Investments
Deal focus: ShawKwei delivers US deal flow
ShawKwei & Partners found its niche in Asia-based industrials businesses with relative cost advantages. Thanks to geopolitics and shifting growth patterns, the GP is now targeting assets in North America
Portfolio: Gaja Capital and India’s Educational Initiatives
Educational Initiatives was not part of India’s pandemic-driven ed-tech explosion. The PE-owned company emerged from the chaos having reaffirmed its sustainable, school-facing business model
India healthcare: New momentum, new directions
Private equity has become comfortable with niche segments and regional sub-markets in Indian healthcare services. Technology-based business models are next
Investors bullish on China consumer - AVCJ Forum
China’s consumer sector is poised for one of its most lucrative vintages with investors able to take advantage of falling valuations, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum China 2023 heard.
Singapore student-run VC programme launches new fund
Protégé Ventures (PV), a student-run venture fund programme set up by the Singapore Management University Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE) has launched a second fund of SGD 500,000 (USD 367,000).
L Catterton enters Japan's veterinary services space
L Catterton’s interest in Asian pet food and services has stretched from China to India and now Japan with a commitment of undisclosed size to Withmal, a Japanese veterinary services group.
KKR commits an additional $250m to India's Reliance Retail
KKR has agreed to re-up in India’s Reliance Retail, committing another INR 20.6bn (USD 250m) on top of the INR 55bn it put into the neighbourhood store-to-supermarket operator three years ago.
Innovation can end China's healthcare downcycle - AVCJ Forum
Investors in Chinese healthcare are looking for innovators with global competencies to lead an industry recovery following a challenging past 12 months, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum China 2023 heard.
CICC leads $60m Series B for China's Grit Biotechnology
CICC Capital had led a USD 60m Series B round for Grit Biotechnology, a Shanghai-based drug developer that is working on pioneering cancer treatments involving tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (LIT).
IFM backs New Zealand energy SaaS platform Tally
IFM Investors has committed approximately NZD 50m (USD 29m) to New Zealand-based energy sector software provider Tally Group alongside existing investors SilverTree Equity and Pioneer Capital.
ShawKwei completes duo of US acquisitions
Asia-focused industrials specialist ShawKwei & Partners has completed two investments in the US spanning packaging manufacturing and environmental chemicals.
Japanese warehouse robot start-up raises $84m
SBI Investment has led a JPY 12.3bn (USD 84m) Series C round for Japanese industrial robotics supplier Mujin, advancing expansion plans in Europe and the US.
KKR agrees China pharmacy acquisition
KKR has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Chinese pharmacy chain Ruirentang Pharmaceutical Group, according to a filing by a local regulator.
Carlyle, Trustar pursue partial exit, rollover of McDonald's China
The Carlyle Group and Trustar Capital, private equity owners of McDonald’s China, are poised to abandon plans for a single asset continuation fund in favour of exiting part of their holdings and rolling over the rest into other funds.
Global Brain, Globis lead $93m round for Japan's Josys
Global Brain and Globis Capital Partners have led a USD 93m Series B round for Josys, a Japan-based IT services provider specializing in helping companies manage devices.
China's GTA Semiconductor raises $1.85b
GTA Semiconductor, a China-based semiconductor foundry specialising in chips for the automotive industry, has raised CNY 13.5bn (USD 1.85bn) in funding from unnamed investors.
Mitsui Sumitomo VC unit backs Israel fusion start-up
Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital (MSIVC) has joined a Series A round for Israel-based nuclear fusion start-up NT-Tao that had raised USD 22m as of February.
Carlyle pursues $221m Japan chemicals take-private
The Carlyle Group has launched a tender offer for Seiko PMC that values the Tokyo-listed paper and ink chemicals manufacturer at approximately JPY 32.4bn (USD 221m).
Japanese autonomous trucking start-up raises $24m
T2, a Japanese autonomous driving start-up that focuses on trucking, has raised JPY 3.5bn (USD 24.1m) in Series A funding from a combination of financial and strategic investors.
China robot surgery specialist raises $27m
Shanghai-based surgical robot business Ronovo Surgical has raised CNY200m（USD 27m）in an extended pre-Series B round led by NRL Capital.
PEP to buy Australia's Healthia for $168m
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to acquire Healthia, an Australia-based healthcare services provider specialising in physiotherapy, podiatry, and optometry, for an equity value of AUD 260m (USD 168m).
Templewater buys Singapore precision engineering player
Templewater, a Hong Kong-headquartered investment firm that spun out from Investec Group’s principal investments division, has acquired Singapore-based precision engineering business Knight Auto Precision Engineering.
Longreach buys Japanese assisted stretching business
The Longreach Group has acquired Nobitel, a Japanese company that provides one-on-one assisted stretching services aimed in part at the country’s ageing population, for an undisclosed sum.
Qiming, Orbimed lead Series A for China's Epigenic
Qiming Venture Partners and OrbiMed Asia Partners have led a USD 32m Series A round for Chinese gene editing therapy start-up Epigenic Therapeutics.