Investments
Chinese language learning platform raises $105m
Singapore’s LingoAce, a Chinese language learning app, has raised $105 million in Series C funding led by Sequoia Capital India. It comes within a year of a $55 million Series B.
CVC backs take-private of Hong Kong-listed Razer
CVC Capital Partners is supporting a proposed founder-led privatization of Hong Kong-listed gaming hardware and software provider Razer that values the business at HK$24.7 billion ($3.17 billion).
Bain leads $63m Series C for Korea's PeopleFund
Bain Capital has led a KRW75.9 billion ($64.5 million) Series C round for PeopleFund, a Korean lending platform. It is described as the largest funding round in the country’s P2P finance industry.
China blockchain security company Certik raises $80m
China and US-based blockchain security company Certik has raised $80 million in the third tranche of a Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China.
Wise Road buys semiconductor assets from Taiwan's ASE
Wise Road Capital, a China-based private equity firm that focuses on high-tech investments, has agreed to buy a package of assets from Taiwan-listed semiconductor business ASE Technology Holding for $1.46 billion.
Grab completes SPAC merger, sees volatile trading debut
Southeast Asia ride-hailing platform turned super app Grab experienced a tumultuous first day of trading on NASDAQ following the completion of its merger with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise valuation of $30.4 billion.
India edtech start-up CollegeDekho raises $35m
Indian education technology start-up CollegeDekho has closed a Series B round of $35 million with support from a mix of global investors including Australia’s QIC and Abu Dhabi’s ADQ.
Valar, IA lead $40m Series B for India BNPL player
US-based Valar Ventures and IA Ventures have led a $40 million Series B round for Simpl, an Indian buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider focused on e-commerce.
Vision Fund leads $188m investment in Naver's metaverse
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 is the largest participant in a KRW223.6 billion ($187 million) investment in Naver Z, the metaverse platform unit of Korean internet giant Naver Corporation.
Horizons leads Series B for Australia healthcare AI start-up
Horizons Ventures, the private investment arm of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, has led a A$129 million ($92.3 million) Series B round for Australia’s Harrison.ai, a clinical artificial intelligence (AI) developer.
Airbus backs Australia quantum computing player
Airbus Ventures has led a $25 million Series B round for Australia’s Q-Ctrl, a quantum computing developer increasingly geared toward space tech and orbital infrastructure.
STIC commits $840m to Korea's Iljin Materials
STIC Investments has led a KRW1 trillion ($840 million) investment in Iljin Materials, a Korean producer of electric foils used in lithium batteries and consumer electronics, to support the international expansion of its manufacturing footprint.
China cleantech: Policy tailwinds
Private equity investment in China cleantech and renewables is at record levels, spurred by robust government support for the industry and a recognition that this time the boom might be sustainable
China procurement services start-up raises $102m
Chinese procurement management platform Going-Link, also known as Zhenyun, has raised a RMB650 million ($102 million) Series C round led by Meituan-backed DragonBall Capital.
Australia food-ordering start-up raises $63m
Tiger Global Management has led an A$89 million ($63.4 million) Series A round for Australian food-ordering start-up Mr Yum. In the past 12 months, 44% of Australians have used the platform.
Vision Fund joins $300m round for China vaccine developer
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and 5Y Capital have led a $300 million Series C extension for Suzhou Abogen Biosciences, a Chinese vaccine developer focused on mRNA products, including one for COVID-19.
Portfolio: Dymon Asia and AMES
For all the hubbub about digital businesses taking flight during the pandemic, few categories saw as much upside as traditional medical waste disposal. Dymon Asia Private Equity is enjoying the ride
Deal focus: Permira passes Tricor baton to Baring
Permira helped Tricor Group consolidate its position in Asian corporate services and upgrade its product offering. Under Baring Private Equity Asia’s ownership, the CEO wants to build a $10 billion company
Deal focus: Serving biryani at scale
With biryani the dish of choice on India’s food delivery apps, Biryani By Kilo is looking to build out a standardized cloud kitchen model. It has $35 million in Series B funding to pursue this ambition
Australia deal-by-deal player Alceon sees investment uptick
Australia-based deal-by-deal investor Alceon Private Equity expects to complete four investments this year, having expanded its scope from consumer and retail to include healthcare, childcare, and IT services.
DCP leads $235m round for China's Datong Insurance
DCP Capital Partners has become the largest institutional shareholder in Datong Insurance Service, one of China’s leading insurance brokerages, after leading a RMB1.5 billion ($235 million) round.
PE investors wary of inflation in 2022 - AVCJ Forum
Inflation is top of mind for Asia-focused private equity investors as they assess the various uncertainties facing the industry in 2022, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum heard.
Qiming leads $40m round for Allorion Therapeutics
China and US-based precision medicine company Allorion Therapeutics has raised a $40 million Series A round led by Qiming Venture Partners.
Japan space debris start-up Astroscale gets $109m Series F
Astroscale, a Japanese space tech start-up dedicated to cleaning up orbital debris, has raised $109 million in Series F funding from investors including London-listed Seraphim Space Investment Trust, Japan Growth Capital Investment, and Axa Life Insurance.