Technology
New Zealand hydrogen player raises $14m
New Zealand hydrogen and zero-emission technologies developer Fabrum has raised a NZD 23m (USD 14.5m) Series A round led by UK-based AP Ventures.
Japan's Baseconnect gets $41m Series B
Japanese corporate contact and recruitment database provider Baseconnect has raised a JPY 5.4bn (USD 41m) Series B round led by Z Venture Capital (ZVC), formerly YJ Capital.
India, US-based Usher closes $50m Series C
Third Point Ventures has led a USD 50m Series C round for India and US-based enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology provider Ushur.
LP interview: Quilvest Capital Partners
Fund-of-funds Quilvest Capital Partners was an early-mover in PE globally but has maintained a lean profile that speaks to its family office roots. It is pressing ahead with a China and India-focused Asia strategy
Deal focus: Serving the sole trader
Accounting software provider Hnry has built up a following among freelancers and self-employed tradespeople in New Zealand and Australia. A USD 25m Series B will help it look further afield
Fund focus: ChrysCapital accumulates $1.4b India war chest
For ChrysCapital Partners, raising India’s largest private equity fund reflects the growth in the economy and in the investment opportunity, with bigger deals across more sectors on the agenda
Monolith sets $250m hard cap for China fund
Monolith Management, an investment firm established by Xi Cao, formerly a partner at Sequoia Capital China, has set the hard cap at USD 250m for its debut China venture capital fund.
Shunwei, Xiaomi lead round for China automotive chip maker
Rhino, a China-based developer of chips used in autonomous driving, has raised an extended angel round of several hundreds of millions of renminbi.
Singapore accelerator targets packaging industry
Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and US packaging giant Avery Dennison are bankrolling a start-up accelerator that will explore everything from new boxing materials to tech-enabled tags.
Southeast Asia's Openspace seeks $650m for latest vintage
Southeast Asia-focused Openspace Ventures is targeting USD 300m for its fourth venture capital fund and USD 350m for its second growth vehicle.
Sequoia backs China hydrogen battery player
Sequoia Capital China has led a CNY 240m (USD 36m) Series C round for Suzhou-based Thinkre New Material, a battery technology supplier focused on hydrogen fuel cells.
China hydrogen energy player raises $44m Series C
Chinese hydrogen power company TangFeng Energy has raised a Series C round of CNY300m (USD 44m) led by GP Capital, Qianyan Investment, and a unit of Dongfeng Motor Corporation.
Japan's JGIA targets Wow World take-private
Japan Growth Investments Alliance (JGIA) has won board approval from Tokyo-listed Wow World Group for a take-private that values the business communications technology provider at JPY 6bn (USD 46.4m).
Airtree leads $25m round for New Zealand's Hnry
Australia’s Airtree Ventures has led a NZD 35m (USD 25mm) Series B round for New Zealand small business financial technology provider Hnry.
India exits: Sustainable trend?
GPs saw abundant exits in India in 2021 and the flow continued last year even as other markets stumbled. Investors must assess the merits of various contributing cyclical and structural factors
Deal focus: Newlink doubles down on new direction
Having established itself in China’s gas station services space, Newlink Group embraced the electric vehicle opportunity when it arrived. A spinout, reverse merger, and more capital were the result
China battery component supplier secures $296m pre-IPO round
Kuntian New Energy, a China-based developer of artificial graphite used in lithium-ion batteries, has raised a pre-IPO funding round of CNY2 bn (USD 296m) from a string of financial and strategic investors.
India's Enzene Biosciences raises $50m
Indian biotech company Enzene Biosciences has raised a USD 50m round featuring Eight Roads Ventures and F-Prime Capital.
IMM commits $121m to Korea cloud business
IMM Investment is providing KRW 150bn (USD 121m) in Series A funding for Korean cloud computing business NHN Cloud at a valuation of KRW 1trn.
China adult online education platform raises $41m in US IPO
QuantaSing Group, a Chinese adult tuition platform that spun out from wealth management and investment education business Erwan Technology, has traded relatively flat following a USD 41m IPO on NASDAQ.
China LiDAR specialist Hesai aims for US IPO
Hesai Technology, a China-based developer of sensors used in autonomous driving, is targeting a US listing. Its investors include Lightspeed China Partners, Baidu, Bosch, and Xiaomi.
Indonesia fintech start-up iSeller gets $12m
Indonesia financial technology start-up iSeller, which helps businesses to digitise sales and operations, has raised USD 12m in Series B funding led by Intudo Ventures.
Australia's Potentia contests Nitro merger plan
Potentia Capital has appealed a decision by Australia’s Takeovers Panel not to intervene in a situation that has seen Nitro Software repeatedly rebuff acquisition proposals made by the private equity firm.
Japan's Net Marketing is sold four months after take-private
Net Marketing, a Japanese online advertising and media management business that was delisted following the completion of a successful tender offer by Bain Capital last September, has been acquired by Tokyo-listed marketing analytics player Macbee Planet....