Sectors
Singapore digital health start-up Ora raises $10m
Singapore-based digital health start-up Ora has raised a USD 10m Series A round led by TNB Aura and Antler. Other participants include Gobi Partners, Kairous Capital, and GMA Ventures.
China energy storage player JD Energy raises $100m
Xi’an-based energy storage company JD Energy has raised a CNY 700m (USD 100m) Series B round led by Goldstone Investment, a private investment subsidiary of CITIC Securities.
Alibaba plans IPO for PE-backed logistics unit
Cainiao Smart Logistics Group, the private equity-backed logistics unit of Alibaba Group, will be spun off via an IPO as part of the parent company’s broader restructuring effort.
Qiming hits $930m final close on latest renminbi fund
Qiming Venture Partners has closed its seventh renminbi-denominated fund on CNY 6.5bn (USD 930m), marking what it claims is China's largest local currency fundraise of 2023 to date
CPE sells Australia used car business to Japan's Sojitz
CPE Capital has sold part of Dutton Group, an Australia-based used car dealer it has owned since 2016, to Japan’s Sojitz Corporation for an undisclosed sum.
China's Drug Farm secures $27m in first tranche of Series C
Drug Farm, a China and US-based developer of treatments for infection and immunological diseases, has raised USD27m in the first tranche of Series C funding led by Shanghai's YD Capital.
Constantinople raises Australia's largest-ever seed round
Australia’s Square Peg Capital has led a AUD 32m (USD 21.3m) seed round for local banking software provider Constantinople. It is being called the largest-ever seed investment in Australia.
Singapore's Bolttech raises $196m
Singapore’s Bolttech, the insurance technology business of Pacific Century Group, has raised a USD 196m round led by Japanese insurer Tokio Marine at a valuation of USD 1.6bn.
Bain buys Japan software player IDAJ
Bain Capital has acquired IDAJ, a Japan-based engineering solutions provider that provides digital platforms to facilitate project development and computer-based design simulation systems.
China investors see long-term positives in demise of Oppo's chip unit
Investors in China's semiconductor industry expect the closure of local mobile manufacturer Oppo's chip design unit to clear the way for start-ups operating in the space, despite a likely near-term hit to valuations.
TPG re-engages with improved offer for Australia's Invocare
TPG Capital has been granted due diligence access to Invocare, a listed Australian provider of funeral services and operator of memorial parks and crematoria, after making an improved offer that values the business at approximately AUD 2.2bn (USD 1.5bn).
Investcorp completes debut China control deal
Investcorp has acquired a controlling stake in China’s Shandong Jianuo Electronics, a components supplier for the electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy industries, for an undisclosed sum.
East Ventures closes follow-on fund at $250m
East Ventures has announced a first and final close of USD 250m on its latest follow-on fund, bringing capital raised in the past 12 months to USD 835m.
Deal focus: Indonesia food delivery goes daily
Indonesia’s Uena claims to have penetrated an untapped corner of Indonesia’s booming app-driven food delivery space. Scaling shouldn’t be overly costly, but there are menu-level nuances to consider
Fund focus: Patience pays for off for Movac
New Zealand VC firm Movac has exceeded expectations with its latest vintage, trading individuals and families for institutions, some of which are entering the asset class for the first time
Deal focus: Ace Turtle says so long to SaaS
Ace Turtle never wanted to be India’s answer to Amazon, but it has moved from software provider to supply chain coordinator while stepping back from international markets. Investors are not deterred
Profile: Mandala Capital’s Uday Garg
Uday Garg realised an unlikely career arc from tennis to private equity with the establishment of India’s Mandala Capital. This was guided by a passion for achieving impact in food and agriculture
South by Southeast: Asia’s next growth engine?
Grouping together markets based on growth and scale is a problematic with South Asia and Southeast Asia as it was with the BRIC economies. But to some extent, investors are buying into the story
Bosch backs China’s AutoCore.ai
Bosch Ventures and Boyuan Capital - both investment units of Germany-headquartered engineering and technology giant Bosch Group - have joined a Series A extension for Chinese automotive systems software supplier AutoCore.ai.
India's Convergent invests $49m in Puma sportswear spinout
Convergent Finance, a private equity firm founded by former Fairfax India head Harsha Raghavan, has invested INR 4bn (USD 49m) in Agilitas Sports, a local spinout of German sportswear giant Puma.
Apax invests $450m in India’s IBS Software, Blackstone exits
Apax Partners has agreed to pay USD 450m for a significant minority stake in India’s IBS Software, a travel and logistics industry supplier, enabling an exit for The Blackstone Group.
Hong Kong family office SPAC agrees $27bn merger with Vingroup EV unit
A special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) launched by the family office of Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho, has agreed to merge with the electric vehicle (EV) unit of Vietnam’s Vingroup.
Japan’s Dimension closes second VC fund on $75m
Dimension, a spinout of Japan’s Dream Incubator, has closed its second VC fund with JPY 10.1bn (USD 75m) in commitments.
Macquarie Capital acquires majority stake in India’s CloudExtel
Macquarie Capital, the investment arm of Australia’s Macquarie Group, has acquired a 51% stake in Indian digital connectivity technology provider CloudExtel for about USD 100m.
