Greater China
China VC: Funding puzzles
Late-stage investors are appearing in earlier funding rounds in China, offering premium valuations but potentially leaving start-ups in situations where they have too much too soon
China 5G chip designer Cygnus raises $100m
Chinese 5G chip design company Cygnus Semiconductor has raised USD 100m in Series A funding and an extended pre-Series A round led by Matrix Partners China and Wofo Capital.
China e-commerce SaaS player secures $100m Series C
China-based e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider Dianxiaomi has secured a USD 100m Series C round led by Tiger Global Management and Huaxing Growth Capital.
Deal focus: ADV's Asia hygiene platform play
ISS Environmental Services is well-positioned as Hong Kong’s preferred provider of portable toilets. But ADV Partners has acquired the business with a view to executing a regional roll-up strategy
Hong Kong's Future Fund to set up tech investment pool
A HKD 5bn (USD 640m) strategic tech fund will be established under Hong Kong’s Future Fund as part of an initiative to make direct investments that underpin the territory’s status as a hub for finance, commerce, and innovation as well as generate returns....
Sequoia, Legend back China autonomous driving player Inceptio
Sequoia Capital China and Legend Capital have led a USD 188m Series B extension for Inceptio, a Chinese autonomous driving technology developer that specialises in line-haul trucking.
China cross-border fintech start-up secures $20m
Dowsure, a Shenzhen-based financial technology start-up that has developed credit-checking software that enables banks to lend to small-scale e-commerce vendors, has secured USD 20m in Series B funding.
ZWC, IDG back China social CRM service provider
Wshoto – a Chinese social customer relationship management (SCRM) service provider that focuses on the WeChat ecosystem - has raised a CNY 300m (USD 47m) Series B round across two tranches.
CLSA launches $500m China growth fund
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has launched a China growth fund focused on healthcare, smart manufacturing, renewable energy, tech-enabled media. The target is USD 500m.
Deal focus: Sobot's journey from underdog to top dog
A USD 100m Series D confirmed Sobot’s status as a stalwart of China’s customer service software space, but getting there has not been a straightforward process
Deal focus: Freight player G7 eyes public listing
Having expanded its business scope from hardware into software and financial services, G7 Network is positioning its recent USD 200m PE investment as a pre-IPO round
AVCJ Awards 2021: Deal of the Year – Large Cap: China Biologic
For Centurium Capital, China Biologic was no ordinary take-private. It was the culmination of a multi-year effort to tighten the company’s shareholding structure and root out management inefficiencies
Huaxing Growth hits $800m second close on China fund
Huaxing Growth Capital, the private equity division of China Renaissance, has achieved a USD 800m second close on its fourth flagship US dollar-denominated fund.
L Catterton backs China pet food brand
L Catterton, a private equity firm specialising in consumer sector investments, has committed an undisclosed sum to Shanghai Enova Pet Products, owner of Chinese premium pet food brand Pure & Natural.
China's Fenbeitong raises $140m
Chinese enterprise payment and expense management software provider Fenbeitong has raised USD 140m at a valuation of at least USD 1bn in an extended Series C round led by DST Global.
Hong Kong game developer 6Waves bought by European strategic
6Waves, a Hong Kong-based mobile game developer that previously received funding from Insight Partners, has been acquired by Swedish gaming studio Stillfront Group for USD 201m, comprising cash and shares.
Blue Owl recruits Pak-Seng Lai from UBS
Blue Owl Capital, a US alternatives manager expanding its Hong Kong operations, has hired Pak-Seng Lai, a managing director at UBS, to head its Asia Pacific private wealth business.
Southeast Asia cosmetics brand Y.O.U raises $40m
Hidden Hill Capital - a private equity firm established by warehouse operator GLP - has led a USD 40m Series C round for Southeast Asian cosmetics brand Y.O.U.
Apax backs China tax SaaS player Yunzhangfang
Yunzhangfang, a China-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider specialising in corporate tax and financial management, has raised close to USD 100m in Series E funding from Apax Partners.
China truck smart devices manufacturer raises $200m
G7 Networks, a Chinese company that uses smart devices to track cargo trucks, has raised a USD 200m round led by Trustbridge Partners, and State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC). Several existing investors re-upped.
Vision Fund leads Series D for China's Sobot
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a USD 100m Series D round for Sobot, a China-based customer service software provider. Other investors include GL Ventures, Yunqi Partners, and Mirae Asset Financial Group.
LP interview: Adams Street Partners
Adams Street Partners believes having a close-knit Asia team, which cuts across geographies, sectors, and stages, informs a big-picture view that enables it to look beyond near-term dislocations
Fund focus: Ion Pacific goes institutional
Pitching a niche VC capital secondaries strategy with a meaningful focus on Asia isn’t easy, but Ion Pacific raised nearly 4x more than last time with large family offices well-represented in the LP base
Deal focus: Proterra's alternative take on incubation
Early-stage bets on oat milk and healthy beverages in Asia by Proterra Investment Partners reflect a willingness to back nascent brands, but in doing so, the firm believes it is dialling down the risk