Technology
Indian regulator reviews SoftBank's Flipkart investment
SoftBank Group’s investment in Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, which is expected to facilitate an exit for several existing investors, is being reviewed by the country's competition regulator.
Legend leads $37.5m round for China's ALO7
Legend Capital has led a $37.5 million Series D round for ALO7 Network Technology, which develops English learning materials for Chinese K-12 students.
China truck logistics players Huochebang, Yunmanman agree merger
Rival Chinese online truck logistics platforms Huochebang and Yunmanman – both of which have received substantial private equity and venture funding – have agreed to merge.
Yunfeng backs Chinese automated warehouse solutions provider
Whalehouse Technology, a Shenzhen-based automated warehouse solutions provider, has completed a RMB100 million ($15 million) Series B round of funding led by Yunfeng Capital.
Intractable tech
Even if pan-Asian buyout firms aren't actively pursuing investments in internet-related businesses, they cannot ignore the potential disruptive impact of these technologies on other portfolio companies
China Renaissance adds strategies, targets $10b in AUM by 2020
China Renaissance has added dedicated healthcare and mezzanine debt strategies to its existing growth-stage private equity offering as part of efforts to more than treble its assets under management (AUM) over the next three years.
China's Orient Hontai fails to secure AppLovin buyout, switches to debt deal
US-based mobile marketing platform AppLovin has terminated a planned $1.4 billion acquisition by Orient Hontai Capital, a PE unit of China’s Orient Securities, after a long delay in the regulatory approval process. It has opted for a debt-based deal instead....
Japan-China e-commerce business gets $68m Series C
Inagora, a VC-backed e-commerce platform that supplies Japanese products to Chinese consumers, has received $68 million in Series C funding from Itochu Corp, KDDI Corporation, and SBI Holdings.
Singapore IP fund commits $52m to cloud-based telecom player
The Makara Innovation Fund (MIF) – a Singapore government-backed vehicle that focuses on intellectual property-driven businesses – has made its first investment, backing Asia telecom player MyRepublic.
Asia GPs back $107m Series B for Divergent 3D
A group of Asian GPs including Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing's Horizons Ventures has backed a Series B round of up to $107 million for US electric vehicle (EV) industry supplier Divergent 3D.
India's VC-backed HomeLane buys Capricoast
Indian interior design company HomeLane, which is backed by Aarin Capital and Sequoia Capital, has bought Accel Partners-backed online furniture marketplace Capricoast.
Translink Capital leads $14m round for China's Uhouzz
Uhouzz Network Technology, a China-based online platform that provides homes sales and rental services for overseas students, has raised a $14 million Series B round led by Translink Capital.
Australia tech: Firmer footing
GPs see increasing potential for later-stage investment in the Australian technology sector as early commercial successes and government encouragement help reshape the national psyche
Sabre, CDC lead $26m Series C for India's Portea
Sabre Partners and CDC Group have co-led a $26 million Series C round for Indian home healthcare business Portea Medical.
Chinese autonomous truck start-up TuSimple gets $55m
Chinese self-driving truck technology developer TuSimple has raised a $55 million Series C round led by Hong Kong-based hedge fund Composite Capital, with participation from Sina and Zhiping Capital.
WPP agrees to Bain tender offer for Japan's ADK
Bain Capital Private Equity’s tender offer for Japan-listed advertising agency Asatsu-DK (ADK) has overcome its biggest obstacle as the company’s largest shareholder WPP Group has withdrawn its objection to the deal.
VC-backed DataRobot to invest $11m in Singapore AI
DataRobot, a US-based start-up backed by a number of VCs including Intel Capital, has committed about $11 million to an artificial intelligence (AI) program in Singapore.
Deal focus: Tapping complexity in e-commerce
Southeast Asia-focused retailing services provider aCommerce has received $65 million in Series B funding to support not only geographical expansion but also a move into B2B to complement existing B2C capabilities
Chinese ride-hailing operator Shouqi receives $195m Series B
Shouqi Limousine & Chauffeur, a Chinese ride-booking app backed by local transportation company Shouqi Group, has raised RMB1.3 billion ($195 million) in a Series B round across two tranches.
PAG buys majority stake in Chinese dating service Zhenai
PAG Asia Capital has acquired a controlling interest of nearly 75% in Zhenai, a Chinese online matchmaking and dating service provider that earlier this month abandoned plans for a reverse merger in Shenzhen.
Tencent leads $40m round for China's Ubtech Robotics
Tencent Holdings has led a $40 million Series C round of funding for Shenzhen-based Ubtech Robotics, a humanoid robot maker backed by CDH Investments and Goldstone Investment.
KKR media platform leads $65m round for Southeast Asia's aCommerce
Emerald Media, an Asian investment platform created by KKR, has led a $65 million Series B funding round for Thailand-based online retailing services company aCommerce.
China's Jianpu trades weakly after $180m US IPO
Jianpu Technology, a subsidiary of Chinese VC-backed financial products search and recommendation platform Rong360, has slipped below its IPO price following a $180 million offering on the New York Stock Exchange.
DCM leads $75m round for China's Maimai
DCM Ventures has led $75 million Series C round for Maimai, a Chinese social networking app for professionals, with participation from existing backers IDG Capital and Morningside Venture Capital.