Articles by Winnie Liu
Global investors seek more technology exposure - survey
Growth-stage technology has become an attractive investment theme for international LPs and GPs, with both groups planning to increase allocations and devote more resources to the sector, according to a private markets survey conducted by Hamilton...
CITIC PE leads $55m round for China’s BroadLink
CITIC Private Equity has led a RMB343 million ($55 million) Series D round for China’s smart home technology solutions provider BroadLink. It is said to be the largest funding round for a domestic start-up in this market segment.
IDG Capital backs Chinese electric car maker
IDG Capital has invested RMB1 billion ($159 million) in Skio Matrix, a Chinese company that manufactures electric cars and batteries.
CDH leads $100m Series D for China’s Blued
CDH Investments has led a $100 million Series D round of funding for Blued, a leading gay dating app in China, with participation from UG Capital.
China’s Ping An raises $2.2b for healthcare, fintech units
Ping An Insurance Group has raised $2.2 billion in private equity funding for its three technology businesses: Ping An Good Doctor, Ping An Healthcare Management, and OneConnect Financial Technology.
Baidu Ventures makes $318m first close on AI fund
Baidu Ventures, an independent VC firm set up by Chinese internet player Baidu, has achieved a first close of more than RMB2 billion ($318 million) on its second renminbi-denominated fund that focuses on artificial intelligence (AI).
China’s Legend Star closes $127m VC fund
Legend Star, the early-stage investment arm of China’s Legend Holdings, has closed its third VC fund at RMB800 million ($127 million).
Chinese auto financing site raises $92m Series B round
Meliche Jinrong, the online auto finance subsidiary of Chinese consumer loans site Meili Jinrong, has raised a $92 million Series B round led by local agribusiness player New Hope Group.
Cooley hires fund formation partner in Beijing
Cooley has hired Xun Zeng as a resident partner in its newly opened Beijing office. Zeng joins from Ropes & Gray in Hong Kong, where she was a counsel in the private investment funds group.
Ping An healthcare app files for Hong Kong IPO
Ping An Healthcare & Technology - the PE-backed business that runs the healthcare-focused mobile app known as Ping An Good Doctor in China - is seeking a separate listing in Hong Kong from its parent company Ping An Insurance.
China insurance and PE: Get real
The asset management units of Chinese insurance companies can no longer launch debt-like products masquerading as private equity, amid concerns about rising corporate and local government debt burdens
China electric car maker Xpeng raises $348m
Xpeng Motors, a Chinese electric car manufacturer, has completed a RMB2.2 billion ($348 million) Series B round of funding led by Alibaba Group, Foxconn Technology Group, and IDG Capital.
Chinese banks to launch debt-for-equity swap funds
Chinese banks will be allowed to raise capital from third-party investors to participate in debt-for-equity swap programs as regulators look for additional ways to alleviate the country’s corporate debt problem.
Chinese financial services platform concludes $63m Series B
Huisuanzhang, a Chinese finance and tax management software developer, has completed a RMB400 million ($63 million) Series B round of funding across two tranches.
China’s Dianrong raises additional $70m for Series D
Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform Dianrong has raised an additional $70 million in Series D funding, taking the total round to $290 million.
China fintech: Follow the consumer
A crackdown on cash loans has undermined investor confidence in China’s fast-growing online consumer-lending market. However, VC players are confident that start-ups can find other angles
Southeast Asia logistics firm Ninja Van secures Series C
Ninja Van, a Singapore-headquartered last-mile logistics services provider with regional presence, has completed a Series C round of funding.
GLP leads $36m round for China’s Songxiaocai
Warehouse operator Global Logistic Properties (GLP) has led a RMB230 million ($36 million) investment in Songxiaocai, a business-to-business (B2B) platform that provides agricultural wholesale services to Chinese retailers.
China’s Shunwei Capital appoints new partner
Chris Lai, formerly a venture partner at China-focused Sinovation Ventures, has joined Shunwei Capital Partners, a VC firm set up by Xiaomi founder Lei Jun, as a partner.
Joy leads $20m round for Chinese e-commerce site
Joy Capital has led a $20 million round of funding for The Good Stuff, an e-commerce start-up that uses online influencers to sell products.
Alibaba's Taiwan fund backs fitness brand
Space Cycle, a boutique fitness studio chain operating in mainland China and Taiwan, has raised a RMB100 million ($15.6 million) Series B round of funding led by Alibaba Taiwan Entrepreneurs Fund.
Deal focus: VCs see value in secondhand luxury
Chinese online pre-owned luxury goods retailer Xinshang aims for scale with investments from GGV Capital, Joy Capital and Northern Light Venture Capital
Deal focus: Black Fish emphasizes focus on fintech
Lightspeed, Morningside, Jafco and Gobi contribute to the first institutional round of funding for Chinese financial technology player Black Fish
Fosun Capital leads $80m Series B for China’s BingoBox
BingoBox, a Chinese unmanned convenience store operator, has raised an $80 million Series B round of funding led by Fosun Capital. Existing investors Prometheus Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, GGV Capital and Ventech China also took part.