Technology
Sinovation leads $21m round for Chinese AI firm
Sinovation Ventures has led a $20.6 million Series B round for Zhuiyi Technology, a Shenzhen-based artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that specializes in chatbots.
China's Ctrip buys VC-backed Trip.com
Ctrip, China’s largest travel services provider, has made another outbound acquisition with the purchase of US-based Trip.com, which has previously received several rounds of venture capital funding.
UK fintech player gets $280m for Asia push
UK-based fintech company TransferWise has raised a $280 million round led by IVP and Old Mutual Global Investors as part of an expansion in Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Japan's ADK faces lawsuit following Bain tender offer
Bain Capital Private Equity’s buyout offer for Japan-listed advertising agency Asatsu-DK (ADK) has prompted legal action by WPP Group, the company’s largest shareholder.
Qihoo 360 to relist in Shanghai via $7.6b reverse merger
Qihoo 360, a Chinese internet security software provider that was delisted in the US last year by a consortium that includes several PE investors, will relist in Shanghai through a reverse merger worth RMB50.4 billion ($7.57 billion).
China genomics player Annoroad raises $105m Series C
Beijing-based genomics services provider Annoroad has completed a RMB700 million ($105 million) Series C round co-led by Shenzhen GTJA Investment Group and Ping An Ventures. SBCVC and SAIF Partners China also participated.
India's UFO, Qube to merge, ICICI to invest
UFO Moviez, an Indian digital broadcaster with several PE backers, will merge with domestic peer Qube Cinema Technologies, with support from ICICI Venture.
Alibaba leads $335m round for China's Souche
Alibaba Group has led a $335 million Series E round for Chinese online second-hand car trading platform operator Souche. It is the company’s third funding round in the past 12 months.
VC-backed MC Payment to list in Singapore via reverse merger
MC Payment, a Singapore-based financial technology player with several VC backers, will list on the Singapore Stock Exchange's Catalist board via a reverse takeover of domestic peer Artivision Technologies.
Chinese facial recognition player raises $460m
Megvii Technology, a Beijing-based facial recognition software developer, has raised a $460 million Series C round led by China State-owned Venture Capital Fund.
Naspers to back Remitly expansion in India
Naspers has agreed to lead a Series D funding round of up to $115 million via its PayU unit to support an international expansion by US financial technology player Remitly, including a push into India.
Yunfeng leads $120m round for China’s Xiaozhu.com
Chinese PE firm Yunfeng Capital has led a $120 million Series E round of funding for Xiaozhu.com, a Beijing-based short-term rentals platform.
Deal focus: GPs back Klook’s tailored travel offering
Hong Kong-based Klook has won $60 million in funding to further its efforts to consolidate the fragmented travel activities space - in Asia and globally
Thailand's Pomelo gets $19m Series B
Thailand-based clothing retailer Pomelo Fashion has received a $19 million investment from Provident Capital Partners, Lombard Investments and JD.com. It is said to be the largest Series B ever raised by a Thai company.
China’s Guazi raises additional $180m for Series B
Guazi, an online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used car trading platform that spun out from US-listed Chinese classifieds site 58.com, has raised another $180 million to close its Series B round at $600 million.
China used car auction player Tiantian Paiche closes Series C
Tiantian Paiche, a Chinese online used car trading platform, has raised $80 million from investors such as Industrial Bank of China to close its Series C round of funding at $180 million.
ClearVue, TAL lead $55m round for China’s Changingedu
Consumer-focused GP ClearVue Partners and US-listed TAL Education Group have jointly led a $55 million Series D round for Changingedu, a China-based education platform that connects teachers and students.
Australia backs four healthcare tech start-ups in VC push
The CSIRO Innovation Fund, a venture program under the Australian government’s latest science development policy push, has invested in its first four local technology start-ups.
VC-backed auto financing platform Yixin files for HK IPO
Yixin, the VC-backed online financing subsidiary of China-focused online automotive portal Bitauto Holdings, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
Asian GPs join $41m round for Wonder Workshop
Wonder Workshop, a US-based education robot maker with a strong presence in China, has raised a $41 million Series C round from a group of investors including Tencent Holdings, MindWorks Ventures and Softbank Korea.
Indonesia's Snapcart gets $10m Series A round
Vickers Venture Partners has led a $10 million Series A funding round for an international expansion push by Indonesian marketing data researcher Snapcart.
China Everbright, Walden launch semiconductor fund
China Everbright and venture capital firm Walden International Group have jointly launched a $500 million fund focused on semiconductors and industrial technology.
Deal focus: GPs boost Prenetics' Asia genetics effort
Beyond Ventures and Alibaba Group have led a funding round that will support the Asia expansion of Hong Kong-based genetics healthcare start-up Prenetics
Delphi acquires Singapore-focused NuTonomy for $450m
US-based automotive technology developer Delphi Automotive has acquired Singapore-focused VC-backed driverless car start-up NuTonomy for $450 million.