Investments
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.
Japan rocket start-up Interstellar gets $29m Series D
Interstellar Technologies, which in 2017 became the first Japanese company to launch a privately developed space rocket and is currently working on solutions for sending small satellites into orbit, has raised JPY 3.8bn (USD 29.6m) in Series D funding.
Norwegian climate fund backs India waste-to-energy player
A climate fund set up by Norwegian development finance institution Norfund has invested NOK 600m (USD 60.5m) in Indian solar and waste-to-energy company SEAL.
Investcorp leads $39m Series D for India's Wakefit
Investcorp has led a INR 3.2bn (USD 39.4m) Series D round for India’s Wakefit, which claims to be the largest D2C retailer of mattresses and bedding accessories.
GIC, PIF invest $924m in Korea's Kakao Entertainment
Singapore’s GIC and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have agreed to invest a combined KRW 1.15trn (USD 924m) in Korean internet giant Kakao’s entertainment division.
Bain backs Asia biorefinery platform
Bain Capital Private Equity has confirmed a significant equity commitment to EcoCeres, a Hong Kong-based biorefinery. The size of the investment was not disclosed.
PAG's Shan emphasizes diversity, control in Asia private equity
Momentum has shifted towards geographically diversified pan-regional investors, control deals, and private markets following a decade dominated by China-centric funds, growth-stage technology plays, and public equities, Weijian Shan, chairman and CEO...
China's Yuze Semiconductor raises $178m
China’s Yuze Semiconductor, a specialist in single-crystal high-efficiency silicon wafers, has raised a CNY 1.2bn (USD 178m) Series B round featuring Goldstone Investment, a PE unit of CITIC Securities.
China gas station, charging pile platform Newlink secures $133m
Newlink Group, the operator of a China-based platform that helps drivers locate the best-value gas stations and charging piles, has raised CNY 900m (USD 133m) through a series of financing rounds involving three subsidiaries.
Capcon Semiconductor raises $50m
Hillhouse Capital, Cowin Capital, Chengchuang Capital, and SAIC Motor Corporation's Shangqi Capital have participated in a USD 50m extended Series B round for Capcon, a Chinese-founded supplier of semiconductor assembly and packaging equipment.
Accel backs India home construction start-up
Accel and fellow US venture firm Celesta Capital have led a USD 10m round for India’s Brick&Bolt, a consumer-facing end-to-end home construction platform.
Everstone, Goldman buy IT consulting player Cprime
India and Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Everstone Capital has teamed up with Goldman Sachs Asset Management to acquire US-headquartered IT consulting business Cprime. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.
L Catterton joins round for e-bike player Tenways
Tenways, an electric bicycle manufacturer headquartered in the Netherlands with a strong supply chain in Asia, has raised CNY 300m (USD 44m) in Series A funding, including an extension led by L Catterton.
Nio Capital backs China battery recycling start-up
Nio Capital has led a Series A for China-based battery recycling start-up Ruilong Technology. The company did not disclose the exact size of the round, merely saying it amounted to several hundreds of millions of renminbi.
General Atlantic invests $130m in Indonesia's Cimory
General Atlantic has paid USD 130m for a 5.64% stake in Indonesian dairy and consumer goods producer Cimory, which completed a domestic IPO towards the end of 2021.
Carlyle buys India skincare, beauty platform
The Carlyle Group has acquired a majority stake in VLCC, an Indian skincare and beauty platform backed by Everstone Capital, for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Anchorage gets Aussie icon for a song
Anchorage Capital Partners has acquired David Jones, a longstanding and beloved Australian department store chain, for one-fourth the cost of recent renovation work at a single location
Asia buyouts: The case for control
Investors are looking to minimise external financial and macro risks and emphasise factors they can control – which means more buyouts, careful asset selection, and greater operational intensity
ICG invests in Korea's Big Mama Seafood
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) has announced a second deal in three weeks from its fourth Asia fund – which closed last year on USD 1.1bn – with a commitment of undisclosed size to Korea-based Big Mama Seafood.
Cloudview leads $221m round for China solar panel maker
China’s Cloudview Capital has led a CNY 1.5bn (USD 221m) Series B round for Astronergy, a solar panel manufacturer based in Zhejiang province.
Deal focus: TR leads $150m multi-asset secondary for India's Samara
TR Capital first worked with Samara Capital on a single-asset continuation fund for Sapphire Foods India – and saw the local Yum Brands franchisor go public about three months after the deal was announced. It has now reunited with Samara for what amounts...
Advent joins Series D for India's KreditBee
Advent International has committed USD 100m to Indian lending start-up KreditBee as an extension to a Series D round announced last month.