Sectors
IMM agrees $124m exit from Korea's Hollys Coffee
IMM Private Equity is set to exit its approximately 94% stake in Korean food and beverage chain Hollys Coffee to local digital payments services provider KG Inicis for KRW145 billion ($124 million).
China healthcare SaaS player Taimei raises $176m
Taimei Technology, a Chinese cloud-based software provider that serves the healthcare sector has raised RMB1.2 billion ($176 million) in funding led by Tencent Holdings, GL Ventures and Yunfeng Capital.
Vision Fund leads $319m round for China's XtalPi
China and US-based artificial intelligence-enabled drug development platform XtalPi has raised $319 million in Series C funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund, the investment arm of insurer PICC Group, and Morningside Venture Capital.
PineBridge, Peter Thiel launch Southeast Asia-focused SPAC
Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies and Founders Fund, has teamed up with PineBridge Investments and Pacific Century Group on a special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) that will target new economy assets in Southeast Asia.
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.
Lever invests five China alternative meat start-ups
Hong Kong and US-based food tech investor Lever VC has confirmed five investments in alternative protein start-ups from its recently launched China fund.
Southeast Asia VC: Knowledge transfers
When venture capital firms move into Southeast Asia, they often use existing operations in China or India as a launching pad. Different lessons can be learned from these two markets
CITIC, SF Holdings raise $308m China logistics fund
CITIC Capital and SF Holdings – the parent company of SF Express, China’s second-largest courier company – have launched a RMB2.1 billion ($308 million) fund that will invest in logistics properties.
Deal focus: PEP reaches its Zenith
The fourth investment from Pacific Equity Partners’ secure assets fund, Zenith Energy is expected to serve as a platform for expansion in the Australian remote power industry
AMP Capital forms Asia infrastructure debt team
Australia’s AMP Capital has doubled down on its Asia Pacific infrastructure debt strategy with the creation of a dedicated team based across Sydney and Singapore.
China's InventisBio secures $147m Series D
GL Ventures, the China venture capital arm of Hillhouse Capital, has led a $147 million Series D round for Shanghai-based biotech developer InventisBio.
GGV targets $2b for China, US tech investments
GGV Capital will return to market with its latest set of China and US-focused funds, seeking to raise an aggregate $2 billion, up from $1.88 billion in the prior vintage.
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
India's ShareChat gets $40m pre-Series E round
ShareChat, a social networking platform that focuses on Indian vernacular languages, has raised $40 million in a pre-Series E funding round.
BA Capital raises $147m for renminbi fund, hits first close on dollar fund
BA Capital, a Shanghai-based venture capital firm also known as Black Ant Capital, has raised RMB1 billion ($147 million) for its second renminbi-denominated fund.
Ascendent invests $500m in Chinese supermarket retailer
Ascendent Capital Partners has made by far its largest investment to date, committing $500 million to Chinese supermarket retailer Wumart ahead of a planned Hong Kong IPO.
China robotics player Cyclone gets $40m Series B
Matrix Partners China has led a $40 million Series B round for local robotics start-up Cyclone. Other investors include DCM, Lenovo Capital, Source Code Capital, and Renzhi Capital.
Japan gaming start-up raises Series A, hits $1b valuation
Playco, a Japan-headquartered mobile gaming start-up, has simultaneously formally launched operations and become a unicorn, raising $100 million in Series A funding at a valuation of $1 billion.
Iron Pillar leads Series C for Indian after-sales service player
Iron Pillar has led a $23 million Series C round of funding for Servify, an India-headquartered start-up that integrates parties involved in smart device retail with a view to improving customer service experience.
Deal focus: NSSK completes digital transformation
Converting Bunkasha Publishing's library of manga library from paper to digital form was a priority for NSSK. New owner Beaglee will now plug this content into its online distribution platform
China AI: A rude awakening
Two years ago, artificial intelligence start-ups were the bright young things of China’s technology sector. Now these companies are struggling to justify their lofty valuations
China mobile recycling platform Aihuishou raises $100m
JD.com and Guotai Junan Securities have co-led an extended Series E round of $100 million for Aihuishou, a China-based electronic products recycling platform.
Deal focus: Airmeet rewires the conference circuit
As social distancing and travel restrictions play havoc with traditional conferences, Airmeet has seen a spike in demand for its virtual alternatives. A Series A round duly followed