News
L Catterton Asia SPAC to merge with Geely-owned Lotus EV unit
A US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) launched by L Catterton Asia has agreed to merge with Lotus Technology, an electric vehicle (EV) unit under the Lotus luxury car brand owned by Chinese automaker Geely Holding.
China hydrogen energy player raises $44m Series C
Chinese hydrogen power company TangFeng Energy has raised a Series C round of CNY300m (USD 44m) led by GP Capital, Qianyan Investment, and a unit of Dongfeng Motor Corporation.
Japan's JGIA targets Wow World take-private
Japan Growth Investments Alliance (JGIA) has won board approval from Tokyo-listed Wow World Group for a take-private that values the business communications technology provider at JPY 6bn (USD 46.4m).
Airtree leads $25m round for New Zealand's Hnry
Australia’s Airtree Ventures has led a NZD 35m (USD 25mm) Series B round for New Zealand small business financial technology provider Hnry.
China battery component supplier secures $296m pre-IPO round
Kuntian New Energy, a China-based developer of artificial graphite used in lithium-ion batteries, has raised a pre-IPO funding round of CNY2 bn (USD 296m) from a string of financial and strategic investors.
Orchestra to launch debut Korea, Japan blind pool fund
Orchestra Private Equity, a Korea and Japan-focused manager that has to date operated on a deal-by-deal basis, plans to launch its first blind pool fund later this year.
India's Enzene Biosciences raises $50m
Indian biotech company Enzene Biosciences has raised a USD 50m round featuring Eight Roads Ventures and F-Prime Capital.
TMI Ventures leads $13.5m round for Indonesia's EdenFarm
Indonesian agriculture technology start-up EdenFarm has raised a USD 13.5m round led by TMI Ventures, the investment arm of local wireless network operator Telkomsel.
IMM commits $121m to Korea cloud business
IMM Investment is providing KRW 150bn (USD 121m) in Series A funding for Korean cloud computing business NHN Cloud at a valuation of KRW 1trn.
China adult online education platform raises $41m in US IPO
QuantaSing Group, a Chinese adult tuition platform that spun out from wealth management and investment education business Erwan Technology, has traded relatively flat following a USD 41m IPO on NASDAQ.
MBK, Unison Korea pursue dental implant buyout
MBK Partners and Unison Capital Korea have launched a tender offer for Osstem Implant, a Korea-based manufacturer of dental implants, that values the company at approximately KRW 2.85trn (USD 2.3bn).
Bain targets $236m buyout of Japan's Impact HD
A Bain Capital-backed take-private of Japanese one-stop field marketing services provider Impact HD, which values the company at approximately JPY 30.7bn (USD 236.3m), has won board support.
China LiDAR specialist Hesai aims for US IPO
Hesai Technology, a China-based developer of sensors used in autonomous driving, is targeting a US listing. Its investors include Lightspeed China Partners, Baidu, Bosch, and Xiaomi.
Indonesia fintech start-up iSeller gets $12m
Indonesia financial technology start-up iSeller, which helps businesses to digitise sales and operations, has raised USD 12m in Series B funding led by Intudo Ventures.
Hillhouse-backed China pet services business seeks US listing
New Ruipeng Pet Group, a China-based pet care services platform that counts Hillhouse Capital as a significant shareholder, has filed for an IPO in the US.
Australia's Potentia contests Nitro merger plan
Potentia Capital has appealed a decision by Australia’s Takeovers Panel not to intervene in a situation that has seen Nitro Software repeatedly rebuff acquisition proposals made by the private equity firm.
Japan's Net Marketing is sold four months after take-private
Net Marketing, a Japanese online advertising and media management business that was delisted following the completion of a successful tender offer by Bain Capital last September, has been acquired by Tokyo-listed marketing analytics player Macbee Planet....
Aramco backs Japan drone start-up
Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, has invested USD 14m in Japanese drone maker Terra Drone on the back of a JPY 8bn (USD 62m) Series B round.
Bain exits India maritime logistics business to German strategic
Bain Capital has sold its stake in J.M. Baxi Ports & Logistics, an India-based provider of maritime logistics, to Germany-headquartered shipping and container transportation company Hapag-Lloyd for an undisclosed sum.
ResponsAbility hits $173m first close on Asia food fund
Swiss impact investor ResponsAbility has reached a first close of USD 173m for a South and Southeast Asia-focused sustainable food private equity fund. The target is USD 400m.
Partners Group, Pantheon bolster Japan coverage
Partners Group and Pantheon have both strengthened their teams in Japan, with the former appointing Teppei Kawai as country head and the latter promoting Akitoshi Yamada to partner.
China cell therapy developer raises $75m
Iaso Biotherapeutics, a Chinese cell therapy developer focusing on oncology treatments, has raised nearly CNY 500m (USD 75m) in an extended Series C round.
China's Riverhead Capital closes $295m renminbi fund
China-based Riverhead Capital, the private equity arm of Sunshine Insurance Group, has closed a renminbi-denominated fund with CNY 2bn (USD 295m) in commitments.
India's PhonePe raises $350m at $12b valuation
General Atlantic has invested USD 350m – at a pre-money valuation of USD 12bn – in PhonePe, a digital payments platform that spun out from Indian e-commerce marketplace Flipkart.