sequoia Capital is expected to raise up to $1.45 billion for its latest China venture and growth funds, having penciled in April 7 for a final close.
India's Ambit Pragma exits Spear Logistics to French strategic
Indian mid-market PE firm Ambit Pragma has exited its majority stake in Spear Logistics to French multinational FM Logistic.
Deal focus: SCPE backs MoMo’s online-offline payment offering
MoMo provides an online bridge to Vietnamese consumers whose needs are not met by the country's traditional financial services infrastructure. Standard Chartered Private Equity is sponsoring further growth
Fosun Kinzon leads $15m round for China medical app
Fosun Kinzon Capital, a VC arm backed by Fosun Group, has led a RMB100 million ($15 million) Series B round for Easyhin, a Chinese mobile app that provides healthcare services to mothers and children.
China B2B online liquor retailer Yi Jiu Pi raises $30m
Yi Jiu Pi, a Chinese B2B online liquor retailer, has raised an extended Series B round worth RMB200 million ($30 million) co-led by domestic GPs Yuan Sheng Ventures and Eastern Bell Venture Capital.
Altos closes second Korea VC fund at $110m
US-based venture capital firm Altos Ventures has closed its second Korean Opportunity Fund (KOF) at the hard cap of $110 million.
Deal focus: InstaRem leverages convenience in money transfers
By offering lower fees and faster turnarounds than Western Union and PayPal, InstaRem hopes to steal a march on its rivals and build a truly Asia-focused money transfer platform
SCPE, Goldman invest $28m in Vietnam's M_Service
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) and Goldman Sachs have invested a combined $28 million in M_Service, the operator behind Vietnamese mobile e-wallet platform MoMo.
India's Alliance Insurance Brokers raises $8.2m
Access Asset Managers has invested INR550 million ($8.2 million) in Alliance Insurance Brokers, a business-to-business (B2B) focused insurance and risk assessment services provider.