Sectors
Eurazeo, Primavera-owned WorldStrides files for bankruptcy
WorldStrides, a US-based provider of study-abroad programs for high school and university students owned by Eurazeo and Chinese private equity firm Primavera, has filed for bankruptcy protection.
Singapore GPs lead round for Israeli drone scouting start-up
Taranis, an Israel drone-based crop monitoring solution provider for farms, has raised $30 million in a Series C round eyeing expansion opportunities in Asian markets.
OMERS acquires 20% stake in Australia's TransGrid
Canada’s Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) has bought a 20% stake in Australian electricity network operator TransGrid for an undisclosed sum.
Q&A: Novo Holdings' Amit Kakar
Having spent the past three years on healthcare buy-and-build platform Everlife Asia, Amit Kakar’s is joining life sciences investor Novo Holdings as regional head. He explains why now is the time to bet big on Asia
China semiconductor: The chips are up
Excluded from US supply chains, China is looking to satisfy its semiconductor appetite from within. Domestic start-ups can command huge valuations, but are they sustainable?
PE-backed Cambricon becomes China's first listed AI chip maker
Beijing-based Cambricon Technology, which is backed by CICC Capital, Alibaba Group, and Lenovo, has listed on the Star Market. It is the first Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) chip manufacturer to complete an IPO.
Singapore marketing SaaS player raises $32m
US-based technology investor Riverwood Capital has led a $32 million Series C round for Insider, a Singapore software start-up that helps companies develop better targeted marketing campaigns.
Indian agritech VeGrow secures seed funding
Indian agricultural technology start-up VeGrow raised $2.5 million in a seed funding round led by Ankur Capital and Matrix Partners India.
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.
Canyon Bridge, K2 Venture founders join Asia SPAC wave
Two more groups featuring Asian private equity executives have listed special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) on US bourses as interest in these structures continues to rise globally.
China biotech player Antengene raises $97m Series C
Fidelity Investments has led a $97 million Series C round for Chinese hematology and oncology biotech developer Antengene.
Investors commit $500m to China EV maker Xpeng
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng Motors has closed an extended Series C round of around $500 million from a group that includes Hillhouse Capital and Sequoia Capital China, as well as hedge funds Aspex Management and Coatue Management....
India's Vedantu raises $100m round Series D
Indian online tutoring service Vedantu has raised $100 million in a Series D round led by US hedge fund Coatue Management.
Korea e-sports player DRX secures $22.5m
Korean e-sports organization DRX has raised $10 million from a group of local investors. It coincides with a separate $12.5 million commitment from e-sports specialist ATU Partners.
Sequoia leads Series B for Chinese intelligent sales player
Tungee, a Chinese sales-focused software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, has raised RMB120 million ($17 million) in a Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China. Qiming Venture Partners also took part.
China's TuSimple wins backing from US truck maker
TuSimple, a China and US-based developer of autonomous driving technology for trucks, has received equity funding from US truck manufacturer Navistar International and entered into a partnership with the company.
DCP, Qiming support China medical devices fund
Ascendum Capital Partners, a healthcare investment firm established by DCP Capital, Qiming Venture Partners and Chinese medical devices manufacturer Venus Medtech, is looking to raise $200 million for its debut fund.
Southeast Asia macro: Encouraging minefield
Southeast Asia benefits from an enviable macro outlook versus other markets, and investment in the region is set to recover relatively quickly. But is that enough?
Asia VC: Vertex's evolving early-stage network
Vertex Holdings’ Chua Kee-Lock likens his network of VC funds seeded by the Temasek-owned entity as a distributed computer system. It will draw down more power as it grows
Walmart leads $1.2b round for India's Flipkart
Walmart has led a $1.2 billion funding round for Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce business in which it acquired a majority stake at a valuation of $24 billion in 2018.
Wavemaker closes third Southeast Asia fund at $111m
Wavemaker Partners has closed its third Southeast Asia venture capital fund with $111 million in commitments. The target was $100 million.
PE-backed Junshi Biosciences shines on Star Market debut
PE-backed Junshi Biosciences has become the first Chinese biotech company to list in Hong Kong and the mainland, following a strong debut on Shanghai's Star Market.
Ravi Thakran plans new Asia venture
Ravi Thakran, who departed L Catterton earlier this year, plans to launch a new private equity firm targeting growth capital investments in Asia’s consumer sector.