Sectors
Japan VC: Global appetites
The relatively recent advent of sizeable VC funds and high-profile start-ups in Japan has exposed long-simmering ambitions to be more international. This could be a breakout moment
3one4 raises $200m for early-stage India fund
Indian venture capital firm 3one4 Capital has closed its fourth early-stage fund – and sixth overall – on target at USD 200m. The fundraising process took two-and-a-half months.
Sweef's Asia women-focused fund makes debut investment
Singapore’s Sweef Capital, a women-focused impact investor, has made its first investment, providing an undisclosed sum to Vietnamese children’s technical academy Teky Alpha.
IDG leads $59m Series A for China’s Taichu Biotech
Shanghai Taichu Biotechnology, a China-based outsourced drug developer focused on novel treatments, has raised a serious A of CNY 400m (USD59m) led by IDG Capital.
Matrix leads $73m Series C for China’s Semi-Tech
Matrix Partners China has led a CNY 500m (USD 72m) Series C for Semi-Tech, a China-based software provider to the semiconductor industry, at a post-money valuation of CNY6bn.
Dymon backs take-private of Singapore’s Penguin International
Dymon Asia Private Equity has teamed up with the executive chairman of Penguin International on a take-private bid that values the Singapore-listed shipbuilder at SGD 29.2m (USD 22m).
Anchor, Aspex re-up in Korea’s Kurly
Kurly, a Korean grocery delivery platform that abandoned its planned domestic IPO earlier this year, has raised KRW 120bn (USD 91m) from existing investors Anchor Equity Partners and Aspex Management.
India EV player BluSmart raises $42m
India’s BluSmart, an integrated electric vehicle (EV) ride-hailing and charging business, has raised USD 42m in a funding round featuring BP Ventures.
East leads $20m Series A for Indonesia's Praktis
East Ventures has led a USD 20m Series A round for Indonesian logistics technology start-up Praktis with support from Sinar Mas Digital Ventures (SMDV).
Temasek impact unit backs UK cleantech player
Singapore’s ABC Impact, a unit of Temasek Holdings, has led a GBP 20m (USD 25.2m) Series B round that will support an Asian expansion by UK-based cleantech company Polymateria.
BPEA EQT part-exits India's Coforge, realises $109m
BPEA EQT – formerly Baring Private Equity Asia – continues to pare its holding in Indian IT solutions provider Coforge, generating INR 8.9bn (USD 109m) in the latest of multiple public market trades dating back to late 2020.
China's Energysingularity raises $58m
China-based nuclear fusion start-up Energysingularity has raised a pre-Series A round of CNY 400m (USD58m) from investors including new energy-focused venture capital firm Yunhe Partners and local gaming company miHoYo
Singapore fintech player AIG raises $80m
Advance Intelligence Group (AIG), a Singapore-headquartered and Indonesia-focused financial technology company, has raised USD 80m in funding led by existing investors Warburg Pincus and Northstar Group.
Chiratae closes debut growth fund on $122m
India’s Chiratae Ventures has closed its debut late-stage VC fund with about INR 10bn (USD 122.3m) in commitments, beating a target of INR 7.5bn.
India's Iron Pillar leads $30m round for logistics SaaS company
Iron Pillar and Uncorrelated Ventures have co-led a USD 30m investment in Pando, a US-headquartered logistics software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider with an India-based development team.
China: Who’s investing?
Private equity investment in China remains in the doldrums yet local investors claim to see green shoots. Where, when, and how they engage with the market is likely to differ from previous cycles
Fund focus: Globis doubles down on Japan VC thesis
Having raised nearly twice as much for Fund VII as it did for Fund VI, Globis Capital Partners plans to back more portfolio companies through growth-stage rounds and help them realise global ambitions
Portfolio: AIG
Advance Intelligence Group has developed a relatively narrow enterprise fintech business into one of the region’s leading digital lending operations with the help of several VC investors
China insurance tech player raises $43m
Shanghai Kingstar Winning Software, a digital risk control solution provider for insurers, has raised a Series C round of CNY300m (USD 43m) led by China Taiping Insurance Group.
India's Ace Turtle raises $34m Series B
India’s Ace Turtle, an omnichannel platform used by lifestyle and fashion retailers such as Wrangler and Toys R Us, has raised USD 34m in Series B funding featuring Singapore’s Vertex Ventures.
Japan’s Marunouchi launches $1bn climate tech fund
Japan-based Marunouchi Innovation Partners (MIP), a private equity manager controlled by Mitsubishi Corporation, has hit a first close of USD 400m on a climate tech fund. The overall target is USD 1bn.
Quadria acquires Malaysia’s Straits Orthopaedics
Singapore-headquartered healthcare specialist Quadria Capital has acquired a majority stake in Malaysian contract devices manufacturer Straits Orthopaedics at an enterprise value of USD 240m.
KKR invests $250m in India's Serentica Renewables
KKR has agreed to invest an additional USD 250m in India’s Serentica Renewables, a clean energy provider focused on energy-intensive commercial and industrial segments.
Australia's PE-backed Best & Less receives take-private offer
Best & Less, an Australian baby and kids retailer that went public less than two years ago under the guidance of then-majority owner Allegro Funds, has received a take-private offer from an investment vehicle controlled by retail industry veteran Brett...