Technology
FountainVest leads $100m round for China's Ushopal
FountainVest Partners has led a $100 million funding round for Ushopal, a China-focused e-commerce platform that sources global luxury brands for the high-end consumer market.
China LiDAR specialist Innovusion raises $60m
Innovusion, a Chinese developer of LiDAR technology used in autonomous driving, has raised $60 million in funding. The company is best known as a supplier to domestic electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio.
Korea biotech start-up gets $44.5m pre-IPO round
Korea’s Standigm, which provides artificial intelligence (AI) systems to biotech operators, has raised a $44.5 billion pre-IPO round led by SKS Private Equity and Daishin Privat Equity.
My Food Bag completes largest New Zealand IPO in seven years
My Food Bag, a cook-your-own meal kit delivery service backed by Waterman Capital, has raised NZ$342.2 million ($245.5 million) in New Zealand’s largest IPO since 2014.
Buyout funds: Growth paradigm
Most traditional large-cap buyout funds have become hybrids in Asia, taking minority stakes in businesses to generate deal flow in certain markets and to harness regional growth trends
Japan space robotics start-up gets $17m
Gitai, a Japanese start-up developing a humanoid general-purpose work robot for use in space, has secured a JPY1.8 billion ($17 million) Series B round from local VCs.
Founder of China's Zhencheng Capital launches SPAC
Jianwei Li, founding and managing partner of Chinese venture capital firm Zhencheng Capital and previously CIO at ZhenFund, has launched a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
Chinese GPU chip designer raises $186m
Iluvatar CoreX, a Shanghai-based computing chip designer has raised RMB1.2 billion ($186 million) in Series C funding led by Cedarlake Capital and Centurium Capital.
Platinum exits Australia's Sensis to US strategic
US-based Platinum Equity has exited its control position in Sensis, best known as the operator of Australia’s White Pages and Yellow Pages directories, in a deal worth $200 million.
Asia Partners closes debut SE Asia fund at $384m
Singapore’s Asia Partners has closed its debut Southeast Asia VC fund at $384 million, describing it as the largest-ever first-time technology vehicle focused on the region.
Rocket Lab to go public via SPAC merger
Rocket Lab, a US-based space technology company that operates primarily in New Zealand, as agreed to merge with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise valuation of $4.1 billion.
China VCs back See Fund's debut vehicle
See Fund, an investment firm established by the founder of Chinese artificial intelligence chip start-up DeePhi Technology, has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) for its debut fund.
China cloud IoT provider Tuya files for US IPO
Tuya, a Chinese software platform for internet-of-things (IoT) systems that mainly offers platform-as-a-service (PaaS) products is pursuing a US IPO.
Australia's Employment Hero gets $35m Series D
Australian online human resources services start-up Employment Hero has raised A$45 million ($35 million) in Series D funding led by domestic recruitment business Seek.
Blackbird, King River lead Series B for Australia's Lexer
Blackbird Ventures and King River Capital have led a A$33.5 million ($26 million) Series B investment in Australian retail industry data services provider Lexer.
VCs flock to Chinese chip designer Moore Threads
Moore Threads, a Chinese chip designer established as recently as last October by a team from Nvidia, has closed two funding rounds amounting to several billion renminbi.
Private equity & cybersecurity: Dark clouds
From fraudulent drawdown notices to ransomware, private equity firms and their portfolio companies are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Training and vigilance are paramount
China's Fresh Capital hits $93m first close on Fund II
Fresh Capital, a Shanghai-based venture capital firm, has reached a first close of RMB600 million ($93 million) on its second renminbi-denominated fund.
VC-backed Appier files for Japan IPO
Appier, a Taiwan-based advertising technology provider, has filed for a JPY26.4 billion ($250 million) Japan IPO. It sets up exits for several VC investors, including Sequoia Capital.
Fund focus: LPs endorse Ocean Link's China tourism, tech thesis
Ocean Link has raised $580 million for a second fund targeting China travel, tourism and consumer technology assets, but the firm believes co-investment could take aggregate deployment to $1.4 billion
Primavera-led consortium takes control of Zhaopin
A consortium led by Primavera Capital has agreed to acquire a controlling position in Chinese recruitment website Zhaopin at an implied valuation of A$2.2 billion ($1.7 billion).
China's AnchorDx completes $40m Series C
AnchorDx, a China-based medical technology developer focused on DNA sequencing and diagnostics, has raised a $40 million Series C round led by OrbiMed and WuXi Huiying Investment.
Japan's Kyulux raises $34m extended Series B
Japan-based Kyulux, which develops advanced lighting technology used in digital screens, has raised JPY3.6 billion ($34.3 million) from a group of VCs and strategic investors.
B Capital launches SPAC
B Capital Group, a US-based venture capital firm with a presence in Singapore and a significant Asia portfolio, is looking to raise $300 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).