Flipkart raises $210 m
Flipkart has raised $210 million in the latest round of financing led by DST Global, a leading global investment group focussed on the Internet. Existing investors Tiger Global, Naspers and Iconiq Capital participated in the financing round. Flipkart’s other investors include Accel Partners, Dragoneer Investment Group, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Sofina and Vulcan Capital.
Vistaar Financial Services, a specialised small business financing firm, has closed a Rs 160-crore Series C investment led by WestBridge Crossover Fund. Existing investors Elevar Equity, Omidyar Network and Saama Capital too have participated in this round. The money will be used to fund the expansion of Vistaar’s network to more than 250 branches across the country over the next four years, with a projected portfolio of over ₹2,500 crore.
Matrix invests in Chumbak
Matrix Partners India has invested in Chumbak Design Pvt Ltd, a design-led consumer products company based in Bangalore. Chumbak has an India-inspired design philosophy depicting modern India. Its product range spans across categories including tech accessories, bags and wallets, home and souvenirs. Matrix Partners led this round with participation from existing investor Seedfund.
Bertelsmann invests in Pepperfry.com
Bertelsmann, the international media and services company, has teamed up with US investment fund Norwest Venture Partners to invest about $16 million in Pepperfry.com, the portal that specialises in sale of furniture and home accessories. More than 1,000 suppliers use the platform to market their products. Pepperfry is Bertelsmann’s third investment in India. It has previously picked up stakes in Indiaproperty.com, a real estate portal, and Wiziq.com, an online education platform.
Olympus Capital invests in DM Aster Healthcare
Olympus Capital Asia Investments Ltd and India Value Fund Advisors have invested $60 million for a minority stake in Aster DM Healthcare Pvt Ltd. Aster DM plans to list its shares in the public markets soon and this investment will help in consolidating its presence in India and West Asia through organic and inorganic expansion. With this round, Aster DM has raised $210 million. Aster DM Healthcare is a leading healthcare service provider in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. It has hospitals and pharmacies in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Philippines and a significant presence in Kerala and Maharashtra. It plans to expand in southern and western India. Our Bureau