Investments
Investors call on Japanese start-ups to pursue overseas capital - AVCJ Forum
Japanese start-ups must attract more institutional capital from overseas given the paucity of local investors, especially in the growth stages, the AVCJ Japan Forum heard.
Polaris buys Japan care home operator
Polaris Capital Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Social Inclu, a Tokyo-based operator of more than 150 group homes for people with disabilities. The size of the investment was not disclosed.
Japan healthcare start-up Ubie closes $43m Series C
Japanese healthcare technology start-up Ubie has closed its Series C round on JPY6.3bn (USD 43.2m) with the latest tranche featuring PE-owned pharmacy chain operator Sogo Medical.
Proterra backs Singapore biodiesel player
Specialist food and agriculture investor Proterra Investment Partners has agreed to invest in Aperion Bioenergy, a Singapore-based bioenergy producer that sources used cooking oil for feedstocks.
Australia gaming, e-sports start-up gets $12m
Gamurs, a Sydney-headquartered media company specialising in gaming, e-sports, and entertainment, has secured USD 12m in Series A funding.
Hillhouse launches China incubation unit
Hillhouse Capital has introduced an incubation strategy that is intended to support China-based start-ups from incubation through the seed stage.
GIC leads Series C for India EV maker Euler
GIC has led a USD 60m Series C round for Euler Motors, an India-based manufacturer of commercial electric vehicles (EVs), at a valuation of USD 200m.
Deal focus: GPs pile into US-India tech corridor
US and India-based Accion Labs continues to collect private equity backers as it further globalises its IT services offering. Incoming investors don’t want to shake up the winning formula
Brookfield commits $500m to carbon recycling specialist LanzaTech
Brookfield Renewable, a business controlled by Brookfield Asset Management, has agreed to invest USD 500m in LanzaTech, a US carbon recycling specialist with a significant Asia presence.
Singapore's ShopBack secures $80m Series F extension
Temasek Holdings-controlled investor 65 Equity Partners has led a USD 80m equity investment in Singaporean retail platform ShopBack, extending a Series F round in June.
China's Neushen Therapeutics gets $20m pre-Series A
China’s Neushen Therapeutics, a biotech developer focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders, has raised USD 20m in pre-Series A funding led by local VC firm Lapam Capital.
Currency, exit, labour issues worry Japanese GPs - AVCJ Forum
Currency depreciation, dwindling domestic IPO opportunities, and labour shortages are all their toll on the portfolios of middle-market Japanese private equity firms, the AVCJ Japan Forum heard.
Next Capital buys Australia's Compare Club
Next Capital has acquired Compare Club, which claims to be one of Australia’s largest price comparison businesses with coverage stretching across health and life insurance, utilities, mortgages, car financing, and personal loans.
Singapore's Una Brands raises $30m Series B
Una Brands, a Singapore-based brand agglomeration platform that operates across Asia, has secured USD 30m in Series B funding led by Alpha JWC Ventures and White Star Capital.
BlackRock leads $300m investment in Indonesia's Traveloka
BlackRock has led a USD 300m investment in Indonesia’s Traveloka via a credit fund as expectations mount for an IPO by the travel platform.
India's Molbio secures Temasek backing, becomes unicorn
India’s Molbio Diagnostics, a medical equipment maker best known for its COVID-19 testing systems, has raised a USD 85m round featuring Temasek Holdings at an enterprise valuation of USD 1.6bn.
China silicon supplier Lihao gets $305m Series B
Lihao Semiconductor, a China-based supplier of silicon materials used in solar panels, has raised CNY 2.2bn (USD 305m) in Series B funding from an investor group featuring Oceanpine Capital, V Fund, and Harvest Capital.
Boyu pursues listed Chinese property manager
Boyu Capital is seeking full control of Chinese property management business Jinke Smart Services Group through a cash offer that values the Hong Kong-listed company at HKD 7.83bn (USD 998m).
Petronas Ventures backs Malaysian drone player
Petronas Ventures, the VC arm of Malaysian oil giant Petronas, has led a USD 30m round for drone developer Aerodyne Group with support from domestic pension fund KWAP.
India's True North buys stake in TA-backed Accion Labs
Indian middle market private equity firm True North has acquired a significant minority position in US and India-based IT provider Accion Labs from TA Associates for USD 93m.
Temasek leads $40m Series B extension for China's Well-Link
Temasek Holdings has led a USD 40m Series B extension for Well-Link Technologies, a China-based provider of real-time cloud rendering solutions for game developers.
Deal focus: AI integration pays off for Evomotion
With investors going cold on China artificial intelligence, Evomotion has remained popular and profitable by delivering hardware and software to corners of the market that are either overlooked or hard to access
China AI solution provider Evomotion raises $20m
Evomotion, a China-based artificial-intelligence-of-things (AIoT) specialist that supplies software and chips to electronic appliance makers and supermarket retailers, has raised USD 20m in Series B funding.
Thailand's Line Man Wongnai raises $265m
Thailand’s Line Man Wongnai – a food delivery, taxi, and messaging app – has raised a USD 265m round featuring GIC at a valuation of USD 1bn. It claims to be the largest start-up locally.