Sectors
VC-backed Asia streaming business agrees SPAC merger
Asia Innovations Group (ASIG), a social media, gaming, and e-commerce business best known for the Uplive streaming platform, has agreed to merge with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an equity valuation of USD 2.5bn.
Singapore's Una Brands raises $30m Series B
Una Brands, a Singapore-based brand agglomeration platform that operates across Asia, has secured USD 30m in Series B funding led by Alpha JWC Ventures and White Star Capital.
BlackRock leads $300m investment in Indonesia's Traveloka
BlackRock has led a USD 300m investment in Indonesia’s Traveloka via a credit fund as expectations mount for an IPO by the travel platform.
Sequoia, ChrysCapital to exit India's Curatio
Sequoia Capital India and ChrysCapital Partners are set to exit Indian skincare brand Curatio, with Torrent Pharma agreeing to acquire 100% of the company for INR 20bn (USD 245m).
India's Molbio secures Temasek backing, becomes unicorn
India’s Molbio Diagnostics, a medical equipment maker best known for its COVID-19 testing systems, has raised a USD 85m round featuring Temasek Holdings at an enterprise valuation of USD 1.6bn.
China silicon supplier Lihao gets $305m Series B
Lihao Semiconductor, a China-based supplier of silicon materials used in solar panels, has raised CNY 2.2bn (USD 305m) in Series B funding from an investor group featuring Oceanpine Capital, V Fund, and Harvest Capital.
Boyu pursues listed Chinese property manager
Boyu Capital is seeking full control of Chinese property management business Jinke Smart Services Group through a cash offer that values the Hong Kong-listed company at HKD 7.83bn (USD 998m).
Petronas Ventures backs Malaysian drone player
Petronas Ventures, the VC arm of Malaysian oil giant Petronas, has led a USD 30m round for drone developer Aerodyne Group with support from domestic pension fund KWAP.
India's True North buys stake in TA-backed Accion Labs
Indian middle market private equity firm True North has acquired a significant minority position in US and India-based IT provider Accion Labs from TA Associates for USD 93m.
Temasek leads $40m Series B extension for China's Well-Link
Temasek Holdings has led a USD 40m Series B extension for Well-Link Technologies, a China-based provider of real-time cloud rendering solutions for game developers.
India mass market: Bharat dreams
A labyrinth of logistical, cultural, competition, and business modelling challenges is curbing private equity appetite for India’s quickly modernising proletariat
Deal focus: AI integration pays off for Evomotion
With investors going cold on China artificial intelligence, Evomotion has remained popular and profitable by delivering hardware and software to corners of the market that are either overlooked or hard to access
China AI solution provider Evomotion raises $20m
Evomotion, a China-based artificial-intelligence-of-things (AIoT) specialist that supplies software and chips to electronic appliance makers and supermarket retailers, has raised USD 20m in Series B funding.
Polaris exits Japan LCD panel business
Polaris Capital Group has fully exited Aimechatec, a supplier of LCD panel manufacturing equipment it carved out from Hitachi in 2016 and took public last year, with proceeds of JPY 3.96bn (USD 27.6m).
Thailand's Line Man Wongnai raises $265m
Thailand’s Line Man Wongnai – a food delivery, taxi, and messaging app – has raised a USD 265m round featuring GIC at a valuation of USD 1bn. It claims to be the largest start-up locally.
Japan flying car player SkyDrive gets $67m Series C
Japanese flying car developer SkyDrive has raised JPY 9.6bn (USD 67m) in Series C funding featuring US-based Pegasus Tech Ventures and local strategics such as Suzuki Motor.
KKR walks away from bumper Australia healthcare take-private
A KKR-led consortium has ended its pursuit of Australia-listed hospital operator Ramsay Health Care, having failed to reach an agreement on a AUD 20.1bn (USD 13.9bn) take-private that would have been among the largest private equity deals ever seen in...
Japan's Nomura launches blockchain VC unit
Japan’s Nomura Holdings has launched a business called Laser Venture Capital that will invest in companies in the blockchain and digital assets space.
India gifting platform secures $23m Series B
Join Ventures, an India-based company that owns a portfolio of direct-to-consumer gifting brands, has raised USD 23.5m in Series B funding led by Motilal Oswal Alternate Investment Advisors.
Cambodia's Amara Capital backs local hospitality operator
Cambodia’s Amara Capital has agreed to invest an undisclosed sum in local restaurant and hotel group Thalias Hospitality.
Korea autonomous driving player gets $25m
Korea’s Seoul Robotics, which specialises in computer vision for 3D sensors used by autonomous cars, has raised a USD 25m Series B round led by KB Investment.
Gaorong backs China energy storage company
China-based energy storage company WeView has raised CNY 400 million (USD 57m) from a group including Gaorong Capital, Green Pine Capital Partners, and ZhenFund.
China semiconductor player Shangda raises $99m
Chinese semiconductor packaging and testing company Shangda has raised a Series A extension of CNY700m (USD 99m) co-led by three government-backed funds.
Advent acquires China restaurant operator
Advent International has acquired a 60% stake in health food restaurant chain Wagas Group from its founders.