Japanese HR software firm SmartHR has bagged its Series D funding round while Singapore-based Blue Planet has acquired UK-registered Qube Renewables Ltd.
SmartHR secures Series D funding
Japanese human resource (HR) software firm SmartHR has secured 15.6 billion yen ($142.5 million) in its Series D funding round led by US-based Light Street Capital, according to a press statement.
With this round, the company has raised a total of 23.8 billion yen to date.
The round was also joined by Sequoia Heritage, Sequoia Capital Global Equities, Arena Holdings, Grayhound Capital, Whale Rock Capital Management, among others.
In May last year, SmartHR had raised 500 million yen from Japanese financial institution Shoko Chukin Bank in an unknown series, according to Crunchbase data. SmartHR had raised 6.15 billion yen ($56.18 million) in its Series C round from All Star SAAS Fund and others in July 2019.
In January 2018, global investment firm 500 Startups had led the $13.3-million Series B round in SmartHR, through its Japan-focused fund. Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, Nikko Co Ltd, and CVC, which invested in SmartHR through 500 Startup Japan’s SPV, joined the round.
Singapore’s Blue Planet acquires UK’s Qube Renewables
Singapore-headquartered waste management firm Blue Planet Environmental Solutions on Wednesday announced its recent investment into Qube Renewables Ltd, a UK-registered company involved in the design, build and deployment of small-scale energy generating systems powered by eco-friendly biogas.
The deal marks the third acquisition for the company this year, the company said in a statement.
Blue Planet said these small-scale energy generating systems are particularly valuable in rural areas or developing countries which often face inadequate or unreliable centrally generated energy supplies.
“Qube’s distinct area of technological expertise lies in the conversion of ‘local waste into local energy’ where as much energy as possible is generated from locally occurring organic waste streams, yet delivered via a smart, affordable and modular system,” Blue Planet said.