News
Chinese network service provider receives $35.6m led by Legend Capital
AgotoZ, a Chinese network-as-a-service (NaaS) provider, has raised RMB250 million ($35.6 million) in an extended Series B led by Legend Capital. Existing investors SIG China and Northern Light Venture Capital re-upped.
Japan’s J-Star closes fourth fund at $443m
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has closed its fourth middle-market fund at the hard cap of JPY48.5 billion ($433 million), up from JPY32.5 billion in the previous vintage.
CDPQ takes 25% stake in Australian transport project
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) has acquired a 24.9% stake in Sydney's nascent metro rail system as part of a A$167 million ($113 million) investment.
Singapore dental products start-up receives $13m Series A
Zenyum, a Singapore-based manufacturer of 3D-printed cosmetic dental products, has raised $13.6 million in Series A funding from RTP Global, Sequoia Capital India, TNB Aura, and Seeds Capital.
Tencent backs China education service provider
Tencent Holdings has joined an extended Series D round for Gaosi Education, a technology supplier for K12 after-school tutoring institutions in China that has now rebranded as Aixuexi.
Australia launches $365m fund to support SMEs
The Australian government has launched a A$540 million ($365 million) growth fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with commitments coming from the country's largest banks.
Everstone names Alok Oberoi as executive chairman
India and Singapore-based Everstone Group has named Alok Oberoi (pictured), a former executive at Goldman Sachs, as executive chairman, effective from 2020.
Japan health tech player SmartScan gets $10m Series A
SmartScan, a Japanese medical technology supplier focused on software for diagnostics equipment, has raised a JPY1.3 billion ($10.3 million) Series A round from domestic VCs.
Australia’s V2Food raises $35m Series A
Australian alternative protein producer V2Food has secured a $35 million Series A round led by Hong Kong’s Horizons Ventures and Australia’s Main Sequence Ventures.
Hudson to privatize Hong Kong’s Sky Solar
US cleantech-focused private equity firm Hudson Sustainable Investments is set to acquire a controlling position in Hong Kong-based and NASDAQ-listed power producer Sky Solar Holdings.
TPG joins round for India’s Ess Kay Fincorp
TPG Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, and Evolvence India have jointly led a $33 million investment in Indian non-banking finance company Ess Kay Fincorp.
GGV leads $14m round for Chinese IoT player
Chinese internet-of-things (IoT) operating system provider RT-Thread has raised a RMB100 million ($14 million) Series B round led by GGV Capital. Existing investor Legend Capital re-upped.
China sensor manufacturer secures $7m
Camsense, a Shenzhen-based manufacturer of high-precision vision sensors, has raised RMB50 million ($7 million) in a round led by Chenhui Venture Partners and Feng Yang Capital.
India's Paytm raises $1b
Indian mobile payment and e-commerce platform Paytm has raised a $1 billion Series G round led by T Rowe Price.
Cento leads $52m round for SE Asia payments player
Cento Ventures has led a $52 million round for 2C2P, a Singapore and Bangkok-based payments platform that claims to serve some 620 million customers across Southeast Asia.
Chinese gas station platform raises $110m Series C
Newlinks Group, operator of the Chezhubang platform that helps drivers in China locate the best value gas stations, has raised a $110 million Series C round led by Joy Capital.
Taiwan's Appier gets $80m Series D
Appier, a Taiwan-headquartered start-up that develops artificial intelligence-enabled platforms intended to help corporates optimize advertising campaigns, has raised $80 million in Series D funding.
China’s Genetron secures $50m Series D, seeks US IPO
Genetron Holdings, a precision oncology technology developer in China, has raised a $50 million Series D round and filed for a US IPO.
MBK sets $6.5b hard cap for fifth North Asia fund
MBK Partners is looking to become the sixth pan-Asian private equity manager to cross the $6 billion threshold, having set the hard cap for its fifth fund at $6.5 billion.
Chinese cancer database provider secures $140m
Medbanks, a Chinese oncology database platform, has raised around RMB1 billion ($140 million) in an extended Series D funding round led by Tencent Holdings and Wu Capital.
Y Combinator abandons China program
Silicon Valley-based accelerator Y Combinator has terminated its recently launched China program citing a change in its US leadership.
China’s MSA Capital, Bahrain bank launch $50m VC fund
Beijing-based MSA Capital and Al Salam Bank-Bahrain have set up a $50 million VC fund that will target cross-border opportunities between China and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Singapore's Carousell merges with Asia assets of Telenor
Singapore-based online consumer-to-consumer marketplace Carousell has merged with the Southeast Asia subsidiary of Norwegian telecommunications giant Telenor Group.
China targets $7b security industry fund
China Reform Holdings, a state-owned fund manager with RMB700 billion ($100 billion) in assets under management, has launched a RMB50 billion fund that will make investments in the security industry, with a particular focus on technology-enabled services.