Investments
Deal focus: IFM secures debut long-term capital deal
Targeting PRP Diagnostic Imaging through its long-hold fund meant IFM Investors could offer the company stability and partnership. It expects to generate dividend yield and capital growth
Chaos leads $100m Series B for China's FreeTech
FreeTech, a developer of assisted driving solutions, has raised nearly USD100m in Series B funding led by Chaos Investment.
East leads $13m round for Indonesia's TipTip
East Ventures has led a USD 13m Series A round for Indonesia’s TipTip, a marketplace that connects digital media content creators and their fans.
China's Ruiyun Cold Chain raises $28m
Ruiyun Cold Chain, a China-based cold chain services provider, has raised CNY 200m (USD 28m) in an extended pre-Series A round led by Mitsubishi and Mizuho Leaguer Investment Fund.
Norwest invests $32m in India's Celebal Technologies
Norwest Venture Partners has invested USD 32m in India’s Celebal Technologies, a software consulting and delivery company active in artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud.
Government investors support Chinese EV player Letin
Chinese state-backed investors have pumped CNY 3.2bn (USD 447m) into local new energy vehicle start-up Letin amid reports that the company had run into financial distress.
Qualcomm backs India EV maker Ultraviolette
Qualcomm Ventures and Lingotto, the largest shareholder in Ferrari, have invested in India’s Ultraviolette Automotive, an electric vehicle maker focused on two-wheelers.
Lightspeed backs China autonomous driving industry supplier Daisch
Lightspeed China Partners has backed Daisch, a domestic supplier of high-precision products for autonomous driving, as the sole participant in a Series A round.
Australia's ABGF invests $10m in local tourism player
Australia Business Growth Fund (ABGF), a partially government-backed investor that backs small to medium-sized companies, has invested AUD 15m (USD 10m) in local tourism company HMC Group.
Korea laundry start-up gets $36m Series C
H&Q Korea has led a KRW 49bn Series C round for Korean laundry app provider Laundrygo with support from SoftBank Ventures and Altos Ventures.
Deal focus: KKR agrees first Australia growth tech deal
KKR has led a USD 68m Series B round for Australia’s Advanced Navigation, an autonomous systems developer for robots and vehicles used everywhere from the freeway to orbit
Sport investment: China fading
Once a white-hot investment theme in China, and for Chinese investors looking overseas, sport has slipped into obscurity amid concerns about regulation and monetisation
One size does not fit all in Asia value creation – AVCJ Forum
Replacing portfolio company CEOs is not part of buyout firms’ value creation playbook in emerging markets, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum heard.
Brookfield buys Hong Kong's Trimco from Affinity - update
Affinity Equity Partners has sold Hong Kong-headquartered garment label manufacturer Trimco Group to Brookfield Asset Management, for an enterprise value of USD 850m.
GSV leads $45m round for India's Simplilearn
GSV Ventures has led a USD 45m round for Indian education technology provider Simplilearn. The Blackstone Group acquired 70% of the company last year for USD 250m.
Bain buys Japan fashion business
Bain Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Mash Group, a Japan-based fashion label, for an undisclosed sum.
Blackstone pursues $359m take-private of India's R Systems
The Blackstone Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in India-based IT services provider R Systems International at a valuation of INR 29.04bn (USD 359m) and moved to delist the company.
China investors plan to step up activity – AVCJ Forum
Investors told the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum that they are looking to accelerate their pace of investment in China next year despite economic and regulatory challenges.
GPs seek alternatives in absence of US IPOs – AVCJ Forum
Private markets investors have responded to the drop-off in US IPO activity by exploring listings within Asia, while M&A is expected to play a more important role, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum heard.
Uncertainty prompts deal financing discipline – AVCJ Forum
Large-cap buyout investors told the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum they are hesitating to underwrite higher returns as debt terms tighten in cloudier market conditions.
Australia cultured meat start-up gets $49m Series A
Blackbird and Prosperity7 Ventures, a unit of Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco, have led a USD 49.2m Series A round for Australian cell-cultured meat company Vow.
TPG's Coulter calls for patience, perspective amid 'great reset' - AVCJ Forum
James Coulter, executive chairman and founding partner of TPG, told the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum that the current “great reset” represents one of the most interesting periods in his career, although he advised investors to look beyond immediate...
China automotive industry supplier Kasco raises $72m
Kasco, a China-based air suspension supplier for passenger vehicles, has closed a Series B round of CNY 510m (USD 72m) led by an investment arm of CRRC Group, China State-Owned Venture Capital Fund, Source Code Capital, and Shenzhen Capital Group.
India fintech player Lentra gets $60m Series B
India’s Lentra, a financial technology provider focused on cloud-based lending, has raised USD 60m in Series B funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners and SIG Venture Capital.
