Investments
China luxury goods player Secoo gets private equity bailout
Secoo Holding, a US-listed Chinese luxury goods retailer that has seen its stock price fall by 95% since the start of 2020 and has filed for bankruptcy twice in the past eight months, has received USD 4m in funding.
Australia's PEP buys traffic management business
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has acquired a majority stake in Altus Group, which claims to be Australia’s largest provider of traffic management services.
China Merchants Group backs CDMO player Porton Advanced
Three entities under China Merchants Group (CMG) have led a USD 80m Series B round for Porton Advanced Solutions, a local contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) that focuses solely on gene and cell therapy services.
AVCJ Awards 2022 - nominations have closed
Nominations for the 2022 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards have now closed. Many thanks to all those who participated.
India rural fintech player Jai Kisan raises $50m
India’s Jai Kisan, a financial technology start-up focused on digital banking in rural areas, has raised USD 50m in Series B funding from a group including DG Daiwa Ventures and Blume Ventures.
Singapore's TotallyAwesome raises $10m seed round
Singapore’s TotallyAwesome, a digital advertising start-up focused on children’s online safety, has raised a USD 10m seed round featuring US venture debt provider Partner For Growth (PFG).
Tiger Global leads Series B for India savings platform Jar
Tiger Global Management has led a USD 22.6m Series B round for ChangeJar Technologies, operator of India-based savings and investment app Jar, at a valuation of more than USD 300m.
India seaweed biotech start-up raises $18.5m
India’s Sea6 Energy, a company that cultivates and processes seaweed to make a range of bio-engineered products, has completed a USD 18.5m Series B round featuring BASF Venture Capital.
Korea's Kakao abandons plans for mobility unit stake sale
South Korean internet giant Kakao has abandoned plans to partially divest Kakao Mobility, its transportation division.
Korea start-up equity management platform raises $11m
QuotaBook, a South Korea-based equity management platform that helps start-ups organise their cap tables, has received USD 11m in the second tranche of a Series A round.
China carmaker SAIC raises $148m for mobility unit
Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor has raised CNY 1bn (USD 148m) to support the expansion of its mobile services unit, which last year launched a fleet of robotaxis.
OTPP to acquire majority stake in India's Sahyadri Hospitals
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) has agreed its first control private equity buyout in India, taking a majority stake in Sahyadri Hospitals and setting up a partial exit for Everstone Group.
C2 invests $25m in Eat Just to support China expansion
C2 Capital Partners, a China-based private equity firm that focuses on consumer sector investments, has committed USD 25m to Eat Just, owner of plant-based egg brand Just Egg.
Mobility: Batteries and beyond
The electrification of transportation has created a wealth of opportunities in energy saving and storage. Investors across Asia – led by China – are looking at batteries and other technologies
Energy transition case study: The Arnott's Group
Having acquired Australian snacks producer The Arnott’s Group under its long-dated strategy, KKR hopes to make an enduring impact on sustainable sourcing and energy conservation
Energy transition case study: Towngas Smart Energy
Towngas Smart Energy wants to offer solar and energy management solutions to its existing piped gas customers across China’s industrial parks. Affinity Equity Partners is supporting the rollout
Carlyle backs Japan medical technology player
The Carlyle Group has committed JPY 7bn (USD 52.2m) to CureApp, a Japan-based developer of software for use in the treatment of medical conditions, as part of the company’s Series G round.
China e-commerce SaaS player Dianxiaomi raises $150m
Chinese e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider Dianxiaomi has secured a USD 110m Series D round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Sequoia Capital China.
China blockchain developer Bit raises $13m
Bit, a China, Singapore, and US-based blockchain infrastructure provider set up by former employees of Tencent Holdings, has raised USD 13m in Series A funding led by CMB International.
Asia renewables: Building out
A surge in renewable energy development is expected in the wake of most Asian jurisdictions making net-zero commitments. Investors are bullish on the macro picture but cautious on the detail
Data centres: Seeking sustainability
With data driving increasing amounts of business activity, companies are paying more attention to energy sourcing and consumption at the facilities tasked with processing this information
Energy start-ups: Disencumbering incumbents
Digital start-ups play a crucial role in energy transition and therefore represent a significant investment opportunity. The best approaches consider human nature and social themes as well as widgets
Sequoia launches China accelerator
Sequoia Capital China has launched an accelerator programme under the Yue brand, which will provide systematic training and resources for entrepreneurs at the angel and Series A stages.
Thoma Bravo bids $740m for Australia's Nearmap
Thoma Bravo, which claims to be the largest private equity investor in software globally, has launched a AUD 1.05bn (USD 740m) take-private bid for Nearmap, a listed Australian provider of aerial imagery technology and location data.