DealStreetAsia - Asia-focused financial news and intelligence platform

Creador picks 13% stake in Vietnam's Long Chau Pharmacy at $1.5b valuation

Long Chau is the only profitable national pharmacy chain in Vietnam.

Beyond the Buyout: India seems a safe bet, for now

This edition looks at China rethinking its private equity exposure in the US.

Harvard University exploring $1b worth private equity stakes sale

The sale process is unrelated to threats of funding cuts from US President Trump.

GPs tweak China strategy to favour buyouts: Bain & Co report

At over $13.6b, seven buyouts in 2024 accounted for 29% of the year’s deal value.

Private equity money rewrites the playbook at Asian schools

PE acquisitions often translate into fee hikes, staff restructuring, and tighter cost controls.

Chinese PE firm Wise Road Capital weighs sale of chip tester UTAC: Report

Wise Road may seek around $3 billion from a potential sale.

Rest of Asia

Japan lawmakers urge pension fund GPIF to invest in domestic PE

While global PE firms like KKR and Bain have thrived, the presence of Japanese PE firms has been limited.

Venture Capital

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Peak XV to raise $1.2–1.4b for first independent fund after Sequoia split: Report

Its previous fund had raised $2.8 billion in 2022 before being reduced by 16%.

SG cybersecurity startup SquareX raises $20m, plans US expansion

The round was anchored by SYN Ventures and backed by Peak XV Partners.

Japan’s Incubate Fund to kick off fundraising for 4th India vehicle by year-end

The firm has backed nearly 30 Indian startups, including Yulu, Captain Fresh, and Plum.

PH fintech startup LenderLink bags $1.25m and other SE Asia deals

The round was co-led by Kaya Founders and Iterative.

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Insignia-backed fintech startup Surfin Meta raises $26.5m in fresh funding

Woori Venture Partners, Washington University in St Louis, and Phillip Private Equity backed the round.

New Research Reports

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Greater China Deal Review: Q1 2025

The deal value plunged 49% to $9.6 billion from the previous quarter.

Greater China Deal Review: Q1 2025

The deal value plunged 49% to $9.6 billion from the previous quarter.

Southeast Asia Deal Review: Q1 2025

Deal volume fell by 43% and deal value slumped 46% YoY.

SE Asia Private Equity Funds: H2 2024 Review

Only four SE Asia-focused PE funds secured final closes in 2024.

Women Founders in SE Asia: 2024 Funding Review

Female-led startups made up just 5.2% of the deal volume in SE Asia in 2024.

DATA VANTAGE Newsletters

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Data Vantage: Style Theory, Surfin, SpaceAge Labs and others in focus

Also read about SE Asia's e-commerce fundraising trends in Q1 2025.

Data Vantage: Nium, Tookitaki, and Ampotech in focus

Nium has secured $2m in capital through the allotment of preference shares to Endeavor Catalyst IV.

Data Vantage: OnlinePajak, The Parentinc, and Populix in focus

OnlinePajak has secured $2.8m through a new allotment of preference shares to existing investors.

Data Vantage: Biobot Surgical, EnableX, and LeadSquared in focus

Biobot has raised $8.5m through a new allotment of preference shares to existing investors.

Deals

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Musk's xAI in talks to raise close to $20b from investors

23m ago

Musk's xAI in talks to raise close to $20b from investors

Kuwait Petroleum unit buys 25% stake in China's Wanhua Chemical Group

30m ago

Kuwait Petroleum unit buys 25% stake in China's Wanhua Chemical Group

37m ago

India's Mahindra to buy 59% stake in SML Isuzu for $65m

TikTok Shop said to be entering Japan soon

38m ago

TikTok Shop said to be entering Japan soon

Tencent Music in talks to buy China's Ximalaya for $2.4b

Beyond The Buyout Newsletters

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Beyond the buyout: India’s homegrown PE funds in favour

Also, why are small and mid-cap funds turning into ‘zombies’ in SE Asia and China?

Rest of Asia

Beyond the Buyout: How Gulf SWFs are catalysing emerging Asia

Also read about the PE exit bonanza that we saw this week.

Beyond the Buyout: What’s working for private credit in Asia?

This edition looks at the rise and diversification of the private credit asset class.

GreenStreet Newsletters

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GreenStreet: Financing the Energy Transition

This edition looks at the rise of private credit in financing climate action.

GreenStreet: Agents of change

Read about the role of women in climate action and investing.

GreenStreet: The value in solving for climate change

Presenting our new monthly newsletter focused on climate and impact investments.

Climate & Impact

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ABC Impact closes Fund II with expanded LP base, including ADB

India's GreenLine Mobility to invest $275m to decarbonise heavy trucks

Singapore's Clime Capital closes second clean energy fund at $175m

India Digest: TPG to buy Siemens Gamesa’s wind turbine business; VAHDAM, Nabhdrishti Aerospace raise funds

BII, Pentagreen co-finance renewable infrastructure in SE Asia

Analysis

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12h ago

Editor’s Take: The Week That Was—Apr 21-26

Catch the week's fundraising updates, data-led stories, and deep reads.

Vietnam primed for tech innovation but infra, talent & capital pose challenges

The potential for AI-driven innovation is also immense in emerging markets like Vietnam.

Beyond the Buyout: India seems a safe bet, for now

This edition looks at China rethinking its private equity exposure in the US.

The LP View

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Will trade war put a pause on global GPs’ fundraising attempt in Asia?

Current market dislocation presents long-term opportunity, says Sun Hung Kai & Co. exec

Companies must adopt AI tools or risk falling behind: Pictet

Malaysia

Malaysia's Employees Provident Fund seeks more diverse exposure

Malaysia

Whatever creative structure is used, value creation must prevail: Gaia Investment Partners

Earnings & Results

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China's Ping An Insurance posts 26.4% fall in Q1 profit

Its net profit for the three months to March 31 was 27.02 billion yuan.

GoTo-backed Bank Jago's net profit nearly triples in Q1 2025

The bank’s total assets grew 44% year-on-year to 32.5 trillion rupiah during Jan-March 2025.

Akulaku's net profit nearly halves in 2024 despite higher revenue

Rising operational costs significantly eroded Akulaku’s bottom line.

VinFast reports $3.18b loss in 2024 as costs outpace revenue growth

The car maker saw its net loss widen by 28.4% in 2024

Masan posts 3.8x profit growth in Q1, expects minimal tariff impact

The US accounts for less than 1% of its export revenue.

People

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Rest of Asia

Citigroup recruits Goldman banker Christopher Chan for SG market unit

Chan has over 28 years of experience across markets.

Databricks to boost hiring, invest $250m in India for AI expansion

It will increase its headcount by over 50% to more than 750 employees in India.

India: BluSmart's CEO quits a month after appointment

Nandan Sharma will be replaced by Gensol director Upendra Singh Panwar.

Interviews

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Malaysia

Navis Capital bets on single-theme continuation vehicles for growth

Ex-Premji Invest, IFC trio raise $120m for Trident’s debut fund

Companies must adopt AI tools or risk falling behind: Pictet

Morrison bullish on Asia's low-risk, high-return infrastructure sector