News
India imposes FDI hurdles for Chinese investors
India has increased the regulatory requirements for inbound investments from groups in bordering countries in what is seen as a move to restrict Chinese activity.
Chinese drug developer Mabworks raises $159m Series C
Beijing Mabworks Biotech has raised a RMB1.13 billion ($159 million) Series C round led by CICC Capital, Lyzz Capital, CITIC Securities Investment, and Huge Capital.
Renuka Ramnath becomes first female chair of IVCA
Renuka Ramnath, the founder and CEO of Multiples Alternative Asset Management, has been appointed chairperson of the Indian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (IVCA).
India's NoBroker raises $80 million in Series D funding
Existing investor General Atlantic has joined Tiger Global Management in a Series D funding round for Indian real estate marketplace NoBroker.
Lightspeed leads $20m round for India conversational AI platform
Lightspeed Venture Partners and Lightspeed India Partners have led a $20 million Series B round for Indian conversational artificial intelligence (AI) provider Yellow Messenger.
Warburg Pincus buys 17% stake in China Auto Rental
Warburg Pincus has agreed to acquire a 17.11% stake in Chinese car rental business China Auto Rental (CAR) from Ucar, a chauffeured car service provider. It follows a sharp drop in CAR’s share price following a scandal at Luckin Coffee, which is backed...
Carlyle achieves partial exit in India’s Metropolis Healthcare
The Carlyle Group has sold 6.5 million shares of Metropolis Healthcare for INR7.5 billion ($98.7 million) to exit nearly its entire position in the Indian medical diagnostics chain.
Lightspeed completes $4b global fundraising effort
Lightspeed Venture Partners has raised $4 billion across early and growth-stage funds, including $1.5 billion for an opportunity fund that will support breakout companies in global markets such as China, India and Southeast Asia.
Microsoft venture arm leads Series D for India's FarEye
FarEye, an Indian logistics platform, has raised $25 million in a Series D round led by M12, Microsoft's corporate venture arm.
Chinese voice recognition player AISpeech raises $58m
Chinese voice recognition player AISpeech has raised RMB410 million ($58 million) in a Series E round led by CTC Capital.
China Everbright backs smart illumination start-up
China Everbright has joined a RMB200 million ($28 million) Series C round for Yeelight, a Chinese start-up that makes smart lighting products.
Australia's Airwallex gets $160m Series D
The VC divisions of ANZ Bank and Salesforce have led a $160 million Series D round for Australian financial technology company Airwallex.
Baring Asia executives forgo salary to support COVID-19 efforts
Baring Private Equity Asia’s (BPEA) investment committee, including CEO Jean Eric Salata, will contribute 100% of their annual base salaries to a COVID-19 relief fund. The $5 million vehicle will also include commitments from the firm’s balance sheet...
Investcorp achieves $275m first close for Asia food fund
Investcorp has achieved a $275 million first close for an Asia food fund, a joint venture that also involves China Resources and Fung Strategic Holdings.
Malaysia's COPE launches COVID-19 support program
Malaysia’s COPE Private Equity has set up a MYR180 million ($41.5 million) investment program dedicated to supporting companies struggling with business stresses related to COVID-19.
Japan's Hiroshima Venture launches start-up, SME fund
Japan’s Hiroshima Venture Capital has established a JPY1 billion ($9.3 million) fund that will invest in local start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Indonesia's KoinWorks raises $20m in debt
KoinWorks, an Indonesian financial technology start-up primarily known for P2P lending, has raised $20 million in debt by selling convertible notes to existing investors.
Matrix, CICC back Chinese optical chip pioneer
Lightelligence, a US and China-based manufacturer of optical chips, has raised a $26 million Series A round led by Matrix Partners China and China International Capital Corporation (CICC).
Zerobridge highlights Asia distress opportunities
Distress and special situations investors will see plenty of opportunities in Asia’s middle market as companies struggling with coronavirus-driven liquidity issues consider restructuring options, according to debt advisory firm Zerobridge Partners.
Blackstone-owned Burger King NZ enters receivership
The Burger King New Zealand franchise, which was acquired by The Blackstone Group for NZ$108 million ($86 million) in 2011, has been placed into receivership.
LPs worried about denominator effect as capital calls rise - survey
LPs are receiving more capital calls from private equity firms following the coronavirus outbreak, with the concurrent drop in public market valuations prompting concerns about overallocation to the asset class, according to a survey by the Institutional...
Japan's Coral launches $25m growth fund
Coral Capital, formerly known as 500 Startups Japan, has set up a JPY2.7 billion ($25 million) growth fund to help top-performing portfolio companies navigate the COVID-19 downturn.
India’s Capital Float secures $15m funding round
Capital Float, an online lending platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and e-commerce financiers in India, has raised $15 million in funding from existing investors.
Chinese cosmetics player Meishang raises $28m
Meishang, a Chinese cosmetics company with a presence in South Korea and Taiwan as well as in its home market, has raised RMB200 million ($28 million) in funding led by furniture giant from Red Star Macalline.