manufacturing
Fund focus: AGIC sticks to cross-border growth thesis
Having found its sweet spot bridging the middle markets of Asia and Europe, AGIC Capital plans to stay there – although Fund II will move earlier to capture technology hardware post-commercialization
Deal focus: ShopUp champions the iron triangle
As a first mover in Bangladesh’s B2B e-commerce space, ShopUp moved quickly into services, logistics, and finance. This inadvertent super app now has $75 million in Series B funding to show for its efforts
Carlyle joins $221m round for Japan's Spiber
The Carlyle Group’s Japan team has completed its first minority deal, participating as a cornerstone investor in a JPY24.4 billion ($221 million) round for local biomaterials developer Spiber.
Hong Kong's OrbusNeich raises $200m
Hong Kong-based medical devices maker OrbusNeich Medical Group has raised about $200 million across two rounds featuring Shenzhen Capital Group and its Red Earth Healthcare Investment Fund.
Advent sells Chinese mattress maker to Hillhouse
Advent International has sold its controlling stake in AI Dream – operator of the Serta and King Koil mattress brands in China – to Hillhouse Capital.
Jafco leads $13m Series A for Taiwan cybersecurity player
Jafco Asia, a Singapore-based unit of Japanese VC firm Jafco, has led a $12.9 million Series A round for Taiwanese industrial cybersecurity provider TXOne Networks.
Affirma invests $77m in Korean steelmakers
Affirma Capital has acquired a majority stake in two steel manufacturing subsidiaries of Korea-based industrial conglomerate SeAH Group for $76.9 million.
Ofbusiness becomes India's 18th unicorn of 2021
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led $160 million Series E funding round for OfBusiness, an India-based B2B platform focused on industrial supply chain and procurement services, at a valuation of $1.5 billion.
Portfolio: Integral Corporation and Nitto FC
Japan’s Integral Corporation treads lightly in the conservative agriculture space as it helps fertilizer maker Nitto FC evolve from an owner-centric culture to a more distributed power structure
Advantage, Tokyo Century agree Japan battery carve-out
Advantage Partners is making another investment alongside Tokyo Century Corporation – which bought a stake in the GP two years ago – with an agreement to buy a battery business controlled by local conglomerate Showa Denko.
Longreach buys pulp and paper industry supplier from Navis
The Longreach Group has acquired a majority interest in Amazon Papyrus Chemicals Holdings, a Hong Kong-headquartered chemical solutions provider to the pulp and paper industry, from Navis Capital Partners.
Quadria backs India drug maker Encube Ethicals
A consortium led by healthcare-focused Quadria Capital has invested in Indian topical drugs maker Encube Ethicals, facilitating an exit for Multiples Alternate Asset Management.
Taiwan's Hive Ventures closes debut fund at $13.5m
Taiwan’s Hive Ventures has closed its debut seed fund with $13.5 million in commitments. It will invest locally and globally with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI).
Hong Kong industrial AI start-up raises $200m
SmartMore, a Hong Kong-headquartered artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision start-up, has achieved unicorn status after raising $200 million in Series B funding.
Advent exits Crompton Greaves' India appliances business
Advent International has offloaded its final 5.4% holding in Crompton Greaves’ India-listed household appliances business, ending a gradual exit after a failed takeover.
Mekong invests in Vietnam appliances maker
Vietnam’s Mekong Capital has invested $10 million in local water purifier and electrical appliances maker Mutosi Group.
L Catterton leads $40m Series B for Singapore's Zenyum
L Catterton has led a $40 million Series B round for Singapore’s Zenyum, a company that makes 3D-printed dental products.
Deal focus: Hahn embarks on Korea dairy turnaround
Beleaguered by a string of scandals and unable to turn the tide of negative publicity, the family owner of Namyang Dairy Products opted to sell to private equity. His first call was to Hahn & Company
CDIB, Firstred, Huatai buy China cosmetics packaging business
CDIB Capital has teamed up with Firstred Capital and Huatai International Private Equity Fund to acquire 100% of Chinese cosmetics packaging company Yuga Holdings for an undisclosed sum.
Vivo, Novo back Singapore's Esco Lifesciences
Vivo Capital and Novo Holdings have led a $200 million Series A round for Esco Lifesciences, a Singapore-based manufacturer of biopharma lab equipment and medical devices.
India's Moglix raises $120m Series E at $1b valuation
Indian B2B services player Moglix has raised a $120 million Series E round led by Falcon Edge Capital and Harvard Management Company at a valuation of $1 billion.
NSSK buys Japan power components manufacturer
NSSK has agreed to acquire the power transmission components division of Fujikura, a listed Japanese electrical equipment manufacturer.
Bain consortium to buy Japan's Hitachi Metals for $7.5b
Bain Capital has teamed up with two Japanese PE firms – Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) and Japan Industrial Solutions (JIS) – to carve out Hitachi Metals from its corporate parent for as much as JPY816.8 billion ($7.5 billion).
Warburg Pincus buys control of India's Parksons Packaging
Warburg Pincus has acquired a majority stake in India-based consumer goods packaging manufacturer Parksons Packaging, taking out positions held by Kedaara Capital, Olza Holdings, and IIFL Holdings.