News
Carlyle commits $439m to India's PNB Housing Finance
The Carlyle Group has agreed to invest up to INR31.8 billion ($439 million) in India-listed PNB Housing Finance, which would give it a majority interest in the company and trigger an open offer for an additional stake.
China SaaS provider Xforceplus raises $200m
Chinese software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider Xforceplus has raised a $200 million round led by Silicon Valley’s Dragoneer Investment Group and Beijing-based MSA Capital.
Sequoia, Yunfeng lead $228m round for Chinese rice brand
Shiyuedaotian, a Chinese rice brand, has raised RMB1.45 billion ($228 million) in Series B funding led by Sequoia Capital China and Yunfeng Capital. CMC Group and Taihe Capital also took part, as did existing investor GenBridge Capital.
Ex-Goldman Japan strategist launches ESG VC fund
Kathy Matsui, formerly vice chair and chief Japan strategist at Goldman Sachs, has launched what is described as Japan’s first global venture capital fund focused on environment, social and governance (ESG).
PE-backed PropertyGuru buys Malaysia, Thailand assets from REA
PropertyGuru, a Singapore-based real estate portal backed by the likes of TPG Capital and KKR, has acquired REA Group’s property technology assets in Malaysia and Thailand.
China trucking platform Manbang files for US IPO
Manbang, a China trucking business that claims to be the world’s largest digital freight platform, has filed for a US IPO. The company achieved a valuation of $12 billion in its most recent funding round six months ago.
Tata buys majority stake in India's BigBasket
Tata Group has acquired a majority stake in India’s BigBasket, an online grocer backed significantly by Alibaba Group and several private equity investors. It has been valued previously at around $2 billion.
Bain & Co names Australia PE head
Bain & Company has appointed James Viles as head of its Australia private equity practice, a newly created role.
China's Yingke closes renminbi, US dollar funds
Shanghai-based Yingke Private Equity has raised RMB10 billion ($1.57 billion) for its latest renminbi-denominated fund as well as an undisclosed sum for a third US dollar vehicle.
LPs look for signs of maturity in Vietnam PE - AVCJ Forum
Institutional investors are encouraged by the progress Vietnam has made in terms of macroeconomic stability and ease of doing business, but they are still waiting for the local private equity ecosystem to reach its next level of maturity.
CDIB, Firstred, Huatai buy China cosmetics packaging business
CDIB Capital has teamed up with Firstred Capital and Huatai International Private Equity Fund to acquire 100% of Chinese cosmetics packaging company Yuga Holdings for an undisclosed sum.
PE-backed JD Logistics raises $3.2b in Hong Kong IPO
JD Logistics, a supply chain solutions and logistics provider that spun out from Chinese online retailer JD.com, gained 3.3% on its Hong Kong trading debut following a HK$24.6 billion ($3.2 billion) IPO.
Glory raises $120m for second China venture fund
China's Glory Ventures has closed its second US dollar-denominated fund at $120 million, with VC-focused fund-of-funds Unicorn Capital Partners serving as the anchor LP.
Netease to spin out PE-backed music streaming business
Cloud Village, a music streaming business controlled by Chinese internet and gaming giant NetEase and backed by the likes of General Atlantic, Boyu Capital, and Yunfeng Capital, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
KKR bids for Australia conveyancing business
KKR is seeking to become the largest shareholder in Pexa, an Australia-based electronic settlement network for property deals, having offered to take out Link Administration Holdings at an enterprise valuation of A$3 billion ($2.3 billion).
Pakistan’s Habib Bank backs digital SME lender
Habib Bank, the largest bank in Pakistan, has joined a $10.1 million Series A round for Finja, a leading local financial technology start-up and small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) lender.
Vivo, Novo back Singapore's Esco Lifesciences
Vivo Capital and Novo Holdings have led a $200 million Series A round for Esco Lifesciences, a Singapore-based manufacturer of biopharma lab equipment and medical devices.
Shanghai broadens investment scope of QFLP
Shanghai is giving foreign investors better access to unlisted assets and private funds - under an expanded Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) regime - as part of efforts to establish itself as a global asset management hub.
Stride seeks $137m for second India venture debt fund
India venture debt provider Stride Ventures has launched its second fund with a target of INR10 billion ($137.5 million), with a greenshoe option that could see the corpus rise to INR18.7 billion.
China shipping tech platform Yunquna raises $100m
Yunquna, a China-based online logistics platform for the shipping industry, has raised $100 million in the first tranche of a Series D round. Its valuation now surpasses $1 billion.
Vision Fund leads Series C for India-founded Zeta
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a $250 million round for Zeta, an Indian-founded and now US-headquartered banking software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider, at a valuation of $1.4 billion.
Australia fintech start-up raises $19m Series A
Australian payments technology platform mx51 has raised A$25 million ($19.4 million) in Series A funding led by Acorn Capital, Artesian, Commencer Capital, and Mastercard.
India's FarEye raises $100m Series E
US-based VCs TCV and Dragoneer Investment Group have led a $100 million Series E round for FarEye, an Indian logistics software-as-a-service platform focused on Western markets.
TR, Shenzhen Capital back renminbi continuation fund
TR Capital and Shenzhen Capital Group have backed the spin-out of six healthcare assets held by China focused GP Huagai Capital into a RMB800 million ($125 million) renminbi-denominated continuation fund.