Region
Geely-owned Chinese EV brand gets $750m Series A
Zeekr, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand under traditional automaker Geely, has closed a Series A round of USD 750m at a valuation of USD 13bn.
Inconfin closes India impact fund on $77m
Incofin Investment Management, a Belgium-headquartered impact investor, has reached a final close of USD 77m on a fund that will target financial inclusion and agri-food in India.
Sequoia leads $17m round for Singapore's Tazapay
Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia has led a USD 16.9m Series A round for Singaporean cross-border payments start-up Tazapay.
India's Rezolve.ai secures $11m Series A
SIG Venture Capital has led a USD 11m Series A round for Rezolve.ai, a US and India-based start-up that applies conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to human resources services.
B Capital, Quona back India EV financing player Turno
B Capital Group and Quona Capital have led a USD 13.8m Series A round for Turno, an India-based platform that helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) switch from combustion engine-powered three-wheelers to electric vehicles (EVs).
AIIB launches $160m to cleantech VC strategy
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has committed USD 160m to a plan to back small-scale venture capital funds targeting cleantech and technology-enabled sustainable infrastructure.
JIP submits buyout offer for Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation has confirmed the receipt of an acquisition proposal from Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), a local private equity firm best known for its expertise in corporate carve-outs.
Hesai gains 11% on debut after $190m US offering
Hesai Technology, a China-based developer of sensors used in autonomous driving, traded up on debut after completing the largest US IPO by a Chinese company since Didi in 2021.
Bessemer, SIG lead Series B for India's Entropik
Bessemer Venture Partners and SIG Venture Capital have led a USD 25m Series B round for Indian marketing research platform Entropik.
China's Oriza Rivertown raises $236m
Oriza Rivertown, the growth investment arm of Suzhou-based Oriza Holdings, has raised CNY1.6bn (USD 236m) across two funds, bringing its total asset under management to CNY 4.5bn.
Advantage exits Japan dental supplier to local strategic
Japan’s Advantage Partners has agreed to sell Dental Holding, a local dental industry equipment distribution company, to Askul, an office equipment supplier, after a 2.5-year hold.
Potentia gains due diligence access to Australia's Nitro
Potentia Capital has been invited to perform due diligence on buyout target Nitro Software after trumping a rival bid for the listed Australian company, ending months of board resistance to its overtures.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Deal of the Year – Small Cap: Well-Link
By taking computing to the cloud, graphics-as-a-service player Well-Link Technologies is looking to broaden access to video games and help power the metaverse. VC investors are keen to get involved
AI: Asia awakens to ChatGPT
ChatGPT has sent shockwaves through the technology sector globally. Asia is no exception as investors look for ways to leverage the platform and China contemplates a standard of its own
AVCJ Awards 2022: Exit of the Year – IPO: GoTo
GoTo’s rocky start on the Indonesia Stock Exchange betrays the pioneering nature of the listing and cements a legacy as an ecosystem lynchpin. Long-time backer Openspace Ventures reflects
New Zealand hydrogen player raises $14m
New Zealand hydrogen and zero-emission technologies developer Fabrum has raised a NZD 23m (USD 14.5m) Series A round led by UK-based AP Ventures.
Japan's Baseconnect gets $41m Series B
Japanese corporate contact and recruitment database provider Baseconnect has raised a JPY 5.4bn (USD 41m) Series B round led by Z Venture Capital (ZVC), formerly YJ Capital.
Carlyle launches tender offer for Japan's Iwasaki Electric
Iwasaki Electric, a Japanese lighting solutions provider that has worked on projects ranging from sports stadiums to hospitals, is set to be acquired by The Carlyle Group through a tender offer at a valuation of JPY 34.9bn (USD 266m).
India, US-based Usher closes $50m Series C
Third Point Ventures has led a USD 50m Series C round for India and US-based enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology provider Ushur.
MO Alts pays $48m for stake in Indian diaper maker
Motilal Oswal Alternates (MO Alts), formerly Motilal Oswal Private Equity, has invested INR 4bn (USD 48m) in India’s Pan Healthcare, a hygiene products maker best known for diapers.
Deal focus: EdenFarm rethinks Indonesian agriculture
EdenFarm is tackling Indonesia’s fragmented agribusiness space with a B2B fresh produce marketplace that not only helps distribute crops, but helps them grow in the first place
LP interview: Quilvest Capital Partners
Fund-of-funds Quilvest Capital Partners was an early-mover in PE globally but has maintained a lean profile that speaks to its family office roots. It is pressing ahead with a China and India-focused Asia strategy
Deal focus: Serving the sole trader
Accounting software provider Hnry has built up a following among freelancers and self-employed tradespeople in New Zealand and Australia. A USD 25m Series B will help it look further afield