News
China Merchants Group backs CDMO player Porton Advanced
Three entities under China Merchants Group (CMG) have led a USD 80m Series B round for Porton Advanced Solutions, a local contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) that focuses solely on gene and cell therapy services.
Blackstone part-exits Indian auto components maker
The Blackstone Group has realised proceeds of INR 40.4bn (USD 506m) through a partial exit from Sona Comstar, an India-listed manufacturer of automotive systems and components that trades as Sona BLW Precision Forgings.
PE-backed Korean ride-sharing player Socar drops on debut
Socar, a Korea-based car-sharing business backed by the likes of Bain Capital, IMM Private Equity, and SoftBank Ventures Asia, traded down on debut following a KRW 101.9bn (USD 76m) IPO.
AVCJ Awards 2022 - nominations have closed
Nominations for the 2022 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards have now closed. Many thanks to all those who participated.
Taiwan’s Cherubic closes $110m VC fund
Cherubic Ventures, which makes early-stage investments in Asia and the US, has closed its fifth fund with USD 110m in commitments. Total assets under management now exceed USD 400m.
India rural fintech player Jai Kisan raises $50m
India’s Jai Kisan, a financial technology start-up focused on digital banking in rural areas, has raised USD 50m in Series B funding from a group including DG Daiwa Ventures and Blume Ventures.
Singapore's TotallyAwesome raises $10m seed round
Singapore’s TotallyAwesome, a digital advertising start-up focused on children’s online safety, has raised a USD 10m seed round featuring US venture debt provider Partner For Growth (PFG).
Tiger Global leads Series B for India savings platform Jar
Tiger Global Management has led a USD 22.6m Series B round for ChangeJar Technologies, operator of India-based savings and investment app Jar, at a valuation of more than USD 300m.
India seaweed biotech start-up raises $18.5m
India’s Sea6 Energy, a company that cultivates and processes seaweed to make a range of bio-engineered products, has completed a USD 18.5m Series B round featuring BASF Venture Capital.
Stride closes India venture debt fund on $200m
India’s Stride Ventures has closed its second venture debt fund with USD 200m in commitments. The target was INR 10bn (USD 125m).
Korea's Kakao abandons plans for mobility unit stake sale
South Korean internet giant Kakao has abandoned plans to partially divest Kakao Mobility, its transportation division.
Korea start-up equity management platform raises $11m
QuotaBook, a South Korea-based equity management platform that helps start-ups organise their cap tables, has received USD 11m in the second tranche of a Series A round.
China carmaker SAIC raises $148m for mobility unit
Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor has raised CNY 1bn (USD 148m) to support the expansion of its mobile services unit, which last year launched a fleet of robotaxis.
Denham, Nexif sell Australia, SE Asia energy assets for $1b
Resources-focused GP Denham Capital and power infrastructure company Nexif have agreed to sell jointly held energy assets across Australia and Southeast Asia at an enterprise value of USD 1bn.
OTPP to acquire majority stake in India's Sahyadri Hospitals
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) has agreed its first control private equity buyout in India, taking a majority stake in Sahyadri Hospitals and setting up a partial exit for Everstone Group.
KKR makes $1.2b exit from Indian hospital chain
KKR has exited its entire interest in Indian hospital operator Max Healthcare Institute – nearly four years after assuming control of the business by merging it with an existing portfolio company – with proceeds of approximately INR 91.9bn (USD 1.15bn).
C2 invests $25m in Eat Just to support China expansion
C2 Capital Partners, a China-based private equity firm that focuses on consumer sector investments, has committed USD 25m to Eat Just, owner of plant-based egg brand Just Egg.
Partners Group appoints Japan private equity head
Partners Group has initiated full-scale coverage of Japan’s private equity market with the recruitment of Tatsuya Ochi to lead local operations for the asset class.
Carlyle backs Japan medical technology player
The Carlyle Group has committed JPY 7bn (USD 52.2m) to CureApp, a Japan-based developer of software for use in the treatment of medical conditions, as part of the company’s Series G round.
China e-commerce SaaS player Dianxiaomi raises $150m
Chinese e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider Dianxiaomi has secured a USD 110m Series D round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Sequoia Capital China.
China blockchain developer Bit raises $13m
Bit, a China, Singapore, and US-based blockchain infrastructure provider set up by former employees of Tencent Holdings, has raised USD 13m in Series A funding led by CMB International.
China investigates Sino IC Capital executives
Several executives at Sino IC Capital, which manages China's largest semiconductor-focused investment fund, are under investigation for suspected serious legal violations.
Quadria plans full exit through Concord Biotech's India IPO
Singapore-based healthcare specialist Quadria Capital is set for a full exit from pharmaceuticals industry supplier Concord Biotech via an India IPO.
Sequoia launches China accelerator
Sequoia Capital China has launched an accelerator programme under the Yue brand, which will provide systematic training and resources for entrepreneurs at the angel and Series A stages.