GPCA covers the latest fund, investment and industry news across our markets in two newsletters: NewsWatch is a weekly round-up of key transactions across asset classes; the Global Tech Brief is a bi-weekly review of tech transactions and innovations with cross-border applications. Subscribe in the left-hand sidebar.

Access past editions of NewsWatch here.

Qatar Investment Authority Leads USD250m Round for India’s Byju’s

India-based edtech Byju’s raised USD250m from existing investors including QIA. Read More

ABC International Holdings and CCB Investment Management Leads ~USD278m Series B for China’s Hithium

ABC International Holdings and CCB Investment Management led a CNY2b (~USD278m) Series B for Hithium, a China-based maker of energy storage systems, with participation from Matrix Partners, Fenghe Capital, Dayone Capital, Torch VC, Xiamen Venture Capital, Jinfeng Investment and Chengtun Mining Group. Read more here and h Read More

EQT Acquires China’s BPEA to Become BPEA EQT

Sweden’s EQT completed the acquisition of Hong Kong-based Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA). The merged private equity firm will operate under the name BPEA EQT. Read More

Citic Capital Leads ~USD14m Series A for China’s Veminsyn

Citic Capital led a CNY100m (~USD14m) Series A for China-based biotech Veminsyn, with participation from Yangzijiang International Tiyuchang Road Industrial Park. Read more here and h Read More

China’s Youhualin Raises ~USD14m Series C Led by V Fund, Broad Resources Investment Management, HNDY Capital and Hainan Rongya

Youhualin, a China-based  intelligent solution service provider raised a CNY100m (~USD14m) Series C led by V Fund, Broad Resources Investment Management, HNDY Capital and Hainan Rongya, and follow-on from Hengxu Capital and 5Y Capital. Read More

Impact46 Leads USD50m Funding Round for Saudi Arabia’s Zid

Impact46 led a USD50m round for Zid, a Saudi Arabia-based e-commerce solution for retailers, with participation from Wa’ed Ventures and Endeavour Catalyst, and follow-on from Global Ventures, Elm Company, Arzan and MSA Capital. Read More

DFC and FIRA extend ~USD90m in Additional Credit Lines to Mexico’s VC-backed Covalto

Mexican fintech Covalto (formerly Credijusto) secured a MXN1.8b (~USD90m) credit line extension from Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura (FIRA), bringing the debt facility to a total of up to MXN3.8b (~USD189m). DFC also granted a USD10m unsecured loan to the startup. Read More

India’s Venture-backed Zoomcar To List on Nasdaq via SPAC Merger

India-based rideshare platform Zoomcar agreed to list on the Nasdaq through a SPAC merger with Innovative International Acquisition at a USD456m implied pro-forma enterprise value. Zoomcar is backed by Sony Innovation Fund, Mahindra & Mahindra and Ford Smart Mobility, as well as Cyber Carrier, Empire Angels, InnoVen Capital, Sequoia Capital India and Trifecta Capital. Innovative International Acquisition raised USD235m through… Read More

UAE’s VUZ Raises USD20m Series B from Caruso Ventures, Vision Ventures, Others

VUZ (formerly 360VUZ), a UAE-basedVR content platform, raised a USD20m Series B led by Caruso Ventures, Vision Ventures, e& capital, Dubai Future District Fund, SRMG and Webit Investment Network. Elbert Capital, Yasta Partners, Faith Capital and Panthera Capital participated with follow-on from seven additional investors. Read More

Estonia’s Sunly Raises ~USD200m

Sunly, an Estonia-based renewable energy provider, raised EUR200m (~USD200m) from Mirova and others. Read More

Lightspeed Leads USD5m Seed Round for Argentina’s Fidu

Lightspeed Venture Partners led a USD5m seed round for Fidu, an Argentina-based operations and payment platform for educational institutions, with participation from NFX, Imaginable Futures and Broom Ventures. Read More

Evolution Equity Partners led a USD41.5m funding round in Tatum

Evolution Equity Partners led a USD41.5m round for Tatum, a Czech Republic-founded, UK-based blockchain app development platform, with participation from Octopus Ventures, 3VC, Tensor Ventures, Depo Ventures, Leadblock Fund and Circle Holdings. Read More