CDC Group
VCs invest $20m in China's Ultrain
A group of VCs including CDC Capital, Morningside Ventures, and Draper Dragon have backed a $20 million round for Ultrain that values the Chinese blockchain technology provider at $200 million.
Alibaba buys Rocket-backed South Asia e-commerce business
Alibaba Group has acquired Daraz, an e-commerce platform incubated by Rocket Internet that is the market leader in Pakistan and has a presence in several other South Asian countries.
CDC completes exit from India’s Ujjivan
UK-based development finance institution CDC Group has fully exited Ujjivan Financial Services, the listed holding company for Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, realizing more than INR4 billion ($63.4 million) since it began trimming its stake last year.
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.
Indian firms must prove their worth to LPs – AVCJ Forum
LPs still find India an attractive market for investments, but fund managers must actively pursue them and make the case for their strategies.
India value-add: The professionals
Growing interest in control deals among Indian GPs means increased pressure to demonstrate value-add capabilities. Improving portfolio companies requires attention to the country’s unique corporate landscape
Sabre, CDC lead $26m Series C for India's Portea
Sabre Partners and CDC Group have co-led a $26 million Series C round for Indian home healthcare business Portea Medical.
CDC backs India impact investment fund
CDC Group has committed $25 million to Aavishkaar Venture Management’s latest India impact investment fund, which is targeting $200 million for deployment in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that serve poorer communities.
CDC, Manipal commit $20m to India's iGenetic
Indian healthcare testing firm iGenetic Diagnostics has raised INR1.3 billion ($19.9 million) from UK-based development finance institution (DFI) CDC Group and Indian conglomerate Manipal Education & Medical Group.
India: Draining the PIPEs
PIPE deals remain a significant part of private equity in India, but a slowdown in recent years has prompted investors to evaluate strategies and the place for public market deals in private portfolios
CDC, Manipal launch $80m emerging markets healthcare fund
UK-based development finance institution (DFI) CDC Group has partnered with India’s Manipal Education & Medical Group for an $80 million fund targeting healthcare investments in emerging markets.
Impact investors and Asian banks: Developing interest
Despite the rise of non-banking finance companies, traditional banks in emerging markets still appeal to impact investors. Using them to their potential means adapting to each market
IFC to invest $165m in Bangladesh energy firm
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has agreed to provide $165 million in debt financing to the Bangladeshi subsidiary of Singapore-based energy firm Sembcorp Utilities.
India GPs must back up value-add claims with returns - AVCJ Forum
Indian GPs are keen to highlight their proprietary deal-sourcing capabilities and operational credentials, but these claims are only meaningful if they have a demonstrative impact on performance, LPs told the AVCJ India Forum.
India fundraising: Bifurcation point
Only a handful of India-focused private equity firms have shown they are able to raise funds $500 million or more. With LPs still wavering on India, however, membership of this select group is not guaranteed
CDC commits $50m to India's RBL Bank
UK development finance institution CDC Group has invested INR3.3 billion ($49.7 million) in Indian private lender RBL Bank.
CDC to invest $149m in India Infoline Finance
CDC Group, the UK government-owned development finance institution (DFI), has agreed to invest INR10 billion ($149 million) in IIFL Holdings’ non-banking finance company (NBFC) India Infoline Finance.
CDC commits $10m to South Asia impact investor
The DFID Impact Fund, a social impact investment vehicle managed by UK-based development finance institution CDC, has made its first investment in South Asia, committing $10 million to the Insitor Impact Asia Fund.
India NBFCs: Lending a hand
Momentum is building among India’s non-banking finance companies, and PE, government and regulators see promise in the power to reach untapped markets. Success will require the support of all three parties
CDC commits $50m to India microfinance business Janalakshmi
Indian microfinance lender Janalakshmi Financial Services has raised INR3.3 billion ($50 million) from UK government-backed development finance institution CDC Group.
PE-backed Ujjivan Financial Services files for India IPO
Ujjivan Financial Services, an India-based microfinance institution (MFI) that has been awarded a banking license, has filed for an IPO, which would facilitate exits for several private equity backers.
Deal focus: CDC backs frontier e-commerce strategy
Daraz gets $55 million to build out its online retail marketplace in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar
CDC invests $55m in Asia frontier markets online retailer
CDC Group, the UK development finance institution, has invested EUR50 million ($55 million) in Daraz, an online retailer operating in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
PE and ESG: More than a box check
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have traditionally featured in pre-deal due diligence to mitigate risk, but GPs are increasingly called upon to weave these considerations into strategic thinking