Investments
Deal focus: Opportunity knocks in Japan's pricey auto space
Dream Incubator's VC arm started tracking Nyle after the Japanese online media start-up made a timely pivot into car leasing. It led to a JPY5 billion ($48.3 million) funding round
CDH exits Singapore equipment rental business
Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Corporation has acquired Singapore-based construction equipment rental business Aver Asia, facilitating a full exit for CDH Investments.
Indigenous New Zealand LP backs pathology business
Te Puia Tapapa (TPT), a PE investor serving New Zealand indigenous groups, has backed a pathology business owned by New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZ Super) and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP).
Fund focus: TR raises $350m for China-heavy secondaries strategy
Having closed its fourth fund at the hard cap of $350 million, Asia secondaries specialist TR Capital expects to go deep into China fund restructurings, taking out renminbi investors onshore and offshore
India gaming platform MPL gets $95m Series D
Mobile Premier League (MPL), an Indian mobile gaming platform that matches users for competitive play, has raised a $95 million Series D round at a post-money valuation of $945 million.
Carlyle, Brighton Park invest $200m in India's Indegene
The Carlyle Group and US GP Brighton Park Capital have committed a combined $200 million to Indegene, an Indian technology provider for the healthcare and life sciences industries.
Tencent leads Series C for China gene sequencing player
Guangzhou-based precision diagnosis and gene sequencing company Vision Medicals has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) in Series C funding led by Tencent Holdings.
Temasek impact arm leads Series B for Vietnam dental player
ABC World Asia, the impact investment arm of Temasek Holdings, has led a $24 million Series B found for Kim Dental, a Vietnam-based dental clinic operator. Existing backer Aura Private Equity also participated.
CVC takes majority stake in Shiseido's personal care division
CVC Capital Partners is set to make its largest investment in Japan since before the global financial crisis, having agreed to purchase of a majority stake in Shiseido’s personal care business at a valuation of JPY160 billion ($1.52 billion).
AVCJ Awards 2020: Responsible Investment: Canvest Environment
Olympus Capital has guided China’s Canvest Environment from polluting waste-to-energy minnow to category leader in operational scope and sustainability credentials
India's Moonfrog Labs acquired by Swedish gaming studio
Swedish free-to-play gaming studio Stillfront has agreed to acquire 100% of Indian mobile games developer Moonfrog Labs, setting up exits for Tiger Global Management and Sequoia Capital India.
Southeast Asia's shadow capital: Out of the darkness
Shadow capital – non-traditional pools of money held by sovereigns and corporates – has become a fixture in Southeast Asia’s tech space. Start-ups stand to benefit, but they must pick partners with care
CDH leads $108m Series B for China baby care brand
Babycare, a Chinese baby products brand, has raised RMB700 million ($108 million) in Series B funding led by CDH Investments. Sequoia Capital China and Huaxing Growth Capital also participated.
India's Zetwerk secures $120m Series D
India’s Zetwerk, a marketplace for the outsourcing of small manufacturing jobs, has raised a $120 million Series D round led by US-based Greenoaks Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Firm of the Year - Mid Cap: Advantage Partners
Richard Folsom, representative partner of Advantage Partners, looks back on a year dominated by succession planning, fundraising, and new investment opportunities
Orchid, Matrix commit $100m to China gaming platform
Orchid Asia and Matrix Partners China have participated in a $100 million Series B round for Chinese gaming company Quwan Network Technology. Matrix led the Series A last year.
US strategic to buy PE-backed Australia payroll business
Ceridian, a US-based human resources technology provider has agreed to acquire Australian payroll software specialist Ascender, setting up exits for Potentia Capital and Five V Capital.
Sailing, GF lead $77m round for Chinese cognitive AI specialist
Dmai, a Chinese cognitive artificial intelligence (AI) platform also known as Anwu Zhineng, has raised RMB500 million ($77 million) in a Series A round led by Sailing Capital and GF Venture Capital.
China gas station location platform Newlink raises $100m
Newlink Group, operator of a platform that helps drivers in China locate the best value gas stations, has raised $100 million in funding led by CMB International. Other investors include Hongtai Capital, Joy Capital and Nio Capital.
VI Group, SIG lead $15m round for Vietnam's Elsa
Vietnam-based English language education app operator Elsa has raised a $15 million Series B round co-led by local private equity firm VI Group and SIG.
CLSA partially exits Japan medical IT provider
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has partially exited its position in NHOSA Corporation, a Japanese IT provider for dental clinics and medical institutions.
Deal focus: iStox finds firmer footing
A clutch of Japanese investors has validated iStox’s blockchain-enabled digital securities marketplace. Now the Singapore-based start-up is taking the idea to new markets
AVCJ Awards 2020: Deal of the Year - Large Cap: Jio Platforms
Jio Platforms has attracted an array of global investors as its digital ecosystem designs come into focus. L Catterton Asia adds consumer clout to the infrastructural proceedings
China's Didi raises $300m for autonomous driving unit
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing has raised $300 million for its autonomous driving unit, with IDG Capital taking the lead.