Transportation
AustralianSuper, CPPIB back $6.7b Sydney toll road deal
AustralianSuper and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) have joined a consortium that will acquire a 51% stake in Sydney’s WestConnex highway system from the New South Wales government for A$9.3 billion ($6.7 billion).
Grab Ventures to invest $250m in Indonesian start-ups
Grab Ventures, the VC arm of ride-hailing app operator Grab, has committed IDR3 trillion ($250 million) to a program that will invest in Indonesian start-ups.
Hyundai backs Series B for India's Revv
Hyundai Motor has led a $14.2 million Series B funding round for Revv, an Indian car rental start-up backed by Edelweiss Private Equity.
Sequoia, Accel lead $12m Series A for India's Metro Bikes
Sequoia Capital India and Accel Partners have led a $12.2 million Series A funding round for Metro Bikes, an India-based scooter rental provider. It coincides with the company rebranding as Bounce.
India bus-hailing app Shuttl gets $11m
Amazon India has led an $11 million Series B funding round for India-based bus-hailing app operator Shuttl, with participation by several other VC investors.
SE Asia's Grab raises $2b in Toyota-led funding round
Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing business Grab has raised $2 billion in its latest round of funding led by Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation and involving a number of other global investors.
Booking.com owner invests $500m in China’s Didi
Booking Holdings, which operates a number of online travel businesses including Booking.com, has invested $500 million in Didi Chuxing, a Chinese ride-hailing company with substantial PE and VC backing.
Bain-owned Lionbridge gets funding from Baidu, Sunshine Insurance
Lionbridge, a Chinese commercial vehicle leasing business controlled by Bain Capital Private Equity, has received RMB1 billion ($150 million) in funding led by Baidu and Sunshine Capital, an investment unit of Sunshine Insurance Group.
The Growth Fund buys 50% stake in Australia pilot school
The Growth Fund, an Australian middle market private equity investor spun out from Archer Capital, has paid an undisclosed sum for a 50% stake in domestic pilot training school Soar Aviation.
Nissan terminates sale of battery business to China's GSR Capital
Nissan Motor has abandoned plans to sell its electric battery operations and production facilities to GSR Capital because the Chinese private equity firm didn’t have sufficient funds to complete the transaction.
Uxin trades up on debut after $225m US IPO
Chinese used car trading platform Uxin Group gained 10% on its first day of trading on NASDAQ following a $225 million IPO that was scaled back in terms of size and pricing.
Toyota invests $1b in SE Asia's Grab at $10b valuation
Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation will contribute $1 billion as the lead investor in the latest round of funding for Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing business Grab. The commitment – the largest-ever made by an automaker in the ride-hailing industry...
Beyond backs Hong Kong electric motor company
Hong Kong-based Beyond Ventures has joined a $10 million round for ePropulsion Innovation, a domestic technology developer focused on electric motors for recreational boating.
Ant Financial leads $321m round for China's Hellobike
Ant Financial, Alibaba Group’s financial services affiliate, has led a RMB2.1 billion ($321 million) investment in Youon Bike, the listed parent of China-based bike-sharing operator Hellobike.
China used car trading business Uxin files for US IPO
Uxin Group, a Chinese e-commerce platform that specializes in used-car trading and related services, has filed for a US IPO. Jeneration Capital, Warburg Pincus, and Tiger Global Management are among the company’s PE backers.
CITIC Capital invests China-Europe logistics providers
CITIC Capital has backed two China-Europe logistics providers in separate deals of undisclosed size. The GP is investing via its Silk Road Fund, which targets geographies in China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) agenda.
Q&A: Ofo's Alan Jiang
Alan Jiang helped launch Uber in China, Malaysia and Vietnam before serving as Indonesia country head. Now he is leading Chinese bike-sharing start-up Ofo’s expansion in Southeast Asia
Baring Asia, PAI Partners buy cargo freight manager
Baring Private Equity Asia has teamed up with Europe-focused PAI Partners to acquire World Freight Company International (WFCI), which markets and manages cargo freight capacity for airlines.
Chinese rural-focused financing platform gets $47m
Shenma Finance, an online platform that provides vehicle financing to China’s rural population, has received RMB300 million ($47.2 million) in Series C funding led by domestic financial technology player Tongbanjie Group, China Growth Capital, and Hina...
GIP to buy IDFC's India infrastructure business
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has agreed to buy the infrastructure business of IDFC Alternatives, the alternative asset investment arm of India’s IDFC Group.
EV in Asia: Easy riders
Higher scooter and motorcycle use rates in Asia suggest an opening for the region to take the lead in clean mobility. Early investors in electric two-wheelers have outlined the opportunity
China VC specialization to accelerate as ecosystem expands
China’s venture capital ecosystem is set to see a rapid proliferation of niche sector funds as overall economic growth piques domestic competition in the asset class.
Indonesia tech: Sleeping giant
Bullishness around Indonesia’s young online economy has been encouraged by a handful of VC-backed homeruns and promising demographics. Achieving scale in new business models remains a sticking point
Allianz invests $35m in Indonesia's Go-Jek
Germany-based financial services giant Allianz Group has confirmed a $35 million investment in Indonesian ride-hailing and delivery platform operator Go-Jek.