manufacturing
Chinese autonomous driving player RoboSense raises $45m
RoboSense, a VC-backed company based in China that develops sensing technology for autonomous cars, has raised about $45 million from strategic investors including Alibaba Group and domestic carmaker SAIC Motor Group.
VC-backed Chinese scooter maker targets $104m in US IPO
Niu Technologies, China's largest producer of lithium-ion electric scooters, is targeting up to $104 million in its US IPO. VC backers include GGV Capital and Future Capital Discovery Fund.
Deal focus: Hahn & Co agrees transformative bolt-on
Hahn & Company has followed up its bumper acquisition of Hanon Systems by supporting the company in the $1.23 billion carve-out of a division from Manga International. The deal should bring more balance - and synergies - to the Hanon portfolio
Hahn & Co-owned Hanon agrees $1.2b bolt-on acquisition
Hanon Systems, an auto parts manufacturer owned by Hahn & Company and formerly known as Halla Visteon Climate Control, has agreed a $1.23 billion bolt-on acquisition of Magna International’s fluid pressure and controls business.
AGIC exits Italian robotics business for $436m
AGIC Capital, a private equity firm focused on cross-border investments, has exited its stake in Italian robotics supplier Gimatic to US-based industrial products manufacturer Barnes Group for EUR370 million ($436 million) in cash.
Shunwei leads $23m round for Chinese robotics player
Shunwei Capital has led an RMB160 million ($23 million) Series B round of funding for Rokae, a Chinese industrial robotics developer, with participation from GSR Capital, THG Ventures and Plum Ventures.
Archipelago backs Indonesian chemicals producer
Archipelago Capital Partners, a Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm established by three partners who previously worked together at McKinsey & Company, has made its first investment in Indonesia with the acquisition of Timuraya Tunggal.
Baring Asia to invest $538m in Japan's Pioneer
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to invest up to JPY60 billion ($538 million) in Pioneer Corp, by subscribing to a new share issue by the struggling Japanese conglomerate.
TPG invests in India's RR Kabel
TPG Capital has taken a significant minority stake in Indian wire-maker RR Kabel with the goal of helping the company execute its domestic growth strategy.
Chinese online fabrics trader Baibu raises $30m
Baibu, a Chinese B2B trading platform for textiles and fabrics, has received $30 million in a first tranche of Series C funding led by Bull Capital Partners.
Korea macro: Tempered tiger
Korea’s economic momentum has simmered down as demographic, political and industrial evolutions suggest a structural decline. Investors are monitoring the transition with a conditional sense of optimism
KKR to acquire Indian petrochemicals maker
KKR has agreed to acquire JBF Petrochemicals, the petrochemicals unit of Indian polyester manufacturer JBF Industries, for an undisclosed amount.
J-Star acquires Japan auto parts company
Japan’s J-Star has acquired a controlling stake in domestic auto parts remanufacturing company Honest for an undisclosed sum.
Autonomous vehicles: Driving ambition
Asia’s driverless car space has become an increasingly popular investment destination in recent years, but a number of significant challenges must be resolved for the sector to gain widespread social acceptance
MSPEA abandons China auto parts privatization
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has abandoned its $172 million bid, launched nearly a year ago, to acquire NASDAQ-listed power steering components supplier China Automotive Systems.
Advantage exits Japan's Fasford to Fuji
Advantage Partners has agreed to sell Japan-based Fasford Technology – a semiconductor components supplier it carved out from Hitachi three years ago – to Fuji Corporation.
Rohatyn-backed Sansera files for India IPO
Indian automotive and aerospace parts manufacturer Sansera Engineering has filed for an IPO that will provide a partial exit for its private equity backer The Rohatyn Group (TRG).
Tokio Marine agrees $163m sale of Japan's Izumi
Tokio Marine Capital has agreed to sell Izumi Products, a Japanese manufacturer of electric tools and home appliances, to Maxell Holdings and Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) for JPY18.2 billion ($163.5 million).
VCs commit $22m to China laser developer
SDIC Fund Management, a GP under China’s State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC), along with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Suzhou Chengxin Venture Capital, has invested RMB150 million ($22 million) in Everbright Photonics, a maker...
Longreach to buy majority stake in Japan's Fujitsu Component
The Longreach Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Fujitsu Component from its parent company and will launch a tender offer to buy the business outright at a valuation of JPY13.7 billion ($123.6 million).
Deal focus: KKR lays down a marker in Taiwan
Seven years after its privatization of Yageo Corp was blocked, KKR is back pursuing a $1.56 billion bid for LYC Chemical Corp. The initial response from regulators has been positive
Tata completes first exit from Opportunities Fund
Tata Capital has completed its first exit from the Tata Opportunities Fund, securing an IRR of over 50% and a 6x gross multiple through the IPO of auto components manufacturer Varroc Engineering.
KKR targets $1.56b privatization of Taiwan’s LCY Chemical
KKR is pursuing its first Taiwan privatization since 2011 – when the acquisition of Yageo Corp. was blocked, prompting questions about the government’s attitude towards PE buyouts – with a NT$47.8 billion ($1.56 billion) bid for LCY Chemical Corp.
CDIB backs Korean cosmetic masks manufacturer
CDIB Capital, the private equity arm of Taiwan’s China Development Financial, has invested an undisclosed sum in Korean cosmetics maker E.CIS Cosmetic (ECIS).