FMO
Husk Power raises $43m for Asia, Africa mini-grid strategy
India, US, and Nigeria-based renewable energy developer Husk Power has raised USD 43m in Series D funding from global VC investors for a South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa mini-grid rollout.
FMO invests $24m in Suminter India Organics
Netherlands-based development finance institution FMO has agreed to invest USD 24.3m in Suminter India Organics, a company that helps farmers grow and process organic foods with ethical practices.
India's Omnivore hits $150m first close on third fund
India agricultural technology-focused impact investor Omnivore has reached a first close of USD 150m on its third fund, beating the overall target of USD 130m. The hard cap is USD 200m.
ResponsAbility raises $106m for climate-agri debt fund
Swiss impact investor ResponsAbility has raised USD 106m for a global climate-smart agriculture and food private debt fund that will be 40% deployed in Asia.
Jungle closes fourth SE Asia, India VC fund on $600m
Jungle Ventures has reached a final close of USD 600m on its fourth flagship Southeast Asia and India-focused VC fund. The initial target was USD 350m.
Sofina, Lightrock lead $115m round for India's DeHaat
Sofina and Lightrock India have led a $115 million Series D round for Indian agricultural technology provider DeHaat. It is described as the country's largest-ever agtech round.
Virtual reporting: Lost in translation
GP-LP reporting in the age of remote portfolio assessments and stilted video catchups leaves much to be desired. Both sides are trying to bridge the divide, but no best-practice approach has emerged
DFIs help Nepal impact fund to $40m first close
Development finance institutions (DFIs) featured prominently in a $40 million first close for the second impact fund from Nepal-focused Dolma Fund Management. The target is $75 million.
CDC, FMO, SDC launch Nepal investment platform
European development finance institutions CDC Group and FMO and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have jointly launched a market building platform in Nepal.
Prosus leads $30m Series C for India agtech start-up
Prosus Ventures, formerly a VC arm of South African media conglomerate Naspers, has led a $30 million Series C round for Indian agricultural technology provider DeHaat.
Navegar closes second Philippines fund at $197m
Manila-based private equity firm Navegar has closed its second Philippines fund with $197 million in commitments. The initial target was $150 million.
LP interview: FMO
Dutch impact investor FMO has maintained significant appetite for private equity and developing Asia with relatively few resources at its disposal. Fintech is the next frontier
Sequoia leads $12m round for Indian agriculture marketplace
DeHaat, a marketplace and retailer for Indian farmers, has raised $12 million in a Series A round led by Sequoia Capital India.
Jungle closes Southeast Asia VC fund at $240m
Singapore-based Jungle Ventures has closed its third early-stage Southeast Asia VC fund at $240 million, more than doubling the previous vintage.
Lok seeks $150m for fourth India fund
Indian venture capital firm Lok Capital is targeting $150 million for its fourth fund, which will invest in growth-stage companies with a potential for positive social impact.
Governance standards: A matter of integrity
Traditionally the overlooked, underappreciated or misrepresented facet of ESG, governance is gaining prominence in emerging markets private equity as investors reassess risk exposure
FMO leads $86m round for India's InCred
Indian online lending platform and non-banking finance company (NBFC) InCred Financial Services has raised a INR6 billion ($85.9 million) Series A round led by Dutch development finance institution FMO.
ADB, DEG join $144m round for India solar player
Indian renewable energy developer Avaada Energy has raised a INR10 billion ($144 million) investment from a consortium including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and development institutions DEG and FMO.
Singapore's InstaRem raises $20m
Singapore-based financial technology start-up InstaRem has raised $20 million in Series C funding led by Telkom Indonesia and Thailand’s Kasikornbank.
Nepal's Dolma set to close $37m top-up fund
Nepal-focused private equity investor Dolma Impact Fund has received $37 million in commitments for a top-up vehicle that will pursue additional investments by its debut fund.
PE-backed MAS Financial climbs 31% on trading debut
Indian PE-backed non-banking finance company (NBFC) MAS Financial Services gained 30.9% on its trading debut in India after raising INR4.6 billion ($70.9 million) in its IPO last week.
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.
LeapFrog to invest in Indonesia's Reliance Capital Management
Microfinance-focused investor LeapFrog Investments will lead a $45 million commitment to Reliance Capital Management, an Indonesian financial services provider. This is its first investment in the country.
On the shoulders of giants: DFIs and first-time funds
Backing from a development finance institution can be the making of a first-time GP in a far-flung jurisdiction. Working with this kind of LP, however, comes with its own set of challenges