Investments
Singapore fintech start-up LXA gets $10m seed round
New Enterprise Associates (NEA) has led a USD 10m seed round for Singapore’s LXA, a financial technology start-up launched by a former Asia senior executive at The Blackstone Group.
India's InCred announces $60m round, claims unicorn status
Indian non-bank lender InCred Financial Services said it has received INR 5bn (USD 60m) at a valuation of at least USD 1bn from unnamed investors including “a global private equity fund.”
Insight leads $50m round for Australia's Roller
Insight Partners has led a USD 50m round for Australia’s Roller, a venue management software provider specializing in family fun parks.
Lower valuations, less leverage could drive China PE returns - HKMA Forum
China private equity could deliver some strong vintages relative to other markets given falling valuations, a deepening pool of management talent, and a historical emphasis on driving returns through growth rather than leverage, industry participants...
Japan's LayerX extends Series A to $67.5m
Japanese enterprise billing and invoicing software provider LayerX has raised JPY 2bn (USD 13.2m) from Hong Kong’s Keyrock Capital Management, lifting its Series A round to around USD 67.5m
Norwest backs India hospital, HealthQuad marks 3x exit
Norwest Venture Partners has invested INR 4.5bn (USD 54m) in Indian hospital operator Regency Healthcare, facilitating an exit for HealthQuad, which generated a 3x return.
OTPP invests $80m in India's Xpressbees
Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG), the late-stage growth investment arm of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP), has invested USD 80m in Indian logistics start-up Xpressbees.
Alta Capital commits $200m to India's Cappella Educore
India’s Alta Capital, a real assets and early-stage property tech investor, has committed USD 200m to an expansion effort by Cappella Educore, a chain of K-12 schools and student housing.
Energy transition: Getting comfortable
Private equity investors are leaning into energy transition with new funds, strategies, and attitudes about risk as more emerging categories go mainstream. Regulation remains the perennial spoiler
Q&A: BPEA EQT’s Jean Eric Salata
Jean Eric Salata, head of BPEA EQT and chair of EQT Asia, on the benefits of diversification, why Asia’s limited reliance on leverage could lead to better relative performance, and being creative with liquidity
India's Euler Motors gets $14m Series C extension
India’s Euler Motors, a logistics-focused electric three-wheeler maker, has lifted its Series C round to about USD 83m with a USD 14m tranche featuring cleantech investor Green Frontier Capital.
Ascendent bids $1.6b for China's Hollysys Automation
Ascendent Capital Partners has joined the battle for Hollysys Automation, a US-listed Chinese provider of industrial automation and rail transportation solutions, by submitting a bid that values the business at USD 1.6bn.
Sinovation-developed LLM platform hits $1b valuation
01.AI, a large language model (LLM) launched less than eight months ago by Chinese venture capital firm Sinovation Ventures, has achieved a USD 1bn-plus valuation, according to Kai-Fu Lee, the firm’s founder.
Five V backs Australia radioactive drug maker
Australia’s Five V Capital has confirmed an investment of undisclosed size in Cyclotek, a radioactive drug maker positioning itself as part of an industry transition toward personalized medicine.
Everstone exits India's Servion Global Solutions to EMK Capital
Everstone Capital has sold Indian customer experience management provider Servion Global Solutions to UK private equity investor EMK Capital for an undisclosed sum.
Japan's Sensyn Robotics raises $15m
Japan’s Sensyn Robotics, which develops drones for various industrial inspection applications, has raised JPY 2.25bn (USD 15m) in growth funding from several local banks and VC investors.
MassMutual Ventures leads Series A for India's Sugarfit
Sugarfit, an India-based health technology start-up that helps people manage type-two diabetes with a view to reversing the condition, has raised USD 11m in Series A funding.
Japanese digital alternatives platform gets pre-Series A
Luca, a Japan-based fundraising platform that aims to give local high net worth investors access to alternatives, has received seed-stage funding from VC investors.
Polaris leads $27m round for Singapore's Engine Biosciences
US healthcare and life sciences growth investor Polaris Partners has led a USD 27m Series A round for Singapore-based cancer medicine developer Engine Biosciences.
Hahn acquires SKC's ceramics business for $267m
Korean private equity firm Hahn & Company is set for its sixth deal in five years involving local conglomerate SK Group, having agreed to carve out a fine ceramics business for KRW 360bn (USD 267m).
Blackstone, Vista buy Australia's Energy Exemplar, Riverside exits
The Blackstone Group and Vista Equity Partners have agreed to acquire Energy Exemplar, an Australia-based simulation software company, setting up a sizeable exit for The Riverside Company.
Deal focus: Affirma generates 8x return with India’s TBO
Affirma Capital makes good on a partial exit from Indian travel agent software provider TBO.com as General Atlantic comes in to help rekindle plans for a domestic IPO
Deal focus: Algae-based bio-plastics come to Asia
US-based Algenesis has figured out how to make plastic from algae. Singapore’s Circulate Capital is helping the company bring the technology to Asian manufacturers
Hidden Hill leads $137m round for China's CS Smart
Hidden Hill Capital, a private equity firm backed by warehouse operator turned logistics and infrastructure investment manager GLP, has led a CNY 1bn (USD 137m) Series B round for China-based logistics vehicle manufacturer CS Smart.