Investments
China smart text processing start-up raises $92m
Data Grand, a China-based specialist in text recognition and processing robotics, has raised CNY 580m （USD 92m）in Series C round featuring China Merchants Securities, CITIC Securities, GF Securities, and China Securities.
India fintech player Money View gets $75m Series D
Money View, an India-based financial technology start-up involved in lending, card issuance, and buy now, pay later products (BNPL), has raised US 75m in Series D funding at a valuation of USD 625m.
Warburg Pincus buys majority stake in India's Imperial Auto
Warburg Pincus has acquired Imperial Auto Industries, one of India’s oldest automotive parts manufacturers, for an undisclosed sum.
East leads $20m round for Singapore's Mighty Jaxx
Singapore-based toy figurine manufacturer Mighty Jaxx has raised USD 20m in an extended Series A led by East Ventures. Crypto specialist Mirana Ventures also participated.
Tiger Global, Coatue lead Series B for Singapore's AI Rudder
Tiger Global Management and Coatue Management have led a USD 50m Series B round for Singapore-based voice artificial intelligence start-up AI Rudder.
China's Pony.ai hits $8.5b valuation with Series D
Chinese autonomous driving technology supplier Pony.ai has closed the first tranche of a Series D round at a valuation of USD 8.5bn. This represents a 65% increase from the Series C.
Warburg Pincus buys control of Indonesian insurer
Warburg Pincus has acquired stakes in two Indonesian insurance businesses from Spain-headquartered multinational insurance company Mapfre for EUR 56.6m (USD 62.9m).
Dymon pursues take-private of Singapore healthcare business
Dymon Asia Private Equity has made a take-private offer for Singapore-listed healthcare services provider Singapore O&G that values the company at approximately SGD 141m (USD 103.3m).
AVCJ Awards 2021: Deal of the Year – Mid Cap: Danggeun Market
A social, hyperlocal overlay has made Korea’s Danggeun Market a subversively complex e-commerce play. As the company scales and experiments, it reflects new confidence in its home market
AVCJ Awards 2021: Responsible Investment: The Arnott's Group
In taking ownership of an iconic Australian brand like Tim Tam, KKR was conscious of the need to be a market leader on sustainability. Progress is being made across sourcing, emissions, and packaging
Deal focus: Inspiration snares rare China mid-cap tech buyout
Antute, a third-party IT maintenance provider, became an orphan asset following a larger M&A deal. Inspiration Capital Partners sees it as an attractive play on China’s digitalisation drive
Portfolio: Aspirant Group and Yamato Group
Improving cost controls and realising efficiencies underpinned Aspirant Group’s investment thesis for Japanese fish retailer Yamato Group, and they have helped the company withstand external pressures
Deal focus: Faux fowl fast-forwards
Next Gen Foods is pushing hard to popularise its meatless chicken brand Tindle in the name of climate action. The largest-ever Series A round in alternative protein is jumpstarting the campaign
Deal focus: Nexus Point doubles down on dentistry
With a dentist clinic chain already in the portfolio, Nexus Point Capital has backed a B2B procurement platform that services clinics. It is a firm believer in the industry’s tailwinds
Deal focus: Freemium works for Dianxiaomi
China cross-border e-commerce services platform Dianxiaomi has achieved traction, and profitability, by only charging for value-added services. Its Series C will fuel global expansion
China cancer drug developer InxMed raises $50m
InxMed, a China-based biotech company focused on oncology treatments, has raised a USD 50m Series B round led by SDIC China Merchants Investment.
Australia's AGL rejects Brookfield, Grok Ventures bid
Australia-based utility AGL Energy has rebuffed another acquisition attempt from Brookfield Asset Management and Grok Ventures, a private investment firm established by Mike Cannon-Brookes, co-founder of Atlassian.
India's CredAvenue sees 3x valuation jump in six months
Indian small business credit platform CredAvenue has raised a USD 137m round featuring B Capital Group at a valuation of USD 1.3b, up 3x in the past six months.
Creador makes second SE Asia food investment in five months
Malaysia-based Creador has acquired a significant minority stake in local food industry supplier Custom Food Ingredients for an undisclosed sum as part of a category platform play.
BGH seeks regulatory action amid battle for Australia's Virtus
BGH Capital has asked Australia’s Takeovers Panel to intervene a second time in its pursuit of Virtus Health after the fertility care business resolved to engage with CapVest Partners and not entertain BGH’s improved offer.
China 3D cell culture business secures Series B
CytoNiche, a Beijing-based provider of 3D micro-structure engineering technology used for stem cell research, has raised nearly CNY 300m (USD 47m) in a Series B led by Gaorong Capital and CICC Capital.
Australia's Saluda Medical raises $125m
US-based healthcare investor Redmile Group has led a USD 125m round for Australia’s Saluda Medical, a devices company focused on spinal cord stimulation.
India edtech player Filo gets $23m Series A
Filos, an India-based instant live-tutoring platform, has raised USD 23m in Series A funding led by US investor Anthos Capital. It is said to be the largest-ever Series A in India’s education technology space.
CLSA acquires Japan childcare operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has acquired a majority stake in Japanese childcare facility operator Task-Force for an undisclosed sum.