Expansion
SoftBank leads $1b round for Renren-backed US online lender
Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group has led a $1 billion Series E round of funding for Social Finance (SoFi), a Silicon Valley online lending marketplace also backed by China social networking site Renren.
Spice PE invests in Clearwater's India NBFC
Switzerland-based alternative investment firm Spice Private Equity has committed $10 million to Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Altico Capital India.
Sequoia, SAIF in $36m Series B for India's PepperTap
PepperTap, an India-based hyperlocal online grocery delivery start-up, has raised a $36 million Series B round led by online marketplace Snapdeal, with participation from existing investors Sequoia Capital and SAIF Partners.
China bus service start-up gets $31m from VCs
Dada Bus, a mobile-enabled provider of bus services in China, has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) from Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC) and newly-established VC firm Jingqiao Capital.
Deal focus: CDC backs frontier e-commerce strategy
Daraz gets $55 million to build out its online retail marketplace in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar
Tiantu leads Series B for China home renovation platform
Consumer-focused GP Tiantu Capital has led a Series B round of funding for Mei Jia Bang, a Chinese start-up that provides online interior design solutions.
China's Didi Kuaidi invests in Indian peer Ola
China-based ride-hailing app operator Didi Kuaidi has invested an undisclosed sum in Indian counterpart Ola, as part of its latest round of funding.
ADB pledges to double annual climate financing to $6b
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will double its investment in countering climate change in developing countries to $6 billion by 2020, up from the current $3 billion.
Creation, Everstone lead $15m round for India's SLCM
Everstone Capital and Creation Investments Capital Management have led a INR1 billion ($15 million) round for Indian agricultural logistics firm Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM).
Hillhouse, Goldman lead $394m round for China healthcare portal
Guahao.com, a Chinese healthcare information portal, has completed a Series B round of funding worth $394 million led by Hillhouse Capital and Goldman Sachs.
Northern Light leads $12m Series B round for China's Teambition
Northern Light Venture Capital has led a $12 million Series B round for Chinese collaboration app Teambition, with participation by existing investors IDG Capital Partners, Vangoo Capital and Gobi Partners.
Tiantu leads $63m round for China fruit store chain
Chinese fruit store chain Pagoda has completed a RMB400 million ($63 million) Series A round of funding, with consumer-focused GP Tiantu Capital contributing RMB350 million.
China delivery app Beequick raises $70m
Beequick, a Chinese online food and drink delivery app, has completed a Series C round worth $70 million from Hillhouse Capital, Eastern Bell Venture Capital, Tiantu Capital and Sequoia Capital.
CDC invests $55m in Asia frontier markets online retailer
CDC Group, the UK development finance institution, has invested EUR50 million ($55 million) in Daraz, an online retailer operating in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
India home healthcare provider gets $37.5m
Accel Partners has led a $37.5 million Series B round for home healthcare start-up Portea Medical, with participation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Qualcomm Ventures, and Ventureast.
Hudson commits $100m to Japan, Latin America solar partnership
Hudson Clean Energy Partners has teamed up with independent power producer Sky Solar to develop solar projects in Japan and Latin America. The PE firm will contribute $100 million to the partnership.
CMC in $65m round for US VR tech developer Jaunt
Jaunt, a US-based start-up that develops virtual reality (VR) technology, has received a $65 million Series C round of funding led by Walt Disney, media-focused PE firm China Media Capital (CMC), TPG Growth, Evolution Media Partners and Participant Media....
Portfolio: LanzaTech and its VC network
New Zealand-based LanzaTech decided to monetize its anti-pollution technology by recruiting investors in target geographies. Local regulations remain a challenge, but the company is now beginning to scale
Deal focus: Hao recommits to hospital modernization
Hao Capital to support the continued roll-out of DJ HealthUnion's hospital IT solutions platform in China
The long game: Merchant banking-style PE
Ascendent Capital Partners’ China strategy involves advising companies first and raising the prospect of investment second, perhaps with a sizeable gap in between. Does this signal change in the middle market?
BlaBlaCar raises $200m for emerging markets push
Insight Venture Partners and Lead Edge Capital have led a $200 million Series D round for French ride-sharing start-up BlaBlaCar to fuel its push into emerging markets.
China VCs back US communications start-up
A group of VC investors including Morningside Technologies, SIG, GGV Capital, Shunwei Capital Partners and IDG Capital Partners have invested in a $20 million Series B round of funding for Agora, a US-based communications-as-a-service provider.
IDG, Carlyle re-up in China online real estate portal SouFun
IDG Capital Partners and The Carlyle Group will invest between $400 million and $700 million in US-listed Chinese online real estate portal SouFun Holdings, alongside company management.
CMC, Warner Bros agree Chinese language movie JV
Media-focused private equity firm China Media Capital (CMC) and Warner Brothers Entertainment will form a joint venture to produce Chinese language films.