News
Korea's NPS taps BNK Financial head for CIO role
Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) has appointed Hyo-Joon Ahn as its new CIO after struggling for more than a year to find a permanent occupant for the role.
Philippines investors defy systemic risks – AVCJ Forum
Industry participants at the AVCJ Philippines Forum praised the country’s macro fundamentals but attributed slow maturation of the local investment environment to a range of complex underlying factors.
Yunfeng leads $300m round for China's Xiaozhu
Xiaozhu, a Chinese online booking platform for short-term room rentals, has received a $300 million funding round led by Yunfeng Capital and Advantech Capital.
Sequoia leads Series B for China's Deep Intelligent Pharma
Deep Intelligent Pharma (DIP) has raised $15 million in a Series B funding from Sequoia Capital China, with the proceeds to be used for accelerating the development of the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered drug discovery platform.
VCs commit $15m to Chinese art tuition start-up
Chinese online art tutoring services provider Meishubao has raised $15 million in the third tranche of a Series B round led by BHG Long Hills Capital.
Gobi, Core Capital launch $10m Philippines VC fund
Gobi Partners, a VC firm focused on early-stage Chinese and Southeast Asia companies, has made its first foray to the Philippines through the launch of a $10 million fund. It is partnering with Core Capital, a recently-established VC player based in Manila.
Microsoft to invest in PE-backed ride-hailing platform Grab
Microsoft has made a strategic investment in Grab as part of a wider arrangement that will see it collaborate with the Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing business on digital services.
Hahn & Co buys Korea's SK Shipping for $3.7b
Hahn & Company has completed what is described as one of the first successful non-government led corporate restructurings in Korea’s shipping industry with the $3.7 billion acquisition of SK Shipping.
BGH consortium bids $1.4b for Australia's Navitas
BGH Capital has made a A$1.97 ($1.4 billion) bid for Australian education services provider Navitas in conjunction with AustralianSuper and Rod Jones, the company’s co-founder and CEO.
State-owned funds back Series B for Chinese AI start-up
Cloudwalk, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that specializes in facial recognition technology has closed a Series B round of funding led by several government-backed funds. The deal underlines China’s desire to push further into AI-powered...
Sequoia leads $27m round for India's BlackBuck
Sequoia Capital India has led an approximately $27 million investment in Indian logistics services company BlackBuck.
GIC-backed Greenko makes add-on acquisitions
Greenko Energy, an Indian renewable energy producer owned by GIC Private, has completed the acquisition of Orange Renewables and agreed to buy Skeiron Green Renewables. The two deals will increase Greenko’s overall operational capacity from 3.2 gigawatts...
Singapore's One Championship receives $166m Series D
Sequoia Capital has led a $166 million Series D funding round for One Championship, a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization that stages tournaments across the region.
GMR reaches settlement with investors in airport business
Private equity investors in India’s GMR Airports (GAL) will receive INR35.6 billion ($481.3 million) in cash plus additional equity in compensation after the company failed to deliver a liquidity event within an agreed timeframe.
India's Droom gets $30m Series E round
The family office of Joe Hirao, founder of Japanese media platform ZigExN, has led a $30 million Series E round for Indian used-car trading marketplace Droom.
SIG leads Series B-plus for China car-sharing platform Togo
Chinese car-sharing platform Togo has received millions of US dollars in an extended Series B funding round led by Susquehanna Asia Investment (SIG), with participation from ZhenFund and Crescent Point. It takes the company’s total funding since inception...
Wilmar Ventures backs Alzheimer's specialist Accera
Wilmar Ventures, an investment arm of Asian agribusiness conglomerate Wilmar International, has led a $50 million funding round for Accera, a developer of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
KKR makes $1.5b bid for Australia's MYOB
KKR is looking to privatize Australian accounting software company MYOB, having acquired a substantial stake in the business from Bain Capital and made an unsolicited offer for all the remaining shares at a valuation of A$2.19 billion ($1.54 billion).
Riverside exits Australian orthopedics player
The Riverside Company has sold Australia’s Global Orthopaedic Technologies (GOT) for an undisclosed sum to Corin Orthopaedic, a UK-based firm recently bought by Permira.
India's Iron Pillar closes debut fund at $90m
Indian venture capital firm Iron Pillar Capital Management has closed its maiden fund with aggregate capital commitments of just over $90 million.
KKR, Tencent lead $175m investment in PLDT fintech unit
KKR and Tencent Holdings have led a $175 million investment in a financial technology unit of Philippines telecom giant PLDT. It is said to be the largest ever investment in a local technology company.
India's Blume reaches $40m first close on early-stage fund
Indian venture capital firm Blume Ventures has reached a first close of $40 million on Blume Ventures Fund III, its third early-stage fund.
Tencent invests $318m in recently-listed streaming site Bilibili
Tencent Holdings has agreed to invest $317.6 million in Bilibili, a VC-backed Chinese animation streaming platform that listed on NASDAQ in March.
Avenue Capital raises $450m for Asia special situations fund
Avenue Capital Group has rebooted its Asia franchise by raising a $450 million fund that will target special situations opportunities across the region.