Sectors
Mobile payments: Breaking down barriers
Driven by strong demand from consumers underserved by traditional payment channels, VC and strategic investors are increasingly active in Southeast Asia mobile payment. It is too early to identify winners.
Infrastructure: Building partners
LPs are seeking to boost their exposure to Asian infrastructure through direct investment, either independently or alongside GPs. In a highly varied regional market, there is no one-size-fits-all approach
India's Adlabs Imagica raises $8m from NYLIM, Jacob Ballas
Indian theme park operator Adlabs Entertainment has raised INR500 million ($8.18 million) in a pre-IPO round of investment from NYLIM Jacob Ballas India, a vehicle co-owned by New York Life Insurance Company and Jacob Ballas Capital.
Canada’s Cycle Capital to enter China cleantech market
Canada-based cleantech investor Cycle Capital Management (CCM) will help set up a venture capital fund in Qingdao as part of an investment partnership with the eastern China city.
Warburg Pincus raises $4b global energy fund
Warburg Pincus has closed its first dedicated energy fund at the hard cap of $4 billion, comfortably exceeding the $3 billion target.
China mobile marketing firm Lomark raises $30m
A group of VC investors – DFJ DragonFund, KPCB, ABC Capital and Shenzhen Fortune Venture Capital – have committed $30 million in Series B funding to Lomark, a Chinese mobile advertising firm.
China photo-sharing app Blink secures $20m round
Blink, a Chinese photo sharing and messaging mobile app, has raised $20 million in Series A funding from Tencent Holdings, Sequoia Capital, H Capital, ZhenFund and Innovation Works.
CDH VC, Pine invest in China cloud service provider Upyun
CDH Ventures and Pine Capital have provided a Series A round of funding for Upyun, a Chinese cloud services specialist.
Tamarisc leads Series A round for Australia’s Serraview
Australian software-as-a-service (SaaS) start-up Serraview has raised a Series A round of funding from US-based venture capital firm Tamarisc as it looks to expand into US markets.
Orchid Asia invests in Chinese apparel maker La Chapelle
Orchid Asia has taken a minority stake in Shanghai La Chapelle, a PE-backed ladies apparel manufacturer that listed in Hong Kong last month, for HK$122 million ($16 million).
EIG invests $125m in Indian renewables player Greenko
EIG Global Energy Partners has invested $125 million in Greenko, an India-focused renewable energy developer that has previously received funding from the likes of GIC Private and TPG Capital.
CVC-backed Link Net cuts size of Indonesia share sale
Link Net, an Indonesian fixed-line broadband and cable TV operator in which CVC Capital Partners is an investor, has reduced the size of its planned share placement.
PE-backed Luye Pharma to take full ownership of Beijing Jialin
Luye Pharma Group, a PE-backed Chinese drug maker, has taken full ownership of its industry peer Beijing Jialin Pharmaceutical, acquiring a 42.02% interest from existing PE shareholders.
Vertex leads investment in China household services app
Vertex Venture, an investment unit of Temasek Holdings, has led a Series B round for Ayibang, a Chinese housekeeping service booking app, with participation from Shunwei Capital Partners and Ceyuan Ventures.
Tencent, Tiger Global lead $350m round for China mobile shopping app
Koudai Gouwu, a Chinese mobile shopping portal, has raised a $350 million Series C round of funding led by Tencent Holdings and Tiger Global. H Capital, VY Capital and DST Advisors also participated.
Creador in 3x partial exit from India's Repco Home Finance
Creador has made a partial exit from India's Repco Home Finance (RHF), generating a 3x return on its original investment.
Centerbridge leads $352m restructuring of Australia-listed miner
Centerbridge Partners will support a $352 million restructuring plan for Boart Longyear, an Australia Securities Exchange-listed mining services provider that has struggled as falling commodities prices prompt a scaling back in exploration.
IDG-backed Sky Solar seeks up to $150m in US IPO
Sky Solar Holdings, a Hong Kong-based independent power producer (IPP) backed by IDG-Accel China Capital, plans to raise up to $150 million through a US IPO.
IFC proposes investment in Temasek’s India NBFC
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of INR4.5 billion ($75 million) in Fullerton India Credit Company (FICC), a non-bank financial company owned by Temasek Holdings.
Singapore’s Infocomm Investments extends reach to Europe
Infocomm Investments, a VC arm of the Singapore government-backed Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), has opened an office in London, its second overseas base after Silicon Valley.
Korea's KnowRe raises $6.8m Series A from VC backers
SoftBank Venture Korea (SBVK) has a led a $6.8 million Series A investment in Seoul-based education technology start-up KnowRe.
SoftBank leads $100m round for Indonesia e-commerce player
SoftBank will lead a $100 million round of funding for Tokopedia, an Indonesian online marketplace. Sequoia Capital will also participate alongside existing investor SB Pan Asia Fund.
Australia’s CHAMP PE to buy Nuplex assets for $112m
CHAMP Private Equity has agreed to buy New Zealand-based Nuplex Industries’ distribution and plastics additives businesses for A$127.5 million ($112 million).
Advent hires ex-Evonik China president for chemicals coverage
Advent International has hired Dr Dahai Yu - the former president of Evonik China - as operating partner to cover its investments in the chemicals sector.