Sectors
CDPQ invests $474m in Japan energy programme
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) has committed JPY 70bn (USD 474m) to a Japanese energy transition programme led by local renewables developer Shizen Energy.
Profile: Charles Li
Charles Li became known as a financial markets reformist during his stint in charge of Hong Kong’s stock exchange. He continues in the same vein at the helm of fintech start-up Micro Connect
Deal focus: Elevation makes Korea healthcare debut
Adverse fundraising conditions didn’t deter deal-by-deal player Elevation Private Equity from investing in Korea healthcare turnaround, and by extension, aligning with a key domestic partner
Deal focus: Gamurs gears up for M&A boom
Gamurs claims to have carved a niche as the largest gaming news publisher in the English-speaking world on the back of 39 acquisitions in seven years. Its Series A will go towards more purchases
China EV brand Aion raises $2.5b
GAC Aion, an electric vehicle (EV) brand under GAC Group, a Chinese state-owned automotive manufacturer, has raised CNY 18.3bn (USD 2.5bn) in Series A funding at a valuation of CNY 103.2bn from 53 so-called strategic investors.
Sofina leads $46m round for India agtech player DeHaat
Sofina, a Belgium-headquartered holding company and an active investor in Asia-based start-ups, has led a INR 3.66bn (USD 45.8m) Series E round for Indian agricultural technology platform DeHaat at a valuation of USD 695m.
Philippines fintech start-up gets $16m Series A
Abu Dhabi’s ADQ has backed a USD 16m Series A round for a Philippines-based financial technology start-up founded by former executives of Russian digital banking leader Tinkoff Bank.
PE investors commit $500m to India agribusiness giant UPL
India-headquartered UPL, which claims to be the world’s fifth-largest agrochemicals company, has announced a restructuring that will see KKR, TPG, Brookfield Asset Management, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) invest INR 40.4bn (USD 500m) across...
VC-backed Singapore biotech start-up agrees SPAC merger
Singapore’s AUM Biosciences, a VC-backed oncology treatments developer, has agreed to a NASDAQ listing via special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at a pre-money equity valuation of USD 400m.
Pavilion backs Singapore influencer platform
Temasek Holdings-owned Pavilion Capital has joined a USD 7m round for Singapore’s Partipost, which claims to be Asia’s fastest-growing crowd influencer marketing and commerce platform.
Indonesia solar start-up raises $33m Series A
Indonesia’s Xurya, a solar power rental and installation start-up, has lifted its Series A round to USD 33m with new commitments from Mitsui & Co and local property conglomerate Surya Semesta Internusa.
Warburg Pincus commits $350m to SE Asia insurance platform
Warburg Pincus has seeded a digital insurance platform for Southeast Asia with a USD 350m equity commitment and two recent acquisitions from Spain-headquartered insurance giant Mapfre.
Globis leads $22m Series C for Japan's Trend Express
Globis Capital Partners has led JPY 3.3bn (USD 22.1m) Series C round for Japan’s Trend Express, a cross-border marketing and data analysis platform focused on Japan-China tourism.
India's Ather Energy adds $50m to Series E
India’s Ather Energy, a two-wheel electric vehicle (EV) brand, has raised about USD 50m from existing investors, extending its Series E round to around USD 178m.
China energy storage player Hithium gets $276m Series B
Xiamen Hithium Energy Storage Technology, a China-based battery manufacturer, has secured CNY 2bn (USD 276m) in Series B funding led by ABC International.
Horizons leads Series A for Australia's Nourish Ingredients
Nourish Ingredients, an Australia-based alternative protein start-up that uses synthetic biology to produce animal-free fats, has raised USD 28.6m in Series A funding.
Advantage recruits partner, co-head for Asia ex-Japan
Japan’s Advantage Partners has hired Rahul Bhargava, previously of ADV Partners, as a partner and co-head of Asia ex-Japan. It coincides with the acquisition of a Japanese jewellery industry supplier.
Korea pizza chain raises $25m for India push
Korea-headquartered pizza chain Gopizza has raised USD 25m in Series C funding from new and existing backers to drive an India expansion.
Fund focus: Local LPs lift Fireside to new heights
India’s Fireside Ventures has soaked up rising domestic investor appetite for start-ups with an outsized third vintage, claiming that its consumer brands thesis is beginning to bear fruit
Portfolio: Warburg Pincus and HTDK Group
Warburg Pincus’ investment in Chinese medical devices industry services provider HTDK Group is riding the domestic healthcare wave. Bringing foreigners to the party is the next chapter
Deal focus: Fortitude rings in 9x return on Shopper
Shopping mall-focused digital advertising business Shopper Media Group rode out Australia’s lockdown woes to seal a sale to Woolworths, with Fortitude Investment Partners getting a 9x return
Deal focus: Well-Link aims to make gaming even more real
China’s Well-Link Technologies raised a Series B extension to support long-term investment and blue sky thinking around the role of real-time cloud rendering in gaming and metaverse applications
China fundraising: Onshore vs offshore
Raising capital for China strategies is difficult right now, regardless of currency, but are geopolitical forces enabling the rise of renminbi-denominated funds at the expense of the US dollar?
Singapore's Bolttech hits $1.5b valuation with Series B
Singapore's Bolttech, an insurance technology provider set up by Pacific Century Group in 2020, has raised an undisclosed sum in Series B funding, claiming a valuation of USD 1.5bn.