Technology
Deal focus: JD.com plugs Farfetch into China
Having previously distanced itself from mainstream e-commerce players, luxury online fashion retailer Farfetch has received $397 million from JD.com with a view to entering the China market
Rocket, Kinnevik exit as Alibaba pumps $1b into Lazada
Alibaba Group will invest about $1 billion to take its stake in Southeast Asia-based e-commerce platform Lazada from 51% to 83%, enabling investors including Rocket Internet and AB Kinnevik to make a full exit.
VC secondaries: Trading unicorns
Secondary investors are seeing more deal flow in the venture capital space as GPs seek to generate returns on assets that are taking longer than expected to go IPO. Valuations remain a sticking point
Yunfeng leads $29m round for China media company
China-focused PE firm Yunfeng Capital has led a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round of funding for Tianjin Galaxy Cool Media, a local online video content producer.
Warburg Pincus leads $64m round for Singapore's Trax
Warburg Pincus has led a $64 million investment in Trax, a Singapore-based company that has developed visual technology through which retailers can link sales to in-store and on-shelf positioning.
Korean GP buys majority stake in Vietnam’s VNPT ePay
UTC Investment, a private equity firm backed by South Korean food producer Daesang Corporation, has finalized its acquisition of a 65% stake in VNPT ePay, the electronic payment arm of Vietnam’s VMG Media.
Singapore's Gordian Capital spins out Beenext VC fund
Gordian Capital, a Singapore-based asset manager, has confirmed Beenext Capital Management as its second venture capital spin-out this week.
Western Digital, KKR resubmit bid for Toshiba memory unit
Western Digital and KKR have resubmitted an offer for Toshiba’s Nand flash memory business, despite the Japanese conglomerate last week naming a consortium featuring Bain Capital as the preferred bidder in the JPY2 trillion ($18 billion) deal.
Zombie start-ups: On the same side
Zombie companies present a special challenge for VC investors, whose exit goals may not match the aims of the founders. Successful GPs will try to ensure a positive experience for all parties
Sequoia leads $18m Series C for India's OneAssist
Sequoia Capital India has led an $18 million Series C funding round for Mumbai-based payment security system company OneAssist.
KVIC, US tech player launch Korea VC fund
Government-back fund-of-funds Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC) and Applied Ventures, the VC arm of US-listed technology developer Applied Materials, have jointly launched a fund focused on Korea start-ups.
Australia's VC-backed GetSwift receives $18m investment
IFM Investors has joined a A$24 million ($18.2 million) investment in GetSwift, an Australia-listed and VC-backed software provider focused on the logistics sector.
Singapore's Gordian Capital spins out Qualgro VC fund
The team behind Qualgro ASEAN, a venture capital fund established under Singapore asset manager Gordian Capital in 2015, has spun out to form an independent VC firm.
China agricultural services platform secures $29m round
Orchid Asia Group and China Growth Capital have jointly led a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round for Dafengshou, a Shenzhen-based agricultural supply chain service online platform. Existing investor Matrix Partners also participated.
Private equity and data centers: Get connected
With demand for outsourced data center services poised to take off in Asia, private equity investors are looking for ways to participate in the growth story
China’s JD.com invests $397m in PE-backed Farfetch
China-based JD.com has invested $397 million in UK-based Farfetch, a PE-backed online luxury fashion retailer, as part of a new strategic partnership to pursue growth in China.
Japan's Softbank invests $100m in Cybereason
SoftBank Corp. has agreed to invest $100 million in a Series D funding round for Cybereason, a US-headquartered cybersecurity platform provider targeting expansion in Japan.
Matrix, Falcon Edge join $31m round for India's Mswipe
Indian mobile point-of-service (POS) developer Mswipe has raised a $31 million funding round led by RNT Capital Advisors, with participation by existing investors Matrix Capital Partners, Falcon Edge Capital and DSG Consumer Partners.
Lightspeed leads $4m Series A for India's Darwinbox
Lightspeed India Partners has led a $4 million Series A round for Indian human resources (HR) services platform operator Darwinbox.
Southeast Asia tourism: Thinking small
Travel start-ups in Southeast Asia are attracting scattered but enthusiastic interest from venture capital investors. Success in navigating the sector’s early days will be a matter of niche targeting
China dating app Tantan raises $70m Series D
Chinese mobile dating app Tantan has raised $70 million in a Series D round of funding led by US-listed live video streaming firm YY and Genesis Capital, with participation from SAIF Partners China and Zhongwei Capital.
Deal focus: Seven Dreamers makes laundry robot a reality
KKR co-founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts and Fosun International have joined a $22.8 million Series C round for Seven Dreamers, which will use the capital to accelerate production of its Laundroid
Bain, INCJ consortium named preferred bidder for Toshiba chip unit
Japanese conglomerate Toshiba has selected a consortium led by the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and including Bain Capital as the preferred bidder in the sale of its Nand flash memory unit, Toshiba Memory Corporation (TMC).
PE-backed IEX files for India IPO
Online energy trading platform India Energy Exchange (IEX) has filed for an IPO, providing a partial exit for several private equity backers.