Funds
VC-backed eHi Car Services raises $120m in US IPO
EHi Car Services, a Shanghai-based car rental company backed by a string of VC investors, has raised $120 million through an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Bubble talk: VC valuations
In Beijing and Silicon Valley, there is cause for concern at the flood of capital entering the technology space. It draws comparisons with the dotcom bubble era – but VCs at the AVCJ Forum were keen to play down the similarities.
VC-backed Japanese gaming start-up files for Tokyo IPO
Gumi, the VC-backed Japanese game developer, has filed for its Tokyo IPO, which could value the company at JPY100 billion ($900 million).
Vertex leads $30m round for Chinese e-commerce site Metao
Vertex Ventures has led a $30 million round of funding for Metao, a Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform, with participation from Morningside Technologies, Greenwoods Investment and Matrix Partners.
China’s Alipay, VC back mobile tech specialist V-Key
Alibaba Group’s online payment platform Alipay and IPV Capital have invested $12 million in a Series B round for V-key, a Singapore and US-based start-up specializing in mobile security and cryptography.
Hillhouse, CITIC PE commit $75m to Chinese cancer drug developer
Hillhouse Capital and CITIC Private Equity have participated in a RMB450 million ($75 million) round of funding for BeiGene, a Chinese company that develops drugs to combat cancer.
CITIC Securities, Shenzhen Capital invest in online art trading platform
CITIC Securities and Shenzhen Capital have invested $100 million in a Series B round of funding for Hihey.com, an online trading platform for Chinese art.
Tencent, Line invest $110m in South Korean game developer
Chinese internet company Tencent Holdings and Japanese messaging app Line Corp. have invested $110 million in 4:33 Creative Labs, a South Korean, VC-backed mobile games developer.
VCs cast doubt on dotcom era comparisons - AVCJ Forum
Venture capital investors played down comparisons between the current soaring valuations in the technology space and the dotcom bubble era.
Auda hires FLAG Squadron's Eunseok So
Auda International has appointed Eunseok So, formerly of FLAG Squadron Asia, as a senior vice president in its Hong Kong office.
Japan's J-Star buys two healthcare providers
Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star has acquired two new care providers - Nagoya-headquartered Nurse Call and Kanagawa-based Kairos & Company - within weeks of its 5x exit from similar business HCM Corporation.
CVC’s Hemal Mirani to rejoin HarbourVest
Hemal Mirani, head of Asia investor relations at CVC Capital Partners, will join HarbourVest Partners as a managing director. She previously spent over 11 years at HarbourVest before leaving in 2009 for the role at CVC.
Taiwan VC: Captive element
Taiwanese corporations are launching captive VC units to invest in technologies that can update their product offerings. The new source of funding is welcome in the absence of independent VCs, but is it a panacea?
VCs worried but enthused by frothy China tech sector - AVCJ Forum
The flood of capital entering China’s technology space is a concern for VC investors, but they remain firm believers in the emerging generation of mobile-enabled consumers that is driving interest in the sector.
Forum Synergies leads Series B round for Indian ethnic clothing retailer
Forum Synergies has led a Series B round of funding worth INR300-500 million ($4.9-8.1 million) for CBazaar.in, an Indian online ethnic fashion retailer.
VC-backed Chinese dating app Momo files for US IPO
Momo, a Chinese location-based social-networking app best known for its “flirting” function, has filed for a US IPO. Backers include Alibaba Group, Matrix Partners, Yunfeng Capital and Sequoia Capital.
GSR commits $2m to China enterprise management app
GSR Ventures has committed $2 million in a Series A round of funding for Waiqin365, a Chinese customer relationship management (CRM) mobile app.
Infinity Venture launches third China, Japan fund
Japanese tech-focused investor Infinity Venture Partners has launched its third fund - Infinity e.venture Asia III - which will focus on start-ups in Japan and China.
SIG, SoftBank back China wearables maker Codoon
SoftBank China Venture Capital (SBCVC) and SIG Asia have invested $30 million in a Series B round of funding for Codoon, a Chinese wearable electronic devices manufacturer.
KPCB China’s Tina Ju launches new fund under TDF banner
KPCB China's Tina Ju is reactivating the TDF Capital franchise as she looks to raise $200 million for a venture capital fund that will target technology, media and telecom, consumer and healthcare deals.
Qiming, Innovation Works invest $22m in China Face++
Qiming Venture Partners and Innovation Works have participated in a $22 million Series B round of funding for Face++, a Chinese face recognition technology developer.
Auda hires ex-Paul Capital Asia head Lucian Wu
Lucian Wu, previously co-head of Asia at Paul Capital Partners, has joined Auda as a managing director.
Pantheon gets emerging markets mandate from Finland's VER
Pantheon has won a EUR100 million ($124 million) mandate from Valtion Eläkerahasto (VER), the Finnish state pension fund, for investments across Asia and emerging markets.
Hera Capital re-ups in Philippines-based Cashcashpinoy
Singapore-based private equity investor Hera Capital has committed an additional $2 million in a Series B round of funding for Cashcashpinoy, a Philippines-based online shopping platform.