Investments
CITIC joins $34m round for Japanese e-commerce platform
CITIC Capital has participated in a JPY3.6 billion ($34.1 million) funding round for Active Sonar, operator of Reclo, a Japanese online re-selling platform for luxury brands.
Fosun invests $18m in Chinese pet services player
Fosun Group has agreed to invest RMB130 million ($18.4 million) in Pet Doctor, a Chinese one-stop pet services platform that supplies everything from software for pet hospitals to consultations for pet owners.
Japan's JPIC backs $33m round for Atonarp
Japan Post Investment Corporation (JPIC) has backed a $33 million Series C round for Atonarp, a Tokyo-based molecular diagnostics systems developer that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
Chinese e-commerce sourcing partner xyb2b gets $100m
Xyb2b.com, a B2B platform that helps Chinese e-commerce companies source products from overseas, has completed an extended Series B round of funding worth $100 million.
Ant Financial, Primavera back Chinese vending machine provider
Beijing Ubox Online Technology, a Chinese vending machine manager, has received RMB1.6 billion ($226 million) in funding from Ant Financial Services Group and Primavera Capital Group.
Fund focus: CITIC Capital eyes divestment opportunity
CITIC Capital has scaled up for its latest China fund, raising 75% more capital than in the previous vintage. The buyout-focused GP expects tighter liquidity to drive more corporate carve-outs
US fintech player Tala targets India with $110m Series D
Tala, a US financial technology provider looking to expand its microlending operations in India, has raised a $110 million Series D round from a group including PayPal Ventures.
Singapore-based Play closes debut gaming fund at $40m
Play Ventures, a Singapore-based VC firm focused on gaming start-ups in Europe, Asia, and North America, has closed its debut fund at $40 million.
Deal focus: India AI player Uniphore eyes post-call center world
Fresh from raising a $51 million Series C round, Uniphore's founder argues that artificial intelligence will become as much about quality of engagement as back-end efficiency
Cerberus to assume control of Australia's Axsesstoday
Cerberus Capital Management has agreed to acquire the operating assets of bankrupt Australian equipment finance specialist Axsesstoday.
Sodexo Ventures backs China catering platform
Sodexo Ventures, the venture capital arm of French food and facilities management services conglomerate Sodexo, has made its second investment in China, committing an undisclosed amount to technology-enabled catering service Meican.
Japan edge computing specialist gets $7.8m
Global Brain has led a $7.8 million round for Idein, a Japanese technology developer focused on systems for device-level data processing, also known as edge computing.
Tencent re-ups in China B2B trading platform Yijiupi
Tencent Holdings has invested $80 million in Yijiupi, a China-based online B2B trading platform that is looking to continue its expansion from liquor into other consumer goods categories.
Chinese hotel marketing platform receives $42m
Zhiketong – a WeChat-based direct sales and marketing service for high-end hotels – has completed its Series C round, having raised RMB300 million ($42.5 million) across three tranches.
Japanese space robot developer gets Series A round
Gitai, a Japanese start-up that is developing robots that can replace astronauts on low-orbit space missions, has raised $4.1 million in Series A funding.
China's Ping An joins $72m round for US AI player
China’s Ping An Insurance has co-led a $72.5 million Series D round alongside Goldman Sachs for US artificial intelligence (AI) developer H2O with a view to expanding its Asian operations.
Vulcan Capital expands into Asia
Vulcan Capital, a US-based venture investor set up by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, has opened a Singapore office and earmarked $100 million for investment in Southeast Asia.
CPPIB cleared to invest in India's Delhivery
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has been cleared to acquire a stake of up to 8% in Indian e-commerce logistics service provider Delhivery.
Chinese social e-commerce player raises $20m
Wanwu Xinxuan, a Chinese social e-commerce start-up that specializes in products for infants and children, has raised $20 million in a Series B round of funding led by local consumer sector-focused venture capital firm Fresh Capital.
Fund focus: Kotak exploits distressed assets edge
Kotak Mahindra Group hopes his longstanding experience in financial services will serve as a differentiator as it looks for deals in India's increasingly popular distressed space
Sovereign investors and technology: Smart nations
Conservative sovereign wealth investors are increasingly comfortable making direct commitments to venture-oriented technology companies. The strategy appears to suit them but remains to be validated
Singapore's RedDoorz raises $70m
Singapore hotel management and booking platform RedDoorz has raised $70 million in Series C funding less than a month after closing a $45 million Series B.
PEP to acquire APAC business of US-based Horizon
Australia’s Private Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to pay A$340 million ($230 million) for the Asia Pacific division of US automotive industry equipment supplier Horizon Global.
China's CHJ Automotive gets $530m Series C
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer CHJ Automotive has raised $530 million in Series C funding led by Xing Wang, founder of online-to-offline services platform Meituan Dianping.