Investments
China rolls out guidelines for offshore IPOs
China has sought to facilitate overseas IPOs by local companies through the introduction of a new regulatory regime to guide the process.
Gobi-Core named partner for Philippines start-up fund
A Philippines-focused fund supported by Gobi Partners has been selected as a co-investment partner for the government’s Startup Venture Fund (SVF), which was launched in 2021 to support early-stage investment.
China biosynthesis start-up Bluepha raises $58m
Bluepha, a Chinese start-up focused on bio-based chemicals, has raised CNY 400m (USD 58m) in a fourth tranche of Series B funding.
China GPs back pre-Series A for software start-up Affine
Affine, a Chinese-founded and Singapore-based collaborative software start-up, has raised USD 10m in pre-Series A funding led by Redpoint China, China Growth Capital, and Sinovation Ventures.
Rise Fund buys Malaysian university from KV Asia
The Rise Fund, TPG’s global impact investment platform, has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Malaysia-based Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) from KV Asia.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Firm of the Year – Mid Cap: Pacific Equity Partners
Reflecting on a 12-month period characterised by a string of bumper exits, Australia’s Pacific Equity Partners sees a clear connection between performance and well-established team and culture
Saudi Arabia's PIF backs China e-sports platform
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has invested USD 265m in China’s VSPO, an e-sports broadcaster and events promoter formerly known as VSPN.
China's Pudu Robotics extends Series C to $170m
Pudu Robotics, a China-based manufacturer of service robots, has closed a third tranche of Series C funding with more than USD 15m in commitments. It was led by local VC firm Puhua Capital.
Australia quantum computer maker raises $18m
Australian quantum computer start-up Quantum Brilliance has raised USD 18m from several local VC firms, plus US-based investors Ultratech Capital Partners and CM Equity Partners.
Sequoia Southeast Asia leads Series C for Australia's Shift
Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia has led a Series C round of AUD 27m (USD 18.5m) for Australia-based credit and payments platform Shift.
Ribbit, Tiger Global, TVS commit $100m to India's PhonePe
Ribbit Capital, Tiger Global Management, and TVS Capital Funds have committed USD 100m to Indian digital payments platform PhonePe, joining an ever-lengthening investor roster.
Singapore to top-up SME co-investment programme
Singapore has earmarked an additional SGD 150m (USD 112m) for a co-investment fund that will invest in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as part of efforts to help local companies scale and become globally competitive.
Australia's Loam Bio raises $73m Series B
Loam Bio, an Australia-based agricultural technology start-up that uses microbes to sequester carbon in farm soils, has received AUD 105m (USD 73m) in Series B funding.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Operational Value-add: Owndays
L Catterton’s investment in Japanese eyewear brand Owndays demonstrated a hands-on approach to sharing commercial networks, expertise in omnichannel scaling, and operating capabilities
China medical device manufacturer gets Series D backing
China-based medical device manufacturer Hygea Medical Technology has raised more than CNY 100m (USD 15m) in Series D funding led by healthcare-focused In Capital.
L Catterton makes second China pet food investment
L Catterton has made its second China pet food investment in 12 months with a commitment of undisclosed size to Partner Pet, a leading domestic player in the premium freeze-dried pet food space.
Singapore's Aspire closes Series C on $100m
Singapore-based B2B banking platform Aspire has closed an oversubscribed Series C round with USD 100m in commitments. Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia took the lead.
Deal focus: Zypp aims for the EV fast lane
Zypp Electric’s USD 25m Series B comes on the back of a business model pivot, a pandemic-driven boom, and a tie-up with its lead investor to put swappable batteries into its two-wheelers
Deal focus: Taking electrification to China’s skies
TCab Tech has won USD 15m in funding to bankroll its electric-powered alternative to helicopters. The path to market might be relatively short, but the wait for revenue will be longer
Portfolio: KKR and NVC China
KKR is targeting the short-video generation in the traditionally middle-aged world of home lighting fixtures with NVC China. But that hasn’t stopped the brick-and-mortar footprint from mushrooming
Grand Flight leads $15m round for China urban air mobility player
Shanghai-based TCab Tech has raised CNY 100m (USD 14.7m) in a pre-Series A round led by Grand Flight, an industrial investment fund mainly initiated by Far East Horizon.
Deal focus: Adamantem extends Retail Zoo’s PE story
Adamantem Capital bought Retail Zoo from Bain Capital with a view to continuing the rollout in Australia and overseas while potentially picking up more food and beverage brands
Value in adversity: Australia’s operational challenge
With Australia poised for a rarely-seen period of economic difficulty, the operational capabilities developed by domestic private equity firms will be put to the test
Indian drone start-up Garuda Aerospace raises $22m
Recently established Indian VC firm SphitiCap has led a USD 22m Series A round for Garuda Aerospace, a local industrial drone maker and related services provider.