Investments
Japan biotech start-up raises $31m Series C
Japanese cancer drug developer Chordia Therapeutics has raised JPY 4bn (USD 31.3m) in Series C funding led by Growth Capital of Japan (GCJ) and UTokyo Innovation Platform.
Mitsui, Nomura acquire real assets manager New Forests
Japan’s Mitsui & Co. and Nomura Holdings have agreed to acquire 100% of New Forests, an Australia-headquartered sustainable real assets investment manager focused on forestry, land management, and conservation.
Thai food supply chain player secures $23.5m Series B
Openspace Ventures has participated in a USD 23.5m Series B funding round for Freshket, a Thailand-based farm-to-table agricultural supply chain start-up.
Philippines fintech player Coins raises $30m
Coins, a Philippines-based financial technology provider focused on blockchain-enabled payment services, has received a USD 30m investment led by Ribbit Captial.
Coatue, Insight lead Series D for Indonesia's Xendit
Coatue Management and Insight Partners have led a USD 300m Series D round for Indonesian payments infrastructure platform Xendit.
Singapore's Azalea targets $754m PE-backed bond offering
Temasek Holdings-owned Azalea Investment Management is further expanding retail exposure to private equity through its latest issue of bonds – worth USD 754m in total – backed by LP interests in funds.
Ince leads $30m round for China's PhiGent Robotics
Beijing-based autonomous driving solutions provider PhiGent Robotics has raised a USD30m Series A round led by Ince Capital. Previous investors such as Atypical Ventures, 5Y Capital, and GSR Ventures re-upped.
Singapore's Azalea targets $754m PE-backed bond offering
Temasek Holdings-owned Azalea Investment Management is further expanding retail exposure to private equity through its latest issue of bonds – worth USD 754m in total – backed by LP interests in funds.
China industrial internet platform Xuelangyun raises $44m
Xuelangyun, a China-based industrial data service provider, has raised a Series B of CNY 300m (USD 44m) led by China Structural Reform Fund. Poly Capital and an intellectual property fund under Wuxi Guolian Development also participated.
Antler to invest $100m in SE Asia start-ups by 2025
Singapore-based VC firm Antler has committed to investing USD 100m in more than 300 Southeast Asian start-ups by 2025.
Apis backs Singapore B2B micropayments player DT One
Apis Partners has invested an undisclosed sum in DT One, a Singapore-headquartered B2B digital micropayments platform with a global customer base.
China outbound: Organic options
Tough domestic competition is encouraging Chinese tech start-ups to expand overseas – often organically, earlier in their lifecycles than before, and despite regulatory concerns
India's Multiples invests $88m in BDR Pharma
Multiples Private Equity has led a consortium in the acquisition of a 9.3% stake in India’s BDR Pharmaceuticals for INR 6.8bn (USD 88.5m).
India's Fashinza gets $100m Series B
Prosus Ventures and WestBridge Capital have led a USD 100m Series B round for India’s Fashinza, a B2B marketplace and supply chain platform for the fashion industry.
Mithril, BlackRock invest $110m in Singapore's GreyOrange
Mithril Capital, a VC firm launched by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, and BlackRock have provided USD 110m in growth funding to Singapore and US-based robotics player GreyOrange.
Japan Industrial Solutions supports troubled local drug maker
Japan Industrial Solutions (JIS) has agreed to invest up to JPY 20bn (USD 155m) in Japan-based generic drug manufacturer Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical with a view to saving the troubled company.
Deal focus: Elevation targets Lumena uplift
Elevation Equity Partners sees Korean consumer electronics brand Lumena as a diamond in the rough, with high margins, quality products, and scope for domestic and international expansion
Deal focus: Mekong unconfined to consumer thesis
Having long eschewed industrial business models, consumer-focused Mekong Capital has made an exception in the name of environmental impact with Vietnam agricultural supplier Entobel
Market volatility thwarts CVC pursuit of Australia's Brambles
CVC Capital Partners has abandoned its proposed acquisition of Australia-based container supplier Brambles, citing market volatility.
India e-commerce enabler Gokwik raises $35m
Gokwik, an Indian e-commerce enablement platform, has raised USD 35m in a Series B round led by Think Investments and RTP Global.
India's NIIF joins $128m round for Ather Energy
India’s National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIFL) has participated in a USD 128m funding round for Ather Energy, a leading domestic manufacturer of two-wheel electric vehicles (EV).
Baring Asia makes Series A software investment
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) has committed USD 10m in Series A funding for a significant minority stake in CBX Software, a Hong Kong-founded product lifecycle management platform provider.
ICG buys New Zealand's Canopy Healthcare
ICG has acquired Canopy Healthcare Group, a New Zealand-based healthcare platform that offers diagnostic imaging, medical oncology, and drug compounding services.
PAG backs acquisition of India's Optimus Drugs
PAG has supported the acquisition of Optimus Drugs for an undisclosed sum alongside CX Partners and Samara Capital as part of a joint Indian pharmaceuticals platform play.