Technology
China Renaissance recruits ex-GA executive for PE unit
China Renaissance Group has appointed Ke Wei, formerly a managing director at General Atlantic (GA), as a partner in its private equity investment platform, known as the New Economy Fund.
Didi invests $200m in China's VC-backed Renrenche
Chinese ride-hailing app operator Didi Chuxing has invested $200 million in Renrenche, a local consumer-to-consumer used-car trading platform, which is backed by several VC investors.
Singapore’s Sea files for US IPO
Sea, the Singapore-headquartered mobile internet and gaming platform formerly known as Garena, has filed to list on the New York Stock Exchange.
China-backed Canyon Bridge agrees UK semiconductor deal
Canyon Bridge Capital Partners – a private equity firm backed by Chinese LPs that was recently blocked from buying US-based Lattice Semiconductor – has agreed to acquire Imagination Technologies, a chipmaker headquartered in the UK.
China’s 51Job acquires majority stake in VC-backed Lagou
US-listed Chinese recruitment site 51Job has agreed to acquire a 60% stake in industry peer Beijing Lagou Network Technology, which is backed by Qiming Venture Partners and other VC investors, for $119 million.
Hostplus commits $50m in Artesian’s China VC fund
Australian superannuation fund Hostplus has committed $50 million to a China-focused VC fund launched by Australian seed investor Artesian. The fund is targeting up to $200 million.
India's Yatra raises $15m from InnoVen
Yatra Online, an Indian travel services provider listed on NASDAQ, has raised INR1 billion ($15.4 million) in debt funding from InnoVen Capital.
East Ventures launches $30m Southeast Asia VC fund
East Ventures has launched a $30 million Southeast Asia fund that will make seed to Series A investments in technology start-ups, with an emphasis on Indonesia.
Deal focus: TNG targets Asia’s unbanked
Hong Kong financial technology company TNG has secured a $115 million Series A to push its electronic payment solution
Toshiba agrees $18b sale of chip unit to Bain consortium
Japanese conglomerate Toshiba Corporation has reached a final agreement to sell its Nand flash memory unit to a consortium led by Bain Capital for JPY2 trillion ($17.8 billion).
CMC, AlphaX lead $84m round for China Gaosi Education
CMC Capital Partners and AlphaX Partners – a VC firm co-founded by Chuan Thor, formerly a managing director at Highland Capital China – have jointly led a RMB550 million ($84 million) round for Gaosi Education Group, a Chinese education and training...
Drum Tower launches China VC fund
China-based Drum Tower Ventures has launched its first fund, with a view to raising $50 million for early-stage investments globally.
VCs back Thai fintech player Finnomena
Krungsri Finnovate, the VC arm of Thai financial institution Bank of Ayudhya, has led a $3.2 million Series A round for domestic financial technology start-up Finnomena.
India cloud player HighRadius secures $50m
HighRadius, a US and India-based financial technology company focused on cloud computing services, has received $50 million from Susquehanna Growth Equity for a global expansion.
Tiger Global, Genesis lead $230m round for China’s Miss Fresh
Tiger Global Management and Genesis Capital have led an extended Series C round worth $230 million for Miss Fresh, a Chinese online grocery retailer backed by Tencent Holdings. Jeneration Capital also participated.
Waterman exits New Zealand's HealthLink
New Zealand’s Waterman Capital has exited its entire 50% stake in HealthLink, a local online services provider for the healthcare industry, to Ireland-based medical technology specialist Clanwilliam.
Deal focus: Tonbo looks to move beyond defense
WRV Capital is backing Tonbo Imaging, a provider of night vision technology to the Indian military, as it expands into new markets
PE and AI: The machinists
After decades of tantalizing but patchy progress, artificial intelligence is finally seen as ready for mass commercialization. Investors must now weigh an unmissable opportunity with a world of uncertainty
Banyan joins $152m round for China's QianbaoCard
QianbaoCard, a Shanghai-based start-up that provides financial services to local merchants and consumers, has raised a RMB1 billion ($152 million) Series B round of funding from Banyan Capital and other domestic investors.
Portfolio: ChrysCapital and LiquidHub
Despite coming in as a minority investor, ChrysCapital has been key to the overseas expansion of US-based LiquidHub. The firm credits its active collaboration and unique connections
Temasek in $300m round for Taiwan scooter maker
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has joined a $300 million funding round for Taiwan-based electric scooter manufacturer Gogoro.
Singapore's NRF invests $12m in cybersecurity start-ups
Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) has invested S$16 million ($12 million) in new cybersecurity projects, with a view to strengthening the country’s R&D capabilities in this area.
China’s VC-backed Qudian files for US IPO
China-based Qudian, previously known as Qufenqi, a VC-backed micro-lending services provider, has filed for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.
PE-backed Zhong An Insurance targets $1.5b HK IPO
Zhong An Insurance, a Chinese online-only insurance business backed by Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings and Ping An Insurance as well as several PE investors, is looking to raise HK$11.9 billion ($1.5 billion) through a Hong Kong IPO.