News
India edtech start-up CollegeDekho raises $35m
Indian education technology start-up CollegeDekho has closed a Series B round of $35 million with support from a mix of global investors including Australia’s QIC and Abu Dhabi’s ADQ.
Valar, IA lead $40m Series B for India BNPL player
US-based Valar Ventures and IA Ventures have led a $40 million Series B round for Simpl, an Indian buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider focused on e-commerce.
Vision Fund leads $188m investment in Naver's metaverse
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 is the largest participant in a KRW223.6 billion ($187 million) investment in Naver Z, the metaverse platform unit of Korean internet giant Naver Corporation.
Horizons leads Series B for Australia healthcare AI start-up
Horizons Ventures, the private investment arm of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, has led a A$129 million ($92.3 million) Series B round for Australia’s Harrison.ai, a clinical artificial intelligence (AI) developer.
Airbus backs Australia quantum computing player
Airbus Ventures has led a $25 million Series B round for Australia’s Q-Ctrl, a quantum computing developer increasingly geared toward space tech and orbital infrastructure.
STIC commits $840m to Korea's Iljin Materials
STIC Investments has led a KRW1 trillion ($840 million) investment in Iljin Materials, a Korean producer of electric foils used in lithium batteries and consumer electronics, to support the international expansion of its manufacturing footprint.
Lightspeed China closes US dollar fund at $920m
Lightspeed China Partners has closed its latest US dollar-denominated fund at $920 million. It is the largest fund raised by the firm and brings assets under management to $3 billion.
China procurement services start-up raises $102m
Chinese procurement management platform Going-Link, also known as Zhenyun, has raised a RMB650 million ($102 million) Series C round led by Meituan-backed DragonBall Capital.
Indonesia’s AC Ventures closes debut fund at $205 million
AC Ventures, an early-stage investor created through the merger of Indonesia’s Agaeti Ventures and Convergence Ventures, has closed its debut fund at $205 million. The target was $80 million.
Australia food-ordering start-up raises $63m
Tiger Global Management has led an A$89 million ($63.4 million) Series A round for Australian food-ordering start-up Mr Yum. In the past 12 months, 44% of Australians have used the platform.
Vision Fund joins $300m round for China vaccine developer
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and 5Y Capital have led a $300 million Series C extension for Suzhou Abogen Biosciences, a Chinese vaccine developer focused on mRNA products, including one for COVID-19.
Australia deal-by-deal player Alceon sees investment uptick
Australia-based deal-by-deal investor Alceon Private Equity expects to complete four investments this year, having expanded its scope from consumer and retail to include healthcare, childcare, and IT services.
DCP leads $235m round for China's Datong Insurance
DCP Capital Partners has become the largest institutional shareholder in Datong Insurance Service, one of China’s leading insurance brokerages, after leading a RMB1.5 billion ($235 million) round.
CDC expands Asia footprint
UK development finance institution CDC Group, already an active investor in South Asia, has announced a strategic pivot toward the broader region with a special interest in Southeast Asia.
Tiger Global, Insight lead $220m round for India's Slice
Tiger Global Management and Insight Partners have led a $220 million round for Indian financial technology provider Slice at a valuation of about $1 billion.
PE investors wary of inflation in 2022 - AVCJ Forum
Inflation is top of mind for Asia-focused private equity investors as they assess the various uncertainties facing the industry in 2022, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum heard.
Legend hits first close on healthcare fund, launches TMT vehicle
Legend Capital has reached a first close of $177 million on its third US dollar-denominated China healthcare fund. It is one of five vehicles the GP has in the market, including its recently launched ninth flagship technology, media, and telecom (TMT)...
Qiming leads $40m round for Allorion Therapeutics
China and US-based precision medicine company Allorion Therapeutics has raised a $40 million Series A round led by Qiming Venture Partners.
Japan space debris start-up Astroscale gets $109m Series F
Astroscale, a Japanese space tech start-up dedicated to cleaning up orbital debris, has raised $109 million in Series F funding from investors including London-listed Seraphim Space Investment Trust, Japan Growth Capital Investment, and Axa Life Insurance.
HESTA backs PEP-owned Australia software business
HESTA has acquired a A$120 million ($85 million) equity stake in Australian enterprise software and IT services provider Citadel, following its merger with medical practice software specialist Genie Solutions.
CVC exits Malaysia snacks business to Universal Robina
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to sell Malaysia-based snack foods producer Munchy Food Industries to Universal Robina Corporation (URC) – a branded consumer food and beverage business in the Philippines – for MYR1.93 billion ($454 million).
Secondaries supply-demand mismatch most extreme in Asia - AVCJ Forum
There is not enough capital in Asia to address the number of secondary opportunities – mirroring the situation globally – with investors claiming to have more transaction choices than ever before.
China GPU chip designer secures $313m Series A
Moore Threads, a Chinese chip designer established 13 months ago by a team from Nvidia, has closed Series A at RMB2 billion ($313 million) led by Shanghai Guosheng Capital, 5Y Capital, and a BOC International fund.
China biotech IPOs in Hong Kong to stay strong - AVCJ Forum
The frenzy for Chinese biotech developers listing in Hong Kong is expected to continue well into 2022, industry participants told the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum.