Regions
India's Freshworks flourishes on NASDAQ debut
Freshworks, one of India's leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) businesses, traded strongly on its NASDAQ debut following a $1 billion IPO.
FountainVest buys New Zealand pet food business
China-focused private equity firm FountainVest Partners has agreed to buy Ziwi, New Zealand’s leading exporter of pet food.
China warehouse robot supplier secures $200m
Hai Robotics, a China-based manufacturer of robots used in warehouses, has raised approximately $200 million across two funding rounds.
Hong Kong’s Airwallex raises $200m at $4b valuation
Hong Kong-based Airwallex has raised a $200 million Series E round led by Lone Pine Capital at a valuation of $4 billion. A $300 million Series D in March valued the company at $2.6 billion.
Deal focus: Vision Fund bets on service robots
COVID-19 crippled demand for restaurant service robots, so China’s Keenon Robotics pivoted towards hospitals. It has $200 million in Series D funding to target new application scenarios
LP interview: Japan Investment Corporation
Japan Investment Corporation aims to help a sparse venture capital market catch up with a slightly more mature buyout space. Balancing private and public interests remains the key challenge
Fund focus: Lever leverages spiking food tech appetite
The debut fund from Hong Kong’s Lever VC has tapped an infection point in global demand for food innovation. A mix of motivators for entering this space makes the hype feel less like a bubble
Deal focus: Deeproute founder jumps at second chance
Deeproute.ai has risen from the ashes of China-based autonomous driving specialist Roadstar.ai, backed by some of the same investors. Now Alibaba Group has given the company its endorsement
Eight Roads' China hospital wins backing from Swire
DeltaHealth, a China-based cardiovascular care chain established by Eight Roads, has raised $100 million in funding led by Hong Kong-listed conglomerate Swire Pacific.
Singapore plans pre-IPO fund to attract listings
Singapore’s EDB Investments (EDBI) will establish a pre-IPO fund – with an initial commitment of S$500 million ($370 million) – that is intended to encourage high-growth companies to list in the city-state.
Partners Group backs continuation vehicle for Korean restaurant brand
MBK Partners has signed up Partners Group as the anchor investor in an approximately $500 million single-asset continuation fund for its majority stake in Korean fried chicken franchisor BHC.
8F reaches $61m first close on SE Asia aquaculture fund
8F Asset Management, a Singapore-based GP dedicated to developing a sustainable salmon business, has hit a first close of $61 million on its second fund, which will build out Southeast Asian operations.
India's Cars24 closes Series F, sees valuation double
Indian used car platform Cars24 has closed a $450 million Series F round and received $110 million in debt funding. It nearly doubles the company’s valuation to $1.84 billion.
Korean LPs adapt to the new normal – AVCJ Forum
South Korean institutional investors are keen to deploy capital in alternatives, their sentiment towards the asset class boosted by a relatively robust recovery from the pandemic and the stabilization of returns, the AVCJ Korea Forum heard.
D1 Capital leads $138m round for China's Xtransfer
XTransfer, a China-based cross-border payment services provider, has raised $138 million in Series D funding led by US-based D1 Capital Partners. Existing investors also took part in the round.
Hong Kong outlines plans for local SPAC listings
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEx) has proposed rules for IPOs by special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), admitting they are more stringent than the US system, but noting the need for more safeguards in a relatively retail investor-heavy market.
Invesco commits $100m to India's Pine Labs
Invesco has announced a $100 million commitment to Indian financial technology provider Pine Labs. It comes two months after the company closed a $600 million pre-IPO round.
India's Apna joins unicorn club 21 months after launch
India-based online jobs platform Apna has closed a $100 million funding Series C round at a valuation of $1.1 billion, achieving unicorn status just 21 months after launching its flagship product.
IFC plans re-up for A91's second India fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has proposed a commitment of up to $25 million in the sophomore fund of India’s A91 Partners, which has a target of $500-550 million.
500 Startups closes $140m global fund, rebrands
500 Startups has closed its largest-ever global fund at $140 million, while simultaneously rebranding as 500 Global and expanding its strategy to include later-stage deals.
India's MPL closes Series E, hits $2.3b valuation
Mobile Premier League (MPL) has joined rival Indian mobile gaming platform Dream Sports in the unicorn club on closing a Series E round of funding at a valuation of $2.3 billion.
Australia's Canva raises $200m at $40b valuation
Australian design and workplace collaboration platform Canva has raised $200 million at a valuation of $40 billion - up from $15 billion five months ago and $3.2 billion in 2019.
Japan's SmartNews secures $230m Series F
Japan-based news app SmartNews has achieved a valuation of $2 billion on closing a $230 million Series F round featuring US-based Princeville Capital and Woodline Partners as well as several local investors.
Taiwan's Gogoro set for $2.3b SPAC merger
A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) backed by Homer Sun, former CIO of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), has agreed a $2.35 billion merger with Taiwan-based electric scooter manufacturer Gogoro.