Investments
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
Q&A: Brookfield Asset Management’s Daniel Cheng
Brookfield Asset Management recently raised USD 15bn for a fund dedicated to global energy transition. Daniel Cheng, a managing director with the firm in Shanghai, maps out likely deployment
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.
Korean carmakers take control of local autonomous driving player
Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia have paid a combined KRW 427.7bn (USD 328.8m) for control of 42dot, a local autonomous driving software developer in which they and several VC investors already held minority stakes.
ADIA commits $83m to India's Aditya Birla Health Insurance
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has agreed to invest INR 6.6bn (USD 83.5m) in India’s Aditya Birla Health Insurance (ADBHI) for a 10% stake.
Bain targets $102m Japan advertising take-private
Bain Capital has won board approval from Net Marketing, a Tokyo-listed online advertising and media management business, for a take-private that values the company at approximately JPY 13.6bn (USD 102m).
China's Insilico Medicine gets another $35m
Insilico Medicine, a China-based artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery company, has closed the second tranche of its Series D round on USD 35m, with Prosperity7 Ventures taking the lead.
Singapore crypto risk platform extends Series A to $24m
Singapore’s Merkle Science, a predictive crypto analytics platform, has raised USD 24m in Series A funding led by K3 Ventures, Darrow Holdings, and Beco Capital.
Cartesian seals deal for China rollout of restaurant chain Popeyes
Cartesian Capital Group, a US private equity firm that has served as Restaurant Brands International’s (RBI) joint venture partner for Burger King in China for the past decade, has been awarded exclusive country development rights for the company’s...
Chinese investors back emerging markets e-commerce enabler
Jet Commerce, an e-commerce enabler that helps brands sell into emerging markets, has raised over USD 60m in Series B funding led by Jinqiu Capital, Hidden Hill Capital, and Zhejiang SilkRoad Fund.
India’s CleverTap raises $105m Series D
India and US-based customer engagement platform CleverTap has raised a USD 105m Series D round led by Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ).
India edtech player UpGrad raises $210m
UpGrad, an India-based education technology company set up by media maven Ronnie Screwvala, has raised USD 210m featuring Temasek Holdings and education-focused private equity firm Kaizen.
Singapore's Capital Square revises StarTek take-private bid
Singapore-based private equity firm Capital Square Partners is continuing its bid to privatise US-listed outsourced customer engagement platform StarTek, having revised its targeted valuation downwards in the wake of market volatility.
India's SquadStack raises $17.5m Series B
India’s SquadStack, a telemarketing technology provider, has raised a INR 1.4bn (USD 17.5m) Series B round led by Bertelsmann India Investments.
Navis exits medical cold chain player to US strategic
Navis Capital Partners has sold 100% of B Medical Systems, a Luxembourg-based biotech cold chain provider with significant Asian operations, at an enterprise value of EUR 460m (USD 469m).
China logistics robotics player Geek+ raises $100m
China’s Geek+, a manufacturer of robots used to move merchandise around warehouses, has raised USD 100m in Series E funding at a valuation of about USD 2bn.
Deal focus: Allegro pumps up in New Zealand
Australia’s Allegro Funds has made its first investment from its largest fund to date, flexing new capacity to invest at scale with petrol station chain Gull New Zealand
Asia agtech: Work in progress
Global food supply issues and local economic realities are driving more capital into Asia’s agricultural technology space, where business models – from marketplaces to deep-tech – are still being proven
China's Black Sesame completes Series C with $500m haul
Black Sesame Technologies, a China-based chipmaker specializing in autonomous driving applications, has closed a Series C extension led by SummitView Capital. This brings the size of the overall round to USD 500m.
J-Star invests in Japanese courier business
Japanese lower middle-market private equity firm J-Star has made an investment of undisclosed size in air cargo transportation and courier services provider Score Japan Holdings.