Sectors
Deal focus: Gaussian serves China's aged
With its globally competitive technology and low costs, Gaussian Robotics has become a dominant force in the cleaning robot segment. SoftBank Vision Fund is the latest addition to its cap table
Fund focus: AC Ventures hits its stride early
AC Ventures rallies global investors for an Indonesia-heavy Southeast Asia thesis, more than doubling its expected corpus as pandemic disruption changes everything but the plan
China surgical robotics player RainMed raises $100m
Ping An Capital has led a Series D round of approximately $100 million for RainMed Medical, a China-based surgical robotics business. Other investors include Seresia Asset Management and Lighthouse Canton.
Longreach to exit Taiwan bank after 14-year hold
The Longreach Group has agreed to sell Taiwan’s EnTie Commercial Bank to IBF Financial Holdings for NT$33.7 billion ($1.2 billion), ending a 14-year journey marked by several frustrated exit attempts.
Korea anti-aging polymer maker gets $22m
Dexlevo, a Korean biotech company specializing in anti-aging dermal fillers, has raised KRW26 billion ($22 million) in pre-IPO funding led by local GPs Magna Investment and Smilegate Investment.
Blue Sky spinout backs Australia cosmetic medical business
Fortitude Investment Partners, an Australia-based private equity firm established by professionals from Blue Sky Alternative Investments, has backed cosmetic medical business Aura Medical Group.
KKR promotes Chris Sun to partner
Chris Sun (pictured), a managing director at KKR who focuses on investments in China’s consumer sector, has been promoted to partner.
China 3D printing start-up WeNext raises $55m
Temasek Holdings, Cathay Capital Private Equity, and Haochen Capital have led a $55 million Series B round for WeNext Technology, a China-based 3D printing specialist.
Vision Fund backs Japan sneaker marketplace
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has made a Series D investment of undisclosed size in Japan’s Soda, operator of sneaker reselling platform Snkr Dunk, at a valuation of JPY38 billion ($336 million).
Chinese language learning platform raises $105m
Singapore’s LingoAce, a Chinese language learning app, has raised $105 million in Series C funding led by Sequoia Capital India. It comes within a year of a $55 million Series B.
CVC backs take-private of Hong Kong-listed Razer
CVC Capital Partners is supporting a proposed founder-led privatization of Hong Kong-listed gaming hardware and software provider Razer that values the business at HK$24.7 billion ($3.17 billion).
China's Didi to delist in New York
China ride-hailing platform Didi, which has traded poorly ever since being targeted by regulators in the wake of its IPO in June, plans to delist from the New York Stock Exchange and relist in Hong Kong.
Bain leads $63m Series C for Korea's PeopleFund
Bain Capital has led a KRW75.9 billion ($64.5 million) Series C round for PeopleFund, a Korean lending platform. It is described as the largest funding round in the country’s P2P finance industry.
China blockchain security company Certik raises $80m
China and US-based blockchain security company Certik has raised $80 million in the third tranche of a Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China.
KKR hires Asia growth equity head
KKR has appointed Mukul Chawla, formerly of Temasek Holdings, to the newly created position of partner and head of growth equity for Asia Pacific.
Wise Road buys semiconductor assets from Taiwan's ASE
Wise Road Capital, a China-based private equity firm that focuses on high-tech investments, has agreed to buy a package of assets from Taiwan-listed semiconductor business ASE Technology Holding for $1.46 billion.
Grab completes SPAC merger, sees volatile trading debut
Southeast Asia ride-hailing platform turned super app Grab experienced a tumultuous first day of trading on NASDAQ following the completion of its merger with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise valuation of $30.4 billion....
India edtech start-up CollegeDekho raises $35m
Indian education technology start-up CollegeDekho has closed a Series B round of $35 million with support from a mix of global investors including Australia’s QIC and Abu Dhabi’s ADQ.
Valar, IA lead $40m Series B for India BNPL player
US-based Valar Ventures and IA Ventures have led a $40 million Series B round for Simpl, an Indian buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider focused on e-commerce.
Vision Fund leads $188m investment in Naver's metaverse
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 is the largest participant in a KRW223.6 billion ($187 million) investment in Naver Z, the metaverse platform unit of Korean internet giant Naver Corporation.
Horizons leads Series B for Australia healthcare AI start-up
Horizons Ventures, the private investment arm of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, has led a A$129 million ($92.3 million) Series B round for Australia’s Harrison.ai, a clinical artificial intelligence (AI) developer.
Airbus backs Australia quantum computing player
Airbus Ventures has led a $25 million Series B round for Australia’s Q-Ctrl, a quantum computing developer increasingly geared toward space tech and orbital infrastructure.
STIC commits $840m to Korea's Iljin Materials
STIC Investments has led a KRW1 trillion ($840 million) investment in Iljin Materials, a Korean producer of electric foils used in lithium batteries and consumer electronics, to support the international expansion of its manufacturing footprint.
China cleantech: Policy tailwinds
Private equity investment in China cleantech and renewables is at record levels, spurred by robust government support for the industry and a recognition that this time the boom might be sustainable