Growth capital
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.
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.
Chinese coffee shop chain Luckin gets $200m Series B
Luckin Coffee, a Chinese coffee shop chain established last year, has raised $200 million in Series B round from existing investors GIC Private, Centurium Capital, and Joy Capital.
CX buys stake in India's Veeda Clinical Research
CX Partners has led a consortium of private equity investors to commit an undisclosed sum to Indian contract research organization Veeda Clinical Research.
India's Licious raises $25m Series D
Delightful Gourmet, operator of Indian online fresh meat and seafood ordering platform Licious, has raised $25 million in Series D funding to support its geographical expansion.
PE and SMEs: Southeastern bind
Difficulties connecting private equity investors with small to medium-sized enterprises in traditional industries remain a key barrier to growth in Southeast Asia. Novel approaches will be necessary
True North backs Zydus' acquisition of Heinz India
True North has invested INR10 billion ($140 million) in Indian health products manufacturer Zydus Wellness to support its acquisition of Heinz India.
Grab invests $100m in India's Oyo
Southeast Asian ride-hailing player Grab has invested more than $100 million in India-based online hospitality platform Oyo.
Lighthouse invests $35m in India’s Aqualite
Lighthouse Funds has invested more than INR2.5 billion ($35 million) for a minority stake in Aqualite Industries, an Indian footwear manufacturer.
KKR invests $366m in Singapore’s V3 Group
KKR has confirmed it will invest up to S$500 million ($366 million) in Singapore-based luxury lifestyle and wellness products company V3 Group at an enterprise valuation of about S$1.7 billion.
Steadview, Vy lead $50m Series D for India's UrbanClap
Hong Kong-based hedge fund Steadview Capital and existing investor Vy Capital have led a $50 million Series D round for Indian local services marketplace UrbanClap.
Q&A: Tata Opportunities Fund's Paddy Sinha
Paddy Sinha, a managing partner with Tata Opportunities Fund, discusses macroeconomic and policy developments in India, the availability of buyouts, and the outlook for exits
India PE spin-outs: Standing tall
India provides fertile ground for spin-outs by increasingly confident PE veterans, but LP skepticism remains a major hurdle. Managers must demonstrate their investment skills quickly or risk being left behind
Deal focus: Investors bring new lift to Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab's latest funding round is aimed at helping the New Zealand-founded company grow into new markets and target new business opportunities
Coatue leads $70m round for China, US-based Agora
Agora.io, a real-time voice and video communication platform established by Tony Zhao, formerly CTO of Chinese social networking player YY.com, has received $70 million in Series C funding led by Coatue Management.
Vision Fund invests $2b in Korea’s Coupang
SoftBank Vision Fund has committed $2 billion to South Korean e-commerce business Coupang, reportedly valuing the company at $9 billion.
Chinese financial education business receives $115m Series C
Golden Education, which claims to be China’s largest professional financial education provider, has received RMB800 million ($115 million) in Series C funding led by Hillhouse Capital and Morgan Stanley.
Australia's Future Fund leads $140m round for Rocket Lab
Australia’s Future Fund has led a $140 million Series E round for Rocket Lab, a US-based space technology company that operates primarily in New Zealand.
China’s Ucommune gets $200m in Series D round
Chinese co-working space operator Ucommune, formerly named UrWork, has raised $200 million in Series D funding led by All-Stars Investment, with participation from CEC Capital.
Permira invests in Taiwan aquatic feed business
Permira has acquired a 50% stake in Ye Cheng Industrial Products, a Taiwan-headquartered aquatic feed producer that operates under the Grobest brand.
EQT buys stake in Chinese wallpaper brand
EQT has acquired a 40% stake in Shanghai Artwall Environmental Technology, a Chinese wallpaper manufacturer, from the company’s founders for an undisclosed sum. Red Star Macalline, a domestic home furnishings retailer, also participated as a minority...
L Catterton, Mitsui invest in Japanese eyewear retailer
L Catterton Asia has made its first investment in Japan, partnering Mitsui & Co. Principal Investments (MCPI) to support local eyewear retailer Owndays.
China PE outlook: End of the party
Growth stage technology deals have retained a strong following in 2018, but elsewhere in Chinese private equity the mood is more somber
Asia private equity: Tipping point?
Asian PE appears to be entering a transitional period as an assortment of macro issues loom over the global economy. GPs anticipate an adjustment in valuations, but woe betide he who tries to call the cycle