China
Deal focus: Sobot’s journey from underdog to top dog
A USD 100m Series D confirmed Sobot’s status as a stalwart of China’s customer service software space, but getting there has not been a straightforward process
Deal focus: Freight player G7 eyes public listing
Having expanded its business scope from hardware into software and financial services, G7 Network is positioning its recent USD 200m PE investment as a pre-IPO round
AVCJ Awards 2021: Deal of the Year – Large Cap: China Biologic
For Centurium Capital, China Biologic was no ordinary take-private. It was the culmination of a multi-year effort to tighten the company’s shareholding structure and root out management inefficiencies
Huaxing Growth hits $800m second close on China fund
Huaxing Growth Capital, the private equity division of China Renaissance, has achieved a USD 800m second close on its fourth flagship US dollar-denominated fund.
L Catterton backs China pet food brand
L Catterton, a private equity firm specialising in consumer sector investments, has committed an undisclosed sum to Shanghai Enova Pet Products, owner of Chinese premium pet food brand Pure & Natural.
China’s Fenbeitong raises $140m
Chinese enterprise payment and expense management software provider Fenbeitong has raised USD 140m at a valuation of at least USD 1bn in an extended Series C round led by DST Global.
Southeast Asia cosmetics brand Y.O.U raises $40m
Hidden Hill Capital - a private equity firm established by warehouse operator GLP - has led a USD 40m Series C round for Southeast Asian cosmetics brand Y.O.U.
Apax backs China tax SaaS player Yunzhangfang
Yunzhangfang, a China-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider specialising in corporate tax and financial management, has raised close to USD 100m in Series E funding from Apax Partners.
China truck smart devices manufacturer raises $200m
G7 Networks, a Chinese company that uses smart devices to track cargo trucks, has raised a USD 200m round led by Trustbridge Partners, and State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC). Several existing investors re-upped.
Vision Fund leads Series D for China’s Sobot
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a USD 100m Series D round for Sobot, a China-based customer service software provider. Other investors include GL Ventures, Yunqi Partners, and Mirae Asset Financial Group.
LP interview: Adams Street Partners
Adams Street Partners believes having a close-knit Asia team, which cuts across geographies, sectors, and stages, informs a big-picture view that enables it to look beyond near-term dislocations
Deal focus: Proterra’s alternative take on incubation
Early-stage bets on oat milk and healthy beverages in Asia by Proterra Investment Partners reflect a willingness to back nascent brands, but in doing so, the firm believes it is dialling down the risk
SoftBank leads Series A for China cashier-less vendor
SoftBank Ventures Asia (SBVA) has led a CNY 300m (USD 47m) Series A for Feng1, a China-based cashier-less vendor start-up. CICC Capital and Shenzhen Capital Group also participated.
Legend leads $63m round for China's Hoteam Software
Legend Capital has led a CNY 400m (USD 63m) Series C round for Chinese industrial software supplier Hoteam Software
Oriza raises $660m for China semiconductor fund
Oriza Puhua, a China semiconductor-focused strategy under Oriza Holdings, has raised CNY 4.2bn (USD 660m) for its third renminbi-denominated fund.
AVCJ Awards 2021: Special Achievement: Weijian Shan
Weijian Shan, CEO of PAG, discusses rising valuations, the implications of China’s regulatory crackdown, heightened sensitivity around social responsibility, and escalating fund sizes
AVCJ Awards 2021: Fundraising of the Year - Venture Capital: 5Y Capital
5Y Capital’s history encompasses early bets on change across mobile internet, smart cars, and biotech in China. The VC firm remains committed to challenging consensus views
Asia agglomeration: Strength in numbers?
PE-backed agglomeration platforms are looking to buy up consumer brands in Asia with a view to leveraging the might of the collective. The model requires discipline in selection and execution
Deal focus: Fourier brings robotics to rehab
China-based Fourier will use its USD 63m Series D round to support an evolution of its business model from manufacturing rehabilitation robots to providing end-to-end treatment services
China's Taichi Graphics raises $50m
Taichi Graphics, a China-based 3D digital content creation platform has raised a USD 50m Series A led by Source Code Capital, GGV Capital and BAI. Existing investor Sequoia Capital China re-upped.
Gobi-managed Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund hits first close
Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund II, a Greater Bay Area-focused vehicle managed by Gobi Partners, reached a first close of USD 100m at the end of June 2021 and total commitments now stand at USD 120m.
China second-hand luxury goods platform Ponhu raises $45m
Ponhu, a China-based second-hand goods trading platform specialising in the luxury segment, has raised USD 45m in an extended Series C round led by Hedgestone Capital.
Nestle buys into DCP-backed plant-based protein provider
Orgain, a US plant-based nutrition business backed by China’s DCP Capital Partners, has agreed to sell a majority stake to Nestle. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.
Sinovation's AI solutions business completes $151m HK IPO
AInnovation, a China-based artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider incubated by Sinovation Ventures, traded down on its Hong Kong debut following a HKD 1.18bn (USD 151m）IPO.