Industrials
PE-owned Japan flash memory player postpones IPO
Kioxia Holdings, the Japanese flash memory business that a Bain Capital-led consortium acquired from Toshiba two years ago for an enterprise valuation of JPY2 trillion ($18.7 billion) has pulled the plug on its Tokyo IPO.
Portfolio: Pioneer Capital and Natural Pet Food Group
Pet ownership is no longer a hobby – it’s an emotional market in the same vein as mother-and-baby. Pioneer Capital knows that grain-based kibble will not do
Fund focus: Qiming's cleantech team spins out, raises $73m fund
Inspiration Capital, a spinout from Qiming Venture Partners, has raised RMB500 million for its debut fund that focuses on cleantech and advanced manufacturing investments in China
Blackstone makes $253m part-exit from India's Essel Propack
The Blackstone Group has made a partial exit from Indian packaging manufacturer Essel Propack (EPL) – which provides the tubes to 40% of the world’s toothpaste – generating proceeds of INR18.6 billion ($253.4 million).
GPs join $516m investment in Evergrande's EV unit
Evergrande New Energy Vehicle (NEV), a subsidiary of Chinese real estate developer Evergrande Group, has raised HK$4 billion ($516 million) from investors including Tencent Holdings, Sequoia Capital China, Yunfeng Capital, and Didi Chuxing.
Deal focus: Creador scores as India pharma heats up
Creador's $34 million investment in packaging supplier Shriji Polymers represents an indirect bet on India's growing pharmaceutical industry. Product development and capacity expansion are priorities
Creador invests $34m in India's Shriji Polymers
Creador has invested INR2.5 billion ($34 million) in Shriji Polymers India, a manufacturer of plastic pharmaceuticals packaging, taking a significant minority stake and providing an exit for Tata Capital.
Japan flying car developer gets $37m Series B
Development Bank of Japan has joined a JPY3.9 billion ($37 million) Series B round for Tokyo-based flying car developer SkyDrive.
Japan's J-Star acquires waste management business
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has acquired local waste management operator Sincere Corporation for an undisclosed sum.
Chinese robotics player XYZ raises $20m
Source Code Capital has led a $20 million Series A round extension for XYZ Robotics, a Chinese start-up specializing in robotic hand-eye coordination. Other investors include Gaorong Capital and Morningside Venture Capital.
Carlyle exits Korean garment manufacturer
The Carlyle Group has agreed to sell its majority stake in Korean apparel manufacturer Yakjin Trading Corporation to domestic fashion giant JS Corporation for around KRW14.3 billion ($12 million).
Deal focus: China's Xpeng moves into top gear
Investor appetite for Xpeng grew over the course of 2020 as China's electric vehicle industry showed signs of recovery after a difficult 2019. A $500 million Series C extension was soon followed by an IPO filing
Japan's iSpace raises $28m Series B
Japanese lunar exploration company iSpace has raised $28 million Series B round led by Incubate Fund.
Duo of Indonesia fishery start-ups attracts funding
Northstar Group and Go-Ventures have led a Series B round of undisclosed size for Indonesia’s eFishery, while East Ventures has backed a $5.5 million Series A for fishing industry app Aruna.
Sustainable food: Forces of nature
Environmental considerations are intrinsic to food innovation investment strategy, not a public relations bonus. Science, society, and myriad motivations color a range of perspectives
Hana invests $85m in Asia renewables platform
Hana Financial has invested KRW100 billion ($85 million) in a portfolio of Korean waste to energy (WTE) projects being developed by Equis Development.
Asia-IO, Wise Road invest in HK semiconductor supplier
Private equity firms Asia-IO Capital and Wise Road Capital have acquired a 55.6% stake in a semiconductor packaging materials business from Hong Kong-listed ASM Pacific Technology.
Korean strategic, financial investors back industrial AI start-up
MakinaRocks, a Korean artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that helps manufacturers achieve production efficiencies through the application of deep learning technology, has raised KRW12 billion ($10 million) in Series A funding.
Blackbird joins $18m round for Australia's Propeller
Blackbird Ventures has joined a A$26 million ($18.3 million) round for Propeller Aero, an Australian data analytics provider focused on drone surveying at industrial worksites.
Hillhouse invests $1.5b in Chinese EV battery maker
Hillhouse Capital has invested RMB10.6 billion ($1.5 billion) in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL). It is part of a RMB19.7 billion capital raise by the Shenzhen-listed company.
KKR backs Australia environment services player
KKR has made an investment of undisclosed size in GreenCollar, an environmental services provider that helped establish Australia’s carbon credit market.
China EV maker Li Auto pursues US listing
Li Auto, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer that has been backed by online-to-offline (O2O) services giant Meituan Dianping, has filed for a US IPO.
Australia cleantech start-up secures $7m
Horizons Ventures – a VC firm controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing – has joined a A$10 million ($7 million) round for an Australian start-up specializing in fungi-based carbon capture technology.
China establishes $5b SME support fund
China has launched a government guidance fund intended to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with initial capital commitments of RMB35.75 billion ($5 billion).