News
Investors challenged by governance in SE Asia – AVCJ Forum
Implementing institutional-class governance practices at portfolio companies remains a significant hurdle for Southeast Asia-focused buyout firms, industry participants told the AVCJ Singapore Forum.
Chinese B2B electronic components platforms raises Series A
Sequoia Capital China and Eastern Bell Venture Capital have led a RMB250 million ($36.3 million) Series A round for Lichuang Mall, a Chinese B2B online trading platform that specializes in electronic components.
Singapore's Near gets $100m from Greater Pacific Capital
Near, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence (AI) services provider that supports enterprise analytics, has raised $100 million from UK private equity firm Greater Pacific Capital.
Gobi, AirAsia unit invest $11m in Malaysia's EasyParcel
Gobi Partners has joined Teleport, the cargo and logistics platform of AirAsia, to commit $10.6 million in Series B funding to Malaysia-based e-commerce logistics and parcel delivery service EasyParcel.
Chinese smart robot maker files for US IPO
Chinese cloud-based robotics developer CloudMinds has filed for an IPO in the US with a view to raising up to $500 million.
Asia-based Ilfryn Carstairs to become co-CEO of Värde
Ilfryn Carstairs (pictured), Singapore-based CIO of global alternative investor Värde Partners, has been named CEO. He will share the role with George Hicks, the incumbent and co-founder of the firm.
Singapore smart city supplier Igloohome gets $15m
Igloohome, a Singapore-based smart city supplier for enterprises in real estate and infrastructure, has raised a $15 million round co-led by Wavemaker Partners, Insignia Ventures Partners, and Seeds Capital.
China's Centurium names Michael Chen as partner
China’s Centurium Capital has appointed Michael Chen (pictured), formerly an investor with Warburg Pincus, as a partner and managing director.
Investors target China's lower-tier cities - AVCJ Forum
Private equity and venture capital firms are seeking investments that target China’s lower-tier cities, which continue to see rapid consumption growth despite the economic slowdown at national level.
Bain Capital Credit invests $300m in D&J China
Bain Capital Credit has invested $300 million in D&J China, a Shanghai-based business and technology development park developer pursuing a domestic expansion.
Ping An invests in PE-backed Chinese online education start-up
Ping An Insurance has made a strategic investment in iTutorGroup, a Chinese online education platform that previously raised four rounds of funding, the most recent at a valuation of $1.6 billion.
PAG buys Australia's Craveable Brands from Archer
Australian quick service restaurant chains Oporto, Red Rooster and Chicken Treat have their third consecutive private equity owner after PAG Asia Capital bought the business from Archer Capital.
Plum Ventures raises $77m for China angel fund
Chinese early-stage investor Plum Ventures has closed its fifth angel fund with RMB532.5 million ($77.4 million) in commitments, taking its total assets under management to RMB3 billion.
Singapore's Novena buys VC-backed China hair salon chain
Singapore-based healthcare platform Novena Global Lifecare has completed a $350 million merger with Xingkedou, a VC-backed Chinese hair salon operator that specializes in fast turnaround services.
Fosun leads Series C for Singapore's theAsianparent
Fosun RZ Capital, the VC arm of Fosun, has led a Series C round of undisclosed size for Singapore-based theAsianparent, which claims to be Southeast Asia’s largest mother-and-child online platform.
Tiger, Sequoia lead $60m round for India's Moglix
Tiger Global Management and Sequoia Capital have led a $60 million funding round for India-based business-to-business (B2B) industrial goods marketplace Moglix.
Affinity seeks exit from Virgin Australia frequent flyer business
Affinity Equity Partners has begun a process to exit its 35% interest in the frequent flyer business of Virgin Australia.
India's Rivigo raises $65m from Warburg Pincus, SAIF
Warburg Pincus and SAIF Partners have led a $65 million Series E commitment to Indian technology-enabled logistics operator Rivigo.
Culture is key to a sustainable spin-out - AVCJ Forum
Making a private equity spin-out work is as much about cultivating a transparent culture within the team as identifying an underserved market segment, industry participants told the AVCJ USA Forum.
Temasek trims investment pace as performance stutters
Annual divestments by Singapore’s Temasek Holdings exceeded investments for only the second time in a decade against a backdrop of challenging market conditions and weaker returns.
GGV co-leads $150m investment in China's Geek+
GGV Capital has co-led a $150 million Series C investment in Chinese industrial robotics maker Geek+ alongside US hedge fund investor D1 Capital Partners.
Samsung Ventures makes first India investments
Samsung Ventures has made its first Indian investments, committing $8.5 million across four local start-ups.
QIA leads $150m round for India's Byju's
Indian educational technology developer Byju’s has raised $150 million in a funding round led by Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar.
Chinese GPs back Nigeria's OPay
Nigeria-based online services platform OPay has raised a $50 million funding round with participation by a number of Chinese investors, including IDG Capital, Source Code Capital, Sequoia Capital China, Meituan-Dianping, and GSR Ventures.