News
Unicorn India Ventures reaches first close on second fund
Unicorn India Ventures, a Mumbai-headquartered seed investor, has achieved a first close of INR900 million ($11.9 million) on its second venture capital fund.
Integral buys Japanese contact lens maker
Integral Corporation has acquired T-Garden, a Japanese company that makes cosmetic contact lenses, for an undisclosed sum.
Chinese expense management specialist secures $42m
China Renaissance has led a RMB300 million ($42 million) extended Series C round for Chinese expense management solution provider Huilianyi. Additional contributions came from existing investors SBCVC, Blue Lake Capital and Z Capital.
China Renaissance looks for opportunities amid turbulence
China Renaissance ended 2019 holding RMB7.2 billion ($1 billion) in dry powder across its latest flagship renminbi and US dollar-denominated funds, with the firm noting that “great investment windows typically surface during turbulent times.”
Vickers raises $200m for sixth VC fund
Singapore-based Vickers Venture Partners has confirmed a $200 million first close on its sixth global fund, which is targeting $500 million.
Amatil X invests in Indonesia's Kargo Technologies
Amatil X Indonesia, the venture arm of Coca-Cola's joint venture in Indonesia, has invested in Indonesian logistics start-up Kargo Technologies. The size of the commitment was not disclosed.
Temasek, Tencent lead $300m round for China's MiningLamp
MiningLamp Technology, a Chinese big data company, has raised $300 million Series E led by Temasek Holdings and Tencent Holdings. Kuaishou, a local short-video sharing platform backed by Tencent, also took part in the round.
Japanese AI edge developer secures Series B funding
AISing, a Japan-based developer of edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology used in industrial robots and self-driving cars, has raised JPY700 million ($6.5 million) in Series B funding.
TA Associates backs tech enablement start-up
Accion Labs, a US-headquartered start-up with Asian operations that helps companies implement emerging technologies, has received a strategic growth investment by TA Associates.
Australia’s Carnegie exits Assetic in PE-backed bolt-on
Australian VC investor MH Carnegie has exited asset management software specialist Assetic to Dude Solutions, a similar private equity-owned company in the US.
Chinese smart IT services provider Udesk raises $35m
Udesk, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider focused on customer service systems, has raised RMB250 million ($35 million) in an extended Series C round from an undisclosed US hedge fund.
Provident Growth leads $20m round for Singapore's Horangi
Horangi, a Singaporean cybersecurity specialist, raised $20 million in a Series B round led by Provident Growth, a Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm in Hong Kong.
Temasek leads $70m Series C for China's Abbisko Therapeutics
Temasek Holdings has led a $70 million Series C round for Chinese drug developer Abbisko Therapeutics.
Everest leads Series A for Chinese map provider
Fengxing Zhitu, a subsidiary of Chinese courier company SF Express, has raised a RMB100 million ($14 million) Series A round led by Everest Venture Capital. Oriza Holdings, Maison Capital, and Jade Capital also took part.
China's Loyal Valley recruits ex-Blackstone executive
Brian Chi, who previously spent more than a decade making China investments for The Blackstone Group and Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), has joined Loyal Valley Capital as a partner.
Alternative protein player Nature's Fynd gets $80m Series B
Nature’s Fynd, a US-based developer of edible proteins from non-animal and non-plant sources that is seen as having considerable application potential in Asia, has raised $80 million in Series B funding.
Avaana Capital co-founder takes over reins at India's Coverfox
Sanjib Kumar Jha, co-founder of private equity firm Avaana Capital, has been appointed CEO of struggling Indian online insurance marketplace Coverfox.
Carlyle raises $2.3b for fourth Japan buyout fund
The Carlyle Group has raised JPY258 billion ($2.3 billion) for its fourth Japan buyout fund. The vehicle is more than twice the size of its predecessor, which closed at JPY119.5 billion in 2015.
KKR-backed IndiGrid acquires transmission asset for $134m
India Grid Trust (IndiGrid), an infrastructure investment trust backed by KKR and GIC Private, has acquired a power distribution company in northeast India for INR10.2 billion ($134 million).
Hillhouse leads $60m Series B for China biotech player
Hillhouse Capital has led a $60 million Series B round for China’s Iaso Biotherapeutics via its newly established VC unit GL Ventures.
Chinese optical semiconductor maker raises $14m
Bosheng Guangdian, a Chinese optical semiconductor maker targeting the smart phone market, has raised RMB100 million ($14 million) from a group featuring Vision Knight Capital.
Chinese cultural education business secures $21m Series B
Qinhan Hutong, a Chinese education provider that offers an art and culture curriculum, has raised RMB150 million ($21 million) in Series B funding from Mingde Chuancheng, a Shanghai-based education and consulting company.
Australia's PE-owned Tigerlily enters administration
Tigerlily, an Australian swimwear brand acquired by Crescent Capital Partners in 2017, has entered administration following a collapse in sales attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Korea cybersecurity player raises $8m Series B
SecuLetter, a Korean cybersecurity technology provider, has raised a $8 million Series B round that included Saudi Arabian VC firm Riyadh Valley Company.