Articles by Winnie Liu
Cisco allocates $40m to Indian start-ups
Cisco Investments, the VC arm of Cisco, has allocated $40 million to fund early-stage companies in India.
Chinese e-commerce platform Qianmi secures $8m
Qianmi.com, a Chinese e-commerce system and technology service provider, has received RMB50 million ($8 million) in Series A funding from Bang Sheng Capital, a subsidiary of state-owned Govtor Capital.
CDH-backed Beijing Digital Telecom eyes $152m HK IPO
Beijing Digital Telecom (BDT), China’s largest mobile telecom retail chain, which is backed by 3i Group and CDH Investments, plans to raise up to HK$1.18 billion ($152 million) through an IPO in Hong Kong.
Mandarin plans China expansion for Italian footwear textiles maker
Mandarin Capital Partners and Private Equity Partners have acquired control of Milan-based Industrie Chimiche Forestali SpA (ICF), which develops adhesives and special textiles for the footwear industry.
China menstruation-tracking app Meet You raises $35m
SIG Asia Investment has led a $35 million Series C round of funding for Meet You, a Chinese menstrual health mobile app, with participation from Matrix Partners and China Renaissance K2 Ventures.
China’s Pixar dream wins VC support
Gary Wang has start-up pedigree. The Chinese entrepreneur took online video company Tudou.com from nothing to a US listing, and two years ago, a merger with rival Youku.com in a deal worth $1 billion. Wang now runs an animated film studio, which is already...
Lightspeed China closes Fund II at $260m
Lightspeed China Partners has reached a final close of $260 million on its second China fund, exceeding the target of $220 million.
CDH, China Grand Pharma buy control of contact lens maker
CDH Investments has teamed up with Hong Kong-listed China Grand Pharmaceutical & Healthcare to acquire a 71.25% stake in contact lens maker Shanghai Weicon Optical for $78.75 million.
China's Innovation Works exits Elex Technology via trade sale
Beijing-based incubator Innovation Works has sold its entire 3.49% stake in mobile games platform Elex Technology to Chinese Universe Publishing and Media for RMB70 million ($11 million).
GGV, Chengwei lead $20m round for Chinese animation studio
GGV Capital and Chengwei Capital have led a $20 million Series B round of funding for Light Chaser Animation Studios, a Chinese animation producer.
China’s Fosun to invest in Hollywood movie studio
Chinese conglomerate Fosun International plans to invest in Studio 8, a Hollywood film studio. Financial details were not disclosed.
Morningside backs China online P2P lender Yooli
Morningside Technologies has provided a Series B round of funding for Yooli.com, a Chinese peer-to-peer financing platform backed by Softbank China Capital.
China’s Qiming appoints two new partners
Qiming Venture Partners has appointed two new partners, Kuantai Yeh and Jing Wu, who join from Highland Capital Partners and CITIC Private Equity, respectively.
Japan renewables: Policy play
Japan’s response to the Fukushima nuclear crisis has been to draw up plans for the world’s biggest alternative energy market. Foreign investors see solar power as the surest route to sustainable returns
China Minsheng Bank commits $60m to Modern Land PE fund
China’s Minsheng Bank has committed RMB370 million ($60 million) to a private equity fund established by Modern Land, a Hong Kong-listed property developer.
VC-backed Cheetah Mobile buys HK mobile advertising firm
Cheetah Mobile, the US-listed internet security software backed by Matrix Partners and Tencent Holdings, has acquired mobile advertising firm HongKong Zoom Interactive Network Marketing Technology in a deal worth around $30 million.
Internal structure issues hinder China insurer PE allocations - AVCJ Forum
Unfamiliarity with asset allocation strategies and an emphasis on short-term investment returns are the underlying issues limiting Chinese insurance companies’ exposure to private equity, industry participants told the AVCJ China Forum.
China online social shopping platform Mogujie raises $200m
Mogujie, a Chinese online shopping platform and social network, has raised $200 million in a Series D round of funding led by Hopu Investments and Trustbridge Partners. Existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and IDG Capital Partners also participated.
China VCs cautious on strategic capital – AVCJ Forum
Trade sales to Chinese internet giants represent an alternative exit route for traditional venture capital players, but buyers must have a clear roadmap for developing the portfolio companies, VC investors told the AVCJ China Forum.
China menstruation-tracking app gets $30m Series C round
Ceyuan Ventures has led a $30 million Series C round of investment in Dayima.com, a Chinese menstruation cycle-tracking mobile app.
Morningside, Qiming invest $15m in China social networking app
Morningside Technologies and Qiming Venture Partners have committed $15 million in Series A funding to Inbilin, a Chinese voice call social networking app.
L Capital adds ex-Reliance Retail CEO to advisory board
L Capital Asia, a PE firm backed by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, has added Bijou Kurien, former CEO India's Reliance Retail, as a member of the strategic advisory board.
JD Capital, co-investors back China hair accessories maker
China’s JD Capital has invested RMB$60 million ($10 million) in a Series A round of funding for Cheeris, a Guangzhou-based hair accessories maker. The investment was made both from its renminbi and US dollar-denominated vehicles.
IDG invests $20m in China file transfer app
IDG Capital Partners has committed $20 million in Series B funding to Zapya, a Chinese file transfer mobile app.