Investments
PAG buys Japan restaurant business
PAG has bought Gyro Holdings, a Japan-based restaurant operator that operates more than 90 brands, most of them based on izakaya concepts. The size of the deal was not disclosed.
Singapore crypto exchange AscendEX raises $50m
Singapore crypto platform AscendEX has raised a $50 million Series B led by US-based sector specialists Polychain Capital and Hack VC.
Affinity invests $150m in Indonesia's Netflix rival
Affinity Equity Partners has invested $150 million in Vidio, an Indonesia-based over-the-top (OTT) streaming service described as a local equivalent to Netflix, as part of a $200-250 million funding round.
Sequoia, GIC backing propels Envision's funding round to $1b
Sequoia Capital China and GIC have joined Primavera Capital Group in backing China-based green technology player Envision Group, taking the company’s latest funding round to $1 billion.
China's Momenta adds $500m to Series C round
Strategic and financial investors have put another $500 million into Chinese autonomous driving technology developer Momenta, endorsing the company's two-legged approach to commercialization
Cross-currency restructuring underpins Ameba's VC fund
China-focused VC firm Ameba Capital has closed its debut US dollar-denominated fund at $265 million, supported by a renminbi-to-US dollar secondary restructuring and a primary staple.
Capital, talent flock to Japanese start-ups - AVCJ Forum
Japan’s early-stage investment environment has improved dramatically over the past several years with the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs, industry participants told the AVCJ Japan Forum.
Vision Fund leads $93m Series B for Hong Kong NFT platform
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a $93 million Series B round for Hong Kong non-fungible token (NFT) platform The Sandbox, a subsidiary of locally based category leader Animoca Brands.
Philippines fintech player Mynt gets $300m at $2b valuation
Warburg Pincus, Insight Capital, and Bow Wave Capital have led a $300 million round for Mynt, the Filipino financial technology company behind the mobile wallet GCash, at a valuation of $2 billion.
KKR, 5Y lead Series C for China contact lens brand
Moody, a China-based cosmetic contact lens brand, has raised RMB1 billion ($156 million) in a Series C funding round led by KKR and 5Y Capital. Source Code Capital re-upped.
B Capital, Falcon Edge join $50m round for India digital bank
B Capital Group and Falcon Edge Capital have joined a $50 million Series B round for Indian digital banking services provider Fi at a valuation of $315 million.
Baring Asia buys Tricor from Permira for $2.7b
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) is set to expand its corporate services provider portfolio, having agreed to buy Tricor Group from Permira for an enterprise value of $2.76 billion.
Deal focus: KV Asia opts for beauty in Indonesia debut
KV Asia has paid $43 million for a 25% interest in Indonesian beauty and personal care brand Victoria Care, convinced by the company’s ability to stay ahead of the curve in a highly fragmented market
Q&A: CVC Capital Partners’ Hans Wang
Hans Wang, who leads the Greater China and Asia cross-border teams at CVC Capital Partners, discusses uncertainty in China, the evolution of partnership and control strategies, and how to stay ahead in Asia
China e-commerce: Chaos in the community
With investor sentiment on China’s technology sector cooling, community group buying platforms are battling to conserve cash. This has done little for the government’s anti-monopoly drive
Blackstone buys Australia clinical trials specialist
The Blackstone Group has acquired Nucleus Network, which claims to be Australia’s largest phase-one clinical trials provider, for an undisclosed sum. It provides an exit for local GP Crescent Capital Partners.
China smart home specialist Aqara raises $156m
Aqara, a China-based provider of smart home appliances and internet-of-things (IoT) solutions, has raised RMB1 billion ($156 million) in Series C funding.
India grocery delivery player Zepto raises $60m
Zepto, an Indian grocery app that claims to deliver food in 10 minutes, has raised $60 million in its first institutional funding round with US-based Glade Brook Capital taking the lead.
Kedaara leads $75m round for India's Purplle
Kedaara Capital has led a $75 million Series E round for India-focused beauty e-commerce platform Purplle at a valuation of $630 million – up from $300 million when the start-up closed its previous round in March.
Korea's IMM leads $64m round for vertical farming company
Korea’s IMM Investment has led a $64.5 million round for Abu Dhabi-based vertical farming company Pure Harvest Smart Farms as part of an Asian expansion
Primavera joins $326m round for Taiwan EV supplier
Primavera Capital Group has made its second cleantech investment in a matter of days, with participation in a $326 million round for Taiwan-based battery manufacturer ProLogium Technology.
Qihoo leads $630m round for China EV maker Hozon
China security software provider Qihoo 360 Technology has led a RMB4 billion ($630 million) round for Hozon Auto, a local electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturer, making an individual contribution of RMB2 billion.
India's Acko achieves unicorn status with $255m round
General Atlantic and Multiples Alternate Asset Management have led a $255 million round for Acko, which claims to be India’s only digital-native insurer, at a valuation of $1.1 billion.
China ride-hailing app T3 Go raises $1.2b
T3 Go, a Nanjing-based ride-hailing platform, has raised a RMB7.7 billion ($1.2 billion) Series A round led by CITIC Investments. Redview Capital and Virtue Capital also took part.