Sectors
Fund focus: Sky9 seeks early-stage differentiation
Having raised two VC funds with Lightspeed China Partners, Ron Cao has closed his first at Sky9 Capital with $200 million in commitments. The industry dynamics have changed, but Cao is sticking to his early-stage roots
GGV leads $15.7m Series B for China's Synyi
Synyi, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that helps hospitals and medical research institutes process and manage data, has received RMB100 million ($15.7 million) in Series B funding led by GGV Capital.
Sequoia, Saama to exit US, India-based analytics company
Sequoia Capital India and Saama Capital will exit their 10-year investment in ScioInspire Holdings, a healthcare analytics platform with operations in the US, UK and India, through a merger with US-listed industry peer EXL.
India's Zodius hires executive from Providence
Varun Laul (pictured), the sole remaining India-based representative of Providence Equity Partners, has left the GP to join technology-focused venture capital firm Zodius Capital.
Chinese robot developer gets $820m Series C round
Tencent Holdings has led an $820 million Series C round of funding for Ubtech, valuing the Chinese manufacturer of consumer humanoid robots at approximately $5 billion.
GSR invests $236m in China environmental technology player
GSR Capital, a Chinese private equity firm with a strong interest in clean energy technology, has agreed to invest RMB1.5 billion ($236 million) in overleveraged domestic environmental project developer Shenwu Technology Group.
Deal focus: CITIC backs China geothermal energy player
Investing in Icelandic geothermal energy required a certain level of creative thinking from CITIC Capital and China Everbright. But their partner, Artic Green Energy, is already making a difference in China's polluted cities
PE-backed Xiaomi set for Hong Kong IPO
Xiaomi, a Chinese smart phone maker that has received substantial venture capital and private equity funding, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
Lilly Asia leads $25m round for US-based Avedro
Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV) has led a $25 million round for Avedro, a US-based ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical devices company with a view to expanding in Asia.
PE-backed GR Infraprojects files for India IPO
Indian road and highway developer GR Infraprojects has filed for an IPO that will see Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) exit the bulk of its stake.
India's Bizongo gets $22m round
Indian business-to-business packaging marketplace Bizongo has raised a $22 million Series B round led by B Capital and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
CVC buys currency trading platform to support Asia expansion
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to acquire currency trading platform Oanda Global Corporation with a view to helping the company further develop its business in Asia.
Portfolio: CLSA Capital Partners and Japan's Worldtool
By targeting Japan’s amateur car enthusiast community Worldtool created a new distribution channel for automotive tools in the country. CLSA Capital Partners has helped take the company’s model overseas
China online-to-offline: Retail reorientation
As technology brings the buyer closer to the seller, some investors are put off by the uncertainty while others see opportunities in finding ways to digitize – or further disrupt – traditional retailers
India's Unitus reaches $15m first close on second impact fund
Indian VC firm Unitus Ventures (formerly Unitus Seed Fund) has reached a first close of INR1 billion ($15 million) for its second early-stage impact investment fund.
PE-backed STX Entertainment files for Hong Kong IPO
STX Entertainment, a film and TV studio that claims to bridge the US and Chinese markets, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong. The company’s investors include Hony Capital and TPG Capital’s growth arm.
China's Baidu to establish internet, AI-focused fund
Chinese search giant Baidu has announced plans for an investment fund that will concentrate on start-ups with pan-internet and artificial intelligence (AI) strategies. The vehicle – known as Changcheng Investment Partners – will have initial capital of...
GIP to buy IDFC's India infrastructure business
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has agreed to buy the infrastructure business of IDFC Alternatives, the alternative asset investment arm of India’s IDFC Group.
TPG, Carlyle lead $1.9b round for Baidu's financial services unit
TPG Capital and The Carlyle Group have led a $1.9 billion funding round for Chinese search giant Baidu’s financial services unit, which is being spun out as Du Xiao Man.
Capital Group leads Series E for China's Innovent Biologics
Capital Group Private Markets (CGPM), a private equity affiliate of US-based Capital Group Companies, has led a $150 million Series E round for Chinese biopharmaceutical developer Innovent Biologics.
EV in Asia: Easy riders
Higher scooter and motorcycle use rates in Asia suggest an opening for the region to take the lead in clean mobility. Early investors in electric two-wheelers have outlined the opportunity
SIG leads $13.5m round for US, China-based Castbox
SIG China has led a $13.5 million Series B funding round for Castbox, a US and China-based podcasting platform with content in multiple languages.
China car-trading platform Renrenche gets $300m
Goldman Sachs, Tencent Holdings and ride-hailing business Didi Chuxing have led a $300 million funding round for Renrenche, a Chinese consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used-car trading platform.
Asian investors commit $150m to Arctic Green Energy
CITIC Capital and China Everbright have committed $100 million in debt and equity funding to Iceland-based geothermal energy developer Arctic Green Energy (AGE), alongside a $50 million loan facility provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).