Impact investment
Indian NBFC Avanti Finance raises $24m
Avanti Finance, an Indian technology-led non-banking finance company (NBFC) has received USD 24m in equity funding from Rabo Partnerships and IDH Farmfit Fund, with re-ups from Oikocredit and NRJN Trust.
Asian institutional players target higher private markets allocations
Four in five institutional investors in Asia Pacific plan to increase their allocations to private markets in the next five years despite some facing near-term denominator effect challenges because of declines in public markets, according to a survey...
Deal focus: WorldLink reaches into Nepal's hinterlands
British International Investment and Dolma Fund Management are supporting WorldLink’s rollout of internet services in Nepal, having been impressed how the company handled COVID-19
Heritas hits $20m first close on Asia impact fund
Singapore-based private equity firm Heritas Capital has reached a first close of USD 20m on its latest Asia impact fund against an overall target of USD 50m. DBS contributed USD 10m.
ADB invests $15m in Philippines supermarket Dali
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed a USD 15m equity investment in the Philippines business of Switzerland-based discount supermarket operator Dali.
Mekong backs $50m round for Vietnam microlending player
Vietnam’s Mekong Capital has backed a USD 50m Series C round for local financial microfinance provider F88 Investment, contributing USD 20m.
Rise Fund buys Malaysian university from KV Asia
The Rise Fund, TPG’s global impact investment platform, has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Malaysia-based Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) from KV Asia.
Inconfin closes India impact fund on $77m
Incofin Investment Management, a Belgium-headquartered impact investor, has reached a final close of USD 77m on a fund that will target financial inclusion and agri-food in India.
Deal focus: EdenFarm rethinks Indonesian agriculture
EdenFarm is tackling Indonesia’s fragmented agribusiness space with a B2B fresh produce marketplace that not only helps distribute crops, but helps them grow in the first place
TMI Ventures leads $13.5m round for Indonesia's EdenFarm
Indonesian agriculture technology start-up EdenFarm has raised a USD 13.5m round led by TMI Ventures, the investment arm of local wireless network operator Telkomsel.
ResponsAbility hits $173m first close on Asia food fund
Swiss impact investor ResponsAbility has reached a first close of USD 173m for a South and Southeast Asia-focused sustainable food private equity fund. The target is USD 400m.
GP profile: LeapFrog Investments
LeapFrog Investments is broadly recognised as a pioneer of impact investing globally as well as an architect of the industry’s legitimising standards and controls. Asia has always been core
Singapore insurance start-up Igloo lifts Series B to $46m
Singapore-based insurance technology start-up Igloo has added USD 27m to an initial USD 19m in Series B funding raised in March. Swiss impact investor BlueOrchard led the extension.
Wavemaker hits first close on SE Asia climate fund
Singapore’s Wavemaker Partners has hit a first close of USD 13m on its debut impact fund, which focuses on climate themes in Southeast Asia. The target is USD 25m.
Quona closes third financial inclusion fund on $332m
Quona Capital, which invests under a financial inclusion strategy across emerging markets, has closed its third fund on USD 332m, beating a target of USD 250m.
BII leads $25m round for India's Kinara Capital
British International Investment (BII), a UK development finance institution, has led a USD 25m equity funding round for Kinara Capital, an Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) that lends to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
India's SphitiCap targets $500m for debut VC fund
SphitiCap, a recently established early-stage VC firm in India, has announced the launch of its debut fund targeting USD 500m.
Q&A: Unitus Ventures' Surya Mantha
Indian returns-focused impact investor Unitus Ventures is sharpening its thesis around jobs as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Surya Mantha, a managing partner at the firm, traces the evolution
GrowX team seeks $100m for spinout India VC fund
The team behind Indian angel investor GrowX Ventures has launched a separate fund targeting USD 100m under the name Merak Ventures.
ABC Impact backs China autism therapy business
ABC Impact, a Singapore-based impact investor established by Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of Temasek Holdings, has led a USD 42m Series D for Da Mi & Xiao Mi (DMXM), a Chinese rehabilitation platform for children with autism spectrum disorder...
Sylvan buys Singapore orthopaedics business
Singapore-based private equity firm Sylvan Group has taken a controlling position in Singapore Orthopaedic Specialists (SOS) as a bolt-on of recently acquired Artemis Health Ventures.
Third close brings Circulate's cleantech fund to $53m
Circulate Capital, a Singapore-based environmental technology impact investor, has reached a third close on its second fund with USD 53m in commitments to date.
Malaysia's IHH Healthcare sells education arm to Rise Fund
A consortium led by The Rise Fund, TPG’s global impact investment platform, has agreed to acquire the medical education arm of Malaysia-headquartered IHH Healthcare for MYR 1.35bn (USD 306m).
Elevar leads $32m round for India start-up credit provider
Indian impact investor Elevar Equity has led a INR 2.5bn (USD 32.2m) round for StrideOne, a start-up credit platform launched last year by the managing partners of local venture debt firm Stride Ventures.