Investments
Deal focus: Telexistence’s nimble robots target retail, logistics
Japan’s Telexistence appears to be on the cusp of a significant milestone in retail automation. Local logistics tech investor Monoful is hoping to take that promise to the warehouse
2Q analysis: Still scrambling
State-supported deals prop up Asia private equity investment; GPs hustle for liquidity in an unforgiving exit landscape; ex-China mid-market players gain some traction in fundraising
China chip designer Senasic raises $70m
China-based chip company Senasic has raised CNY 500m (USD 70m) in Series D funding led by state-owned Enterprises Mixed Ownership Reform Fund.
China’s Cornerstone Robotics raises $112m
China-based Cornerstone Robotics, a surgical robots specialist, has raised a CNY 800m (USD 112m) round featuring BridgeOne Capital and Lenovo Capital & Incubator Group.
Lightspeed leads $20m round for India SaaS player Zluri
Lightspeed India Partners has led a USD 20m Series B round for Zluri, an India and US-based platform that helps companies manage and optimise their software-as-a-service (SaaS) ecosystems.
India's LetsTransport gets $25m Series D
Bertelsmann India Investments has led a USD 25m Series D round for LetsTransport, a platform that aims to integrate independent truckers into the mainstream economy.
New Zealand supply chain traceability player gets $57m
New Zealand’s Oritain, a supply chain traceability and authentication company with a presence in the US, Europe, and Australia, has raised USD 57m led by UK-based VC firm Highland Europe.
China Merchants Capital moves for Bain target Chindata
China Merchants Capital is challenging Bain Capital for Chindata Group, a largely China-focused data centre operator, having submitted a USD 3.4bn all-cash offer for the US-listed company.
Australia cybersecurity training platform getes $50m Series C
Paladin Capital Group, a US-based specialist investor in cyber solutions and infrastructure, has led a USD 50m Series C for Australia-founded Secure Code Warrior, a security training platform aimed at coders.
Legend Capital leads Series A for China CDMO CoJourney
China and US-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) CoJourney has raised a Series A of USD 30m led by Legend Capital.
Antler expands into Malaysia through Khazanah partnership
Singapore-based accelerator and VC investor Antler is opening an office in Kuala Lumpur as it becomes the latest GP to join Khazanah Nasional’s Future Malaysia Programme.
Quadria to invest $155m in India eye hospital
Quadria Capital has invested USD 155m in Maxivision Eye Hospital, a chain of 42 eye hospitals and vision clinics across five states in southern and western India.
Deal focus: National team drives Hithium towards China IPO
Government and state-owned investors accounted for most, but not all, of Xiamen Hithium Energy Storage Technology’s USD 622m Series C, underlining where China’s strategic priorities lie
Deal focus: Aerofugia wins support for eVTOL tilt
China’s Tsinghua Holdings Capital (TH Capital) regards eVTOL as the best way to leverage electrification of the skies. Aerofugia became a preferred target by virtue of its Geely ties and commitment to tilt-rotor technology
Deal focus: COPE moves fast with Malaysia petfood play
Recognising a local champion in a pandemic-proof category, COPE Private Equity flipped a significant minority stake in Malaysian petfood maker Pet World in just over two years
Portfolio: True North and Integrace
True North has spent five years transforming Integrace from a low-margin drug portfolio into a broader, better-performing platform with digital capabilities. The M&A story isn’t finished yet
SDIC leads $97m Series A for China's Pyrotech Therapeutics
China-based Pyrotech Therapeutics, which develops treatments for inflammation and tumours, has raised a Series A of CNY 700m (USD 97m) led by state-owned investor SDIC Venture Capital.
Tower Capital buys payments unit from Singapore's DBS
Tower Capital Asia has completed the fourth investment from its debut Southeast Asia fund – taking deployment past 60% - with the acquisition of a majority stake in payment solutions provider AXS from DBS Bank.
Indonesia's eFishery closes $200m Series D
Indonesian aquaculture start-up eFishery has closed a USD 200m Series D round led by Abu Dhabi-based 42XFund and featuring Northstar Group and 500 Global.
Australia climate investor Wollemi Capital raises $147m
Wollemi Capital, an Australia-based investment firm that targets climate-related businesses globally, has raised AUD 220m (USD 147m) in Series A funding anchored by Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).
Boyu leads Series C for China's Space Pioneer
Boyu Capital has led a Series C round amounting to several hundred million renminbi for Space Pioneer, a China-based aerospace company. CICC Capital and Youshan Capital also participated.
Japan's Telexistence gets $170m Series B
Japanese connected robotics start-up Telexistence has raised USD 170m in Series B funding featuring SoftBank Group, Foxconn, Airbus, and Globis Capital Partners.
Tiger, Blume join $33m round for India's Battery Smart
Tiger Global Management and Blume Ventures have supported a INR 2.7bn (USD 33m) pre-Series B round for Indian battery-swapping electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure provider Battery Smart.
Japanese GPs maintain strong investment pace - AVCJ Forum
Deployment remains robust in Japan’s mid-cap space with private equity firms continuing to see plentiful opportunities in carve-outs and founder-succession situations, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum Japan 2023 heard.