Expansion
Data centres: Seeking sustainability
With data driving increasing amounts of business activity, companies are paying more attention to energy sourcing and consumption at the facilities tasked with processing this information
Korean carmakers take control of local autonomous driving player
Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia have paid a combined KRW 427.7bn (USD 328.8m) for control of 42dot, a local autonomous driving software developer in which they and several VC investors already held minority stakes.
ADIA commits $83m to India's Aditya Birla Health Insurance
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has agreed to invest INR 6.6bn (USD 83.5m) in India’s Aditya Birla Health Insurance (ADBHI) for a 10% stake.
China's Insilico Medicine gets another $35m
Insilico Medicine, a China-based artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery company, has closed the second tranche of its Series D round on USD 35m, with Prosperity7 Ventures taking the lead.
Cartesian seals deal for China rollout of restaurant chain Popeyes
Cartesian Capital Group, a US private equity firm that has served as Restaurant Brands International’s (RBI) joint venture partner for Burger King in China for the past decade, has been awarded exclusive country development rights for the company’s Popeyes...
India's CleverTap raises $105m Series D
India and US-based customer engagement platform CleverTap has raised a USD 105m Series D round led by Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ).
India edtech player UpGrad raises $210m
UpGrad, an India-based education technology company set up by media maven Ronnie Screwvala, has raised USD 210m featuring Temasek Holdings and education-focused private equity firm Kaizen.
China logistics robotics player Geek+ raises $100m
China’s Geek+, a manufacturer of robots used to move merchandise around warehouses, has raised USD 100m in Series E funding at a valuation of about USD 2bn.
Asia agtech: Work in progress
Global food supply issues and local economic realities are driving more capital into Asia’s agricultural technology space, where business models – from marketplaces to deep-tech – are still being proven
China's Black Sesame completes Series C with $500m haul
Black Sesame Technologies, a China-based chipmaker specializing in autonomous driving applications, has closed a Series C extension led by SummitView Capital. This brings the size of the overall round to USD 500m.
J-Star invests in Japanese courier business
Japanese lower middle-market private equity firm J-Star has made an investment of undisclosed size in air cargo transportation and courier services provider Score Japan Holdings.
Gaorong, Tsing Song back China CDMO IntellectiveBio
Gaorong Capital and Tsing Song Capital have led a CNY 500m (USD 74m) Series C for IntellectiveBio, a China-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO).
Ex-EQT partner wins funding for Asia ESG services platform
Tak Wai Chung, who until early last year was a Singapore-based partner at EQT, has secured funding for a pan-Asian platform that will provide software solutions to corporates that need to meet environment, social, and governance (ESG) requirements.
Proparco commits $25m to India's Northern Arc
French development finance institution Proparco has invested USD 25m in debt in India’s Northern Arc Capital, a microfinance and small business lender with several private equity backers.
ADIA, GIC lead $300m round for China's Taibang Biologic
Taibang Biologic Group, a specialist in blood plasma-based pharmaceuticals formerly known as China Biologic Products, has raised a USD 300m round led by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and GIC.
Deal focus: China start-up mines 3D printing's micro potential
Supported by a string of Chinese investors, Boston Micro Fabrication has carved a niche serving global manufacturers that want 3D printing solutions for very small components
China's Ribo Life Science raises $40m as part of Series E
Chinese drug developer Suzhou Ribo Life Science has raised USD 40m in the first tranche of a Series E from existing investors Panlin Capital and Trinity Innovation Fund. Several undisclosed new investors also took part.
ABC Impact backs China autism therapy business
ABC Impact, a Singapore-based impact investor established by Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of Temasek Holdings, has led a USD 42m Series D for Da Mi & Xiao Mi (DMXM), a Chinese rehabilitation platform for children with autism spectrum disorder...
India's ASG Eye Hospitals gets $188m from Kedaara, GA
Indian optometry chain ASG Eye Hospital has raised a INR 15bn (USD 188m) round led by Kedaara Capital and General Atlantic, setting up an exit for Investcorp.
Shenzhen Capital leads Series C for miniature 3D printing player
Shenzhen Capital Group has led a USD 43m Series C round for China and US-based Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), which specialises in microscale 3D printing systems.
China EV maker Hozon completes Series D with $443m tranche
Hozon Auto, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has raised CNY 3bn (USD 443m) in funding from the likes of Shenzhen Capital Group, Qianhai FoF, Hongtai Capital, Dayone Capital, Insight Capital, and Dianshi Capital.
Korea's Viva Republica raises USD 225m
Viva Republica, operator of the Korean money transfer app Toss, has raised KRW 296bn (USD 225.5m) in series G funding from an investor group that includes Altos Ventures, Goodwater Capital, Greyhound Capital, and Kleiner Perkins.
China's Jaka Robotics raises $150m Series D
Prosperity7 Ventures, a USD 1bn venture capital fund established by Saudi Arabia state oil giant Saudi Aramco, has continued its run of robotics investments in Asia by joining a USD 150m Series D for China’s Jaka Robotics.
Mutiples commits $30m to India neo-banking platform
Multiples Alternate Asset Management has invested USD 30m in India-based neobank Niyo, entering on the heels of a USD 100m Series C round that closed in February.