Technology
Tech entrepreneurs and family offices: Collective might
Investment firms are emerging in Asia that leverage the collective wealth, knowledge and networks of the region's most successful internet entrepreneurs. These are family offices, but not necessarily in the traditional Western model
Chinese long-term property rental players get PE funding
Two more Chinese online long-term property rental platforms – Uoko.com and Baletu.com – have received private equity funding as young people opt to rent rather than buy in a climate of high property prices.
Deal focus: CVC targets consolidation in online trading
CVC Capital Partners is looking to replicate elements of its successful investment in IG Global with Oanda Global Corporation, an online currency trading platform positioned for substantial growth in Asia
China's WeDoctor gets $500m pre-IPO round
WeDoctor, a Chinese online healthcare platform backed by Tencent Holdings, has received a $500 million round of funding – at a valuation of $5.5 billion – from Hong Kong-listed insurance company AIA Group and infrastructure and services conglomerate...
Alibaba buys Rocket-backed South Asia e-commerce business
Alibaba Group has acquired Daraz, an e-commerce platform incubated by Rocket Internet that is the market leader in Pakistan and has a presence in several other South Asian countries.
Walmart to pay $16b for majority stake in India's Flipkart
Walmart has agreed to pay $16 billion for a 77% stake in Flipkart, an Indian e-commerce business that has received substantial private funding. The deal will facilitate full exits for several investors, including SoftBank’s Vision Fund.
Intel Capital backs three Chinese tech start-ups
Intel Capital, the captive VC arm of Intel Corporation, has backed in three Chinese start-ups as part of a $72 million investment in 12 companies based in China and the US.
KPCB leads $20m round for China cross-border retail player
KPCB has led a $20 million Series B funding round for BorderX Lab, a US-based e-commerce services company that helps global retailers connect with Chinese consumers.
South Asia: Indian satellites
India’s economic dominance of South Asia has not translated into a firm leadership role for the region. Private equity strategies therefore vary widely across the country’s immediate geographic orbit
SMIC, Chinese investors to launch semiconductor fund
Hong Kong-listed Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) will launch a RMB1.62 billion ($254 million) fund in partnership with a Chinese government-backed group to invest in semiconductor assets.
Tiger Global’s Jason Tan joins Jeneration
Jason Tan (pictured), formerly a global partner at Tiger Global Management, has joined Hong Kong-based investment firm Jeneration Capital as a partner and CIO.
Chinese rural-focused financing platform gets $47m
Shenma Finance, an online platform that provides vehicle financing to China’s rural population, has received RMB300 million ($47.2 million) in Series C funding led by domestic financial technology player Tongbanjie Group, China Growth Capital, and Hina...
Carlyle hires ex-Kingsoft CEO as senior advisor
The Carlyle Group has appointed former Kingsoft CEO Hongjiang Zhang as a senior advisor to its Asian private equity business. The move is intended to deepen the firm’s coverage of the internet and technology space.
Ping An healthcare business trades flat after $1.1b IPO
Ping An Healthcare & Technology – operator of the Chinese healthcare-focused mobile app known as Ping An Good Doctor – closed flat on its Hong Kong trading debut following an HK$8.77 billion ($1.1 billion) IPO.
GGV closes debut renminbi VC fund at $236m
GGV Capital has raised RMB1.5 billion ($236 million) for its debut renminbi-denominated fund. The successful close takes the Sino-US venture capital firm’s total assets under management past $4 billion.
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.
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.
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).