Expansion
Alibaba, Ant Financial to re-up in China’s Didi Chuxing
Alibaba Group and its financial affiliate Ant Financial plan to invest a further $400 million in Didi Chuxing. This comes as the Chinese ride-hailing app operator is raising a new round of fund said to be as large as $2.5 billion.
INCJ leads $10m round for Japan robotics start-up
Japanese robotics company 3D Media has received a JPY1.1 billion ($10 million) investment from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), Sparx Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital.
China online grocer Benlai raises extended Series C round
Benlai.com, a Chinese B2C-focused online grocery supplier, has raised an extended Series C round of funding worth $17 million.
L Capital supports acquisition of global rights to Jones the Grocer
L Capital Asia has taken a significant minority stake in a company that has acquired the global rights to Jones the Grocer, a gourmet food retailer that originated in Australia.
Australia's Data Republic gets $7.6m Series A round
Australia-based financial technology company Data Republic has received $10.5 million ($7.6 million) in funding from National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac and Qantas.
Vision Knight leads $153m round for China’s Weidai
Vision Knight Capital has led a $1 billion ($153 million) Series C round of funding for Weidai, a Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform that specializes on providing auto loans.
IFC to invest $68m in India's Apollo Health
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has committed $68 million to Indian clinic chain Apollo Health and Lifestyle (AHL).
Healthcare app launched by China's Ping An Insurance raises $500m
Ping An Good Doctor, a healthcare-focused mobile app controlled by Chinese Ping An Insurance Group, has raised $500 million in a Series A round of funding at a valuation of $3 billion.
IFC commits $20m to India's Grameen Koota
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has committed up to INR1.4 billion ($20 million) to Indian microfinance institution (MFI) Grameen Koota.
China dating app Tantan raises $32m Series C
Tantan, a Chinese version of US-based dating app Tinder, has completed a $32 million Series C round led by DST Global, Vision Plus Capital and LB Investment.
Hollywood fever: Alibaba targets the movies
An investment in Taobao Movie is essentially a bet on how the company can leverage what Alibaba Pictures might become, as well as on the broader Chinese box office
GGV, Morningside lead $32m round for China fitness app
GGV Capital and Morningside Venture Capital have co-led a $32 million Series C round for Keep, a Chinese mobile app that provides fitness training programs.
CDH leads round for Alibaba Pictures ticketing business - update
CDH Investments' wealth management platform, Ant Financial Services and Sina Corp. have led a RMB1.7 billion ($260 million) Series A round of funding for the online movie ticketing platform of Alibaba Group’s Hong Kong-listed film and entertainment...
Apple invests $1b in China ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing
Apple has made $1 billion strategic investment in Didi Chuxing, China's leading ride-hailing app operator.
Max, Goldman invest $5m in India's Azure
Max Group and Goldman Sachs have invested INR335 million ($5 million) in Indian restaurant operator Azure Hospitality.
CLSA Capital Partners backs Japan school operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has invested in Japanese school operator BC Ings through its Sunrise II buyout fund.
Creation leads $25m Series B for India's Capital Float
Chicago-based Creation Investments Capital Management has led a $25 million Series B round for Indian small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)-focused non-banking finance company (NBFC) Capital Float.
Australia-founded BigCommerce raises $30m round
BigCommerce, an e-commerce software provider founded in Australia but now based in the US, has raised a $30 million Series E round led by GGV Capital. It has now received more than $155 million in funding.
ClearVue commits $30m to Shanghai juice maker
China consumer-focused GP ClearVue Partners has invested $30 million in CHIC Fresh, a Shanghai-based high pressure processing (HPP) juice maker.
Malaysia's Khazanah commits $100m to Fractal Analytics
Malaysian state-controlled investment fund Khazanah Nasional has invested $100 million in Fractal Analytics, a data analytics provider based in India and the US.
China TCM clinic chain Gu Sheng Tang raises $70m
Gu Sheng Tang, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic chain, has raised $70 million in a Series C round led by US-based insurance firm Starr Companies, followed by China Ping An Insurance.
Singapore's Tagit receives $8.8m from Japanese IT group
Singapore mobile technology company Tagit has secured S$12 million ($8.8 million) for an international expansion effort from SRA Group, a Japanese IT systems developer and operator.
India NBFCs: Lending a hand
Momentum is building among India’s non-banking finance companies, and PE, government and regulators see promise in the power to reach untapped markets. Success will require the support of all three parties
Warburg Pincus backs Chinese private hospital chain UIB
Warburg Pincus has invested an undisclosed sum in UIB, a Shanghai-based hospital chain that focuses on obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics.