Technology
KKR wins board support for $1.4b MYOB buyout
The board of Australian accounting software provider MYOB has agreed to back a buyout offer from KKR that values the company at approximately A$2 billion ($1.43 billion).
Hong Kong online insurance start-up gets $30m Series A
Hong Kong-based Bowtie Life Insurance has raised $30 million in Series A funding and become the first company in the territory to receive a “virtual” license to provide online-only services.
Naspers leads $1b Series H for India's Swiggy
Naspers has re-upped in Indian online food ordering and delivering platform Swiggy, leading a $1 billion Series H round of funding for the company.
AVCJ Awards 2018: Deal of the Year - Late Stage Technology: Ant Financial
A string of private equity investors backed Ant Financial’s $14 billion Series C round, having recognized a company at the forefront of financial disruption in China
KKR reduces offer for Australia's MYOB
KKR has reduced its offer for Australian accounting software provider MYOB and is now willing to buy all the shares it doesn’t already own at a valuation of A$2 billion ($1.43 billion).
Ola, VCs back India scooter sharing player Vogo
India-based ride-hailing platform Ola has committed $100 million worth of inventory to domestic scooter sharing business Vogo. It is part of a Series A round that also features Matrix Partners India and Stellaris Venture Partners.
Clifford Chance launches Singapore legal tech incubator
Clifford Chance has launched a start-up incubator focused on legal technology and innovation in Singapore.
Strattam buys majority stake in Australian software specialist
US-based private equity firm Strattam Capital has acquired a majority stake in Australian workforce management software-as-a-service provider Acendre Partners for an undisclosed sum.
PE-backed AsiaInfo raises $115m in Hong Kong IPO
AsiaInfo Technologies, a Chinese telecom software provider that was privatized by a CITIC Capital-led consortium in 2014, has raised HK$899.3 million ($115 million) in its Hong Kong IPO.
Chinese online truck logistics platform raises $170m
Fuyoukache, a Chinese online truck logistics platform, has raised $170 million in a Series D round led by a Bank of China investment unit and Matrix Partners China. Prospect Avenue Capital also participated.
PEP-backed Intellihub acquires New Zealand smart meter business
Intellihub Group, an Australian smart meter company formed earlier this year by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Landis+Gyr, has acquired the metering data and service business of New Zealand power supplier Mercury for NZ$270 million ($185 million)....
TNB Ventures, Aura Group close $23m VC fund
Singapore’s TNB Ventures and Australia’s Aura Group have jointly closed a S$31.1 million ($27 million) venture capital fund that will invest in data-driven B2B companies across Southeast Asia.
Five trends for 2019
AVCJ looks at how its 2018 predictions turned out and identifies some key themes for the year ahead
AVCJ Awards 2018: Deal of the Year - Early Stage Technology: Deskera
Jungle Ventures and Tembusu Partners have fueled the expansion of Deskera’s enterprise software solution focused on small businesses across Southeast Asia
Deal focus: India's Licious cuts in a heavyweight
Indian online fresh meat and seafood delivery company Licious felt compelled to raise its Series D round within three months of its Series C after a segment leader from Japan made an irrefutable offer
Deal focus: Cool Japan helps Spiber spin chic new web
Cool Japan has taken a new angle on its cultural investment thesis with Spiber, a biotechnology developer bringing next-generation materials to the apparel industry
Accel, Qualcomm join $35m round for India's Ninjacart
Accel Partners and Qualcomm Ventures have joined an INR2.5 billion ($35 million) funding round for Indian agriculture industry platform operator Ninjacart.
DCM promotes Ray Zhao to partner
DCM, which targets venture capital investments in China, Japan, and the US, has promoted Beijing-based Ray Zhao to partner.
Southeast Asia's Grab raises $150m from Yamaha
Japan’s Yamaha Motor has invested $150 million in Southeast Asia-based ride-hailing app Grab as part of a strategic partnership aimed at developing the company’s motorcycle hailing services in the region.
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2019
Industry participants share their outlooks on some of the biggest economic drivers of the day, including fast-growing sectors and shifting deal making factors across Asia’s varied markets
Chinese smart retail services provider raises $100m
Xianlife, a Beijing-based smart retail service provider, has received $100 million in funding together with its subsidiary Good Neighbors Convenience Stores.
PE-backed Tencent Music gains on US debut
Chinese music streaming platform Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) gained 7.7% on its US trading debut, following a $1.1 billion IPO that facilitated partial exits for several investors.
SoftBank, Alibaba lead $1.1b round for Indonesia's Tokopedia
SoftBank Vision Fund and Alibaba Group have joined a $1.1 billion round for Indonesian e-commerce and related online services provider Tokopedia.
CVC makes partial exit as Arteria raises $193m in Japan IPO
CVC Capital Partners has made a partial exit from Arteria Networks as the Japanese enterprise-focused broadband provider raised JPY21.9 billion ($193 million) in its Tokyo IPO.