Investments
Japanese accelerator launches $17.5m hardware fund
Darma Tech Labs, operator of Japanese hardware-focused accelerator Makers Boot Camp, plans to launch a JPY2 billion ($17.5 million) venture capital fund, with Kyoto Bank serving as the anchor LP.
China NPLs: Great expectations
Foreign private equity firms are positioning themselves to address an anticipated surge in non-performing loan sales to third-party investors. Will the reality match the hype?
Q&A: GGV Capital's Jenny Lee
Jenny Lee, managing partner at Sino-US VC firm GGV Capital, discusses supporting start-ups from early through later-stage rounds, and why technology players increasingly need to think internationally
China cloud computing: Billowing forth
China’s nascent cloud computing industry appears set to replicate a US-style growth trajectory. Venture investment, however, may play a larger role due to a range of cultural and economic differences
Ping An leads Series C for Singapore’s Bigo Live
Bigo Live, a Singapore-based social video streaming app, has raised a Series C round of funding from a Hong Kong-based investment arm of Ping An Insurance Group.
Chengwei leads Series B round for China messaging service provider
Chengwei Capital has led a Series B round of funding for Xin Xi Bao, a Chinese text messaging software developer.
VIDEO: Milton Chou, GE Ventures
Milton Chou, China growth leader and senior director at GE Ventures, discusses the role of a captive VC firm
China chauffeured car service Ucar raises $668m
Chinese chauffeured car service provider Ucar, which is backed by Warburg Pincus and Yunfeng Capital, has raised RMB4.6 billion ($668 million) through a private placement on the National Equities Exchange and Quotation (NEEQ).
CLSA invests in China’s Azoya
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has invested in Chinese cross-border e-commerce solutions provider Azoya.
Northstar considers bid for Singapore-listed Spindex
Northstar Group may submit a buyout offer for Singapore-listed precision components manufacturer Spindex Industries that exceeds a S$98 million ($69.4 million) bid from a consortium led by the company’s chairman.
China’s JD.com spins off VC-backed financial unit
Chinese online retailer JD.com has agreed to sell its entire 68.6% stake in its financial unit JD Finance, which is backed by Chinese investors including Sequoia Capital China, for RMB14.3 billion ($2.1 billion) in cash.
Sequoia leads $30m Series B for Hong Kong's Klook
Sequoia Capital China has led a $30 million Series B funding round for Hong Kong-based travel services company Klook.
Partners Group to acquire 30% of Chinese restaurant chain operator
Partners Group plans to acquire a 30% stake in Affluent Fine, a holding company that operates restaurant chains in China.
Legend Capital leads $12m round for China clothing rental site
Legend Capital has led a $12 million Series A round for Dora’s Dream, an online clothes rental platform based in China.
China VC-backed robotics start-up CloudMinds raises $100m
CloudMinds, a Chinese cloud-based robotics start-up backed by several VC investors, has closed a $100 million Series A round of funding from a group of investors.
EDBI, Hewlett Packard back US IT player's Asia push
Singapore's EDBI and the venture arm of Hewlett Packard’s software spin-off HPE have joined a $21.5 million Series C funding round for an Asian expansion drive by US-based IT company Hedvig.
Alibaba, SAIF invest $200m in India's Paytm
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and SAIF Partners have invested $200 million in the online marketplace unit of Indian online payments platform Paytm.
China rural e-commerce platform raises $145m
Maihuolang Information Technology, a Chinese e-commerce company focused on selling agricultural products, has raised a RMB1 billion ($145 million) Series A round of funding from several domestic GPs.
PAG to pay $612m for Yingde Gases stake
PAG Asia Capital has submitted a cash offer worth HK$4.7 billion ($612 million) for a 42.1% stake in Chinese industrial supply company Yingde Gases.
CDC, Manipal commit $20m to India's iGenetic
Indian healthcare testing firm iGenetic Diagnostics has raised INR1.3 billion ($19.9 million) from UK-based development finance institution (DFI) CDC Group and Indian conglomerate Manipal Education & Medical Group.
New GPs will not shake Australia PE market dynamic - AVCJ Forum
The Australian private equity market has seen the emergence of a number of new GPs – including several spin-outs – but incumbent managers told the AVCJ Australia & New Zealand Forum that they do not expect much change in the competitive landscape.
Deal focus: GPs target healthy scale
Oaktree Capital Management and Navis Capital Partners are merging Fitness First and Celebrity Fitness in the expectation that scale will be rewarded in Southeast Asia's gym market
China bike-sharing start-up Ofo raises $450m Series D
Ofo, a Chinese bike-sharing company, has completed a $450 million Series D round of funding led by DST Global.
Welkin invests $17m in Chinese camellia oil brand
China-focused PE firm Welkin Capital has acquired a 15% stake in Hunan Guitaitai Camelia Oil Technology, a camellia oil specialty brand listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), for RMB120 million ($17 million).