Investments
Q&A: Bertelsmann India Investments' Pankaj Makkar
Pankaj Makkar has headed Bertelsmann India Investments since its inception in 2012. He reflects on a period of rapid market development with a new war chest that betrays confidence in more to come
Deal focus: Newlink doubles down on new direction
Having established itself in China’s gas station services space, Newlink Group embraced the electric vehicle opportunity when it arrived. A spinout, reverse merger, and more capital were the result
China battery component supplier secures $296m pre-IPO round
Kuntian New Energy, a China-based developer of artificial graphite used in lithium-ion batteries, has raised a pre-IPO funding round of CNY2 bn (USD 296m) from a string of financial and strategic investors.
India's Enzene Biosciences raises $50m
Indian biotech company Enzene Biosciences has raised a USD 50m round featuring Eight Roads Ventures and F-Prime Capital.
TMI Ventures leads $13.5m round for Indonesia's EdenFarm
Indonesian agriculture technology start-up EdenFarm has raised a USD 13.5m round led by TMI Ventures, the investment arm of local wireless network operator Telkomsel.
IMM commits $121m to Korea cloud business
IMM Investment is providing KRW 150bn (USD 121m) in Series A funding for Korean cloud computing business NHN Cloud at a valuation of KRW 1trn.
MBK, Unison Korea pursue dental implant buyout
MBK Partners and Unison Capital Korea have launched a tender offer for Osstem Implant, a Korea-based manufacturer of dental implants, that values the company at approximately KRW 2.85trn (USD 2.3bn).
Bain targets $236m buyout of Japan's Impact HD
A Bain Capital-backed take-private of Japanese one-stop field marketing services provider Impact HD, which values the company at approximately JPY 30.7bn (USD 236.3m), has won board support.
Indonesia fintech start-up iSeller gets $12m
Indonesia financial technology start-up iSeller, which helps businesses to digitise sales and operations, has raised USD 12m in Series B funding led by Intudo Ventures.
Australia's Potentia contests Nitro merger plan
Potentia Capital has appealed a decision by Australia’s Takeovers Panel not to intervene in a situation that has seen Nitro Software repeatedly rebuff acquisition proposals made by the private equity firm.
Deal focus: Orchestra seeks the right recipe for KFC Korea
Having secured permission to do sub-franchising and to make alterations to menus and store formats, Orchestra Private Equity believes it can succeed with KFC Korea where others failed
Aramco backs Japan drone start-up
Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, has invested USD 14m in Japanese drone maker Terra Drone on the back of a JPY 8bn (USD 62m) Series B round.
China cell therapy developer raises $75m
Iaso Biotherapeutics, a Chinese cell therapy developer focusing on oncology treatments, has raised nearly CNY 500m (USD 75m) in an extended Series C round.
India's PhonePe raises $350m at $12b valuation
General Atlantic has invested USD 350m – at a pre-money valuation of USD 12bn – in PhonePe, a digital payments platform that spun out from Indian e-commerce marketplace Flipkart.
Deal focus: Secondary investors support Capital Square, Basil merger
Capital Square Partners and Basil Technology Partners have joined forces, with HarbourVest Partners, NewQuest Capital Partners, and Committed Advisors backing a USD 700m fund comprising Asia IT services investments from both GPs
Asia PE investment declines 40% in 2022
Asia private equity investment reached USD 223.9bn in 2023, a sharp decline from the USD 376.4bn recorded a year earlier, but still the second-largest annual total on record, according to provisional data from AVCJ Research.
Reefknot leads Series A for Singapore logistics player Locad
Singapore-based logistics service provider Locad has raised USD 11m in Series A funding led by Reefknot Investments, which is supported by Temasek Holdings and supply chain giant Kuehne + Nagel.
Avatar Growth leads Series C for India's Mad Street Den
Avatar Growth Capital, a private equity firm specialising in bringing Indian tech to global markets, has led a USD 30m Series C round for US and India-based retail services player Mad Street Den.
TR exits last China asset acquired through Cassia restructuring
TR Capital has sold China-focused luxury streetwear brand Evisu United – one of two assets it acquired through fund restructuring for Cassia Investments – through a sale to an unnamed financial sponsor. The size of the deal was not disclosed.
Asia GPs see reversion to norm on deal flow, valuations
Asia-focused buyout managers pointed to a return to a version of normality – with an anticipated upturn in investment and exits – in 2023 at the Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association’s (HKVCA) Asia forum.
4Q analysis: Who wants China?
Pan-regional GPs get traction by highlighting their Asia ex-China credentials; buyouts rebound as growth capital – and China – continue to recede; India impresses with bumper exit proceeds
Profile: Elevation Equity Partners' Gordon Cho
Negotiating a spinout while troubled by health issues tested Gordon Cho’s faith and resilience. He feels stronger for the experience and is now looking to make his mark on Korea’s middle market
Deal focus: VIG secures rare airline turnaround opportunity
VIG Partners stepped into the breach when Eastar Jet’s previous white knight bailed. It agreed to recapitalise the airline on obtaining assurances that key licenses and routes remain in place
China satellite developer Minospace raises $60m
Beijing-based satellite developer Minospace has raised nearly CNY400m (USD 59.6m) across a Series B round and a Series B extension.