Sectors
Korea: A good time to be different?
Macroeconomic uncertainty and liquidity risk are pushing Korean private equity firms to think beyond buyouts, double down on operational capabilities, and consider all their exit options
TPG-backed Dingdang Health raises $51m in Hong Kong IPO
Chinese online pharmacy platform Dingdang Health has raised HKD 402.4m (USD 51m) through a Hong Kong IPO, defying challenging conditions for financial sponsors targeting the bourse.
China AI player Fourth Paradigm files for Hong Kong IPO
Fourth Paradigm, a China-based software provider that helps enterprise customers develop in-house artificial intelligence (AI) decision-making applications, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
Temasek, Boyu, GGV back Hong Kong's Animoca Brands
Hong Kong metaverse start-up Animoca Brands has raised USD 110m featuring Temasek Holdings, Boyu Capital, and GGV Capital. Funding since the start of 2021 now tops USD 630m.
East leads $26m Series A for Indonesia agtech start-up
East Ventures has led a USD 26m Series A round for Indonesia’s Gokomodo, an agriculture technology provider focused on simplifying fragmented and inefficient supply chains.
Affirma leads $217m investment in Korean digital insurer
Affirma Capital has led a KRW 300bn (USD 217m) funding round – at a valuation of KRW 1trn – for Carrot General Insurance, a South Korea-based digital insurer.
China fitness app Keep pursues Hong Kong listing
Keep, a China-focused fitness app operator backed by the likes of GGV Capital, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and 5Y Capital, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
Australia's Morse Micro gets $95m Series B
Morse Micro, an Australian fabless semiconductor developer specialising in long-range, low-power Wi-Fi for internet of things (IoT) devices, has raised AUD 140m (USD 95m) in Series B funding.
Global Brain leads $30m Series A for Japan's Josys
Global Brain has led a JPY 4.4bn (USD 30.5m) Series A round for Japanese business automation and IT services platform Josys with plans for an international expansion.
Deal focus: Remote working delivers for Glints
An outsourced talent management service that enables companies to recruit in far-flung markets has become the bulwark of Glints’ business on the back of COVID-19, underpinning a USD 50m Series D
Deal focus: PAG goes back to the theme park
PAG returns to a historically fruitful niche with the acquisition of Japanese theme park operator Huis Ten Bosch. COVID-19 made the deal possible but remains a wildcard
Q&A: Unitus Ventures' Surya Mantha
Indian returns-focused impact investor Unitus Ventures is sharpening its thesis around jobs as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Surya Mantha, a managing partner at the firm, traces the evolution
GIC leads $51m round for India space start-up
GIC Private has led a USD 51m Series B round for Indian rocket developer Skyroot Aerospace. It is being touted as the largest round yet in the local space-tech market.
Singapore's Docquity raises $44m Series C
Singapore-based Docquity, a networking service for more than 300,000 doctors across Southeast Asia, has raised USD 44m in Series C funding led by Japan’s Itochu Corporation.
Deal focus: Jai Kisan taps India rural resurgence
The founders of technology-enabled credit platform Jai Kisan went against the grain by forgoing urban customers and targeting India’s rural poor. A USD 50m Series B is an indicator of its progress
China circuit board maker JLC raises $129m
Chinese circuit board manufacturing company Jialichuang (JLC) has raised CNY 900m (USD 129m) from State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC), Eastern Bell Capital and Jianfa Xinxing Investment.
Deal focus: Turning data into operational efficiencies
Chinese data mining start-up Prothentic has managed to turn first-time business into repeat subscription business, which led to valuation increase between funding rounds even as the wider market stagnates
China drug developer BoomRay gets $43m
Chinese drug developer BoomRay Pharmaceuticals has raised a CNY300m (USD 43m) Series A round led by Sequoia Capital China.
China cell therapy developer Neukio raises $50m
Shanghai-based cell therapy developer Neukio Biotherapeutics has raised USD 50m in the first tranche of a Series A round led by medical technology-focused CD Capital. Other new investors include Alwin Capital and Surplus Capital.
Anchorage exits Australia rail operator
Australia’s Anchorage Capital Partners has sold local rail operator Rail First Asset Management for AUD 425m (USD 290m) to Dutch GP DIF Capital Partners and Amber Infrastructure of the UK.
China EV player Leapmotor targets Hong Kong IPO
LeapMotor has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong, putting it on course to become the fourth of China's "new force" electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to go public.
Korea's MegaStudy pulls plug on 35% stake sale to MBK
MegaStudy Education, a listed Korean education provider with a market capitalisation of nearly KRW 900bn (USD 660m) has decided against selling a stake to North Asia-focused private equity firm MBK Partners.
Australia branding platform Outfit acquired by US strategic
Australia’s Outfit, a VC-backed brand management business, has been acquired by Smartsheet, a New York-listed enterprise workflow management platform for an undisclosed sum.