Technology
China's Qihoo completes $9.3b take-private
Qihoo 360, a US-listed Chinese internet security software provider, has been successfully privatized by its chairman and investors ranging from private equity firms to insurance companies, in a deal worth $9.3 billion.
ChrysCapital, Reliance among anchors in L&T Infotech’s Indian IPO
ChrysCapital Investment Advisors India and Reliance Capital were among the anchor investors in L&T Infotech ahead of the IT services company’s INR12.4 billion ($184 million) Indian IPO.
Suning, Tencent invest in China VC-backed cosmetic surgery app
Gengmei, a Chinese cosmetic surgery social networking app backed by several VC investors, has raised an undisclosed amount of Series C funding from Chinese companies Suning Commerce Group and Tencent Holdings.
VCs invest $44m in China mobile app developer DotC United
DotC United, a Hong Kong-based mobile app publisher, has raised a RMB300 million ($44 million) Series A round of funding from several Chinese VC investors, including Banyan Capital and Chengwei Capital.
Tiger to sell Caratlane for $53m
Tiger Global Management will sell its stake in online jewelry retailer Caratlane for INR3.6 billion ($53 million) to jeweler and watchmaker Titan.
India’s VC-backed Yatra Online agrees backdoor US listing
VC-backed Yatra Online, an Indian travel services provider, has agreed to be acquired by a special purpose US buyout firm as part of a backdoor NASDAQ listing scheme that values the company at $218 million.
Legend Capital leads $14m round for China’s Udesk
Legend Capital has led a RMB100 million ($14 million) Series B round of funding for Udesk, a China-based customer service outsourcing business.
Chinese investors in $181m round for US-based Unity
Unity Technologies, a US-based video game engine maker, has closed a $181 million Series C round of funding led by DFJ Growth, with participation from China Investment Corporation (CIC) and Chinese early-stage investor FreeS Fund.
DCM leads $10m round for China big data specialist
DCM Ventures has led a $10 million round for SequoiaDB, a Chinese big data software developer, followed by existing investor Qiming Venture Partners.
Singapore VC: Get smart
Singapore’s smart nation urban development policy has attracted noticeable interest from the VC industry. The plan’s broad inclusiveness and lack of hard targets could bode well for its sustainability
IDG Capital Partners closes $1b China VC fund
IDG Capital Partners has closed its latest China-focused venture capital fund at $1 billion, in partnership with Silicon Valley-based Breyer Capital.
BOV Capital launches $14.9m Sri Lanka VC fund
Sri Lanka and Singapore-based venture firm BOV Capital has launched its maiden INR1 billion ($14.9 million) vehicle, with a mandate to invest in early-stage Sri Lankan technology companies.
CX Partners, Capital Square to exit India's Minacs to US strategic
CX Partners and Capital Square Partners have agreed to exit India and US-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firm The Minacs Group to US-based BPO provider Synnex.
CLSA exits Japanese used car auction operator
CLSA Capital Partners, the alternative asset management arm of Hong Kong-headquartered brokerage and investment group CLSA, has fully exited its stake in Japanese used car auction operator Mirive.
Singapore’s Paktor raises $10m for Japan, Korea expansion
Paktor, a Southeast Asia-focused mobile dating app, has raised $10 million in a new round of funding led by Japan’s YJ Capital, the corporate venture arm of Yahoo Japan.
IIFL, Accion lead round for Indian fintech startup NeoGrowth
IIFL Asset Management and Accion Frontier Inclusion Fund have led a funding round of an undisclosed amount in Indian small retailer-focused fintech start-up NeoGrowth.
Japan's SmartNews secures $38m Series D
Tokyo-based news discovery app SmartNews has raised $38 million in a Series D round led by Development Bank of Japan.
Singapore's Aslan Pharma raises $23m pre-IPO round
Singapore-based biotech company Aslan Pharmaceuticals has raised $23 million in a pre-IPO financing round that attracted participation from a range of new investors, including a number of Taiwanese groups.
China's VC-backed Qufenqi raises $490m pre-IPO round
Qufenqi, a Chinese retailer that allows online buyers to pay in installments for consumer electronics purchases, has raised approximately RMB3 billion ($490 million) in pre-IPO financing.
Australia's Alchemy Ventures launches $150m fund
Australian venture capital firm Alchemy Ventures has launched a A$200 million ($150.3 million) fund that will focus largely on regional start-ups specializing in electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
CMC reaches $350m first close on China media fund
CMC Capital Partners, a private equity firm set up by Ruigang Li, formerly president of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), has reached a first close of just over $350 million on its second US dollar-denominated fund.
Alibaba acquires VC-backed Chinese app platform Wandoujia
Alibaba Group has bought China-based Android mobile app platform Wandoujia - which has several VC and PE investors, including DCM Ventures and Goldman Sachs - for an undisclosed sum.
Cross-border VC: Changes in the wind
US-China cross border investment continues to present exciting opportunities for venture capital firms targeting technology start-ups, but investors must keep up with the pace of the market’s transformation
Sequoia leads $70m round for China cloud services specialist
Existing investor Sequoia Capital China has led a $70 million Series C round for Yuntongxun, a Chinese provider of cloud-based services for corporate communications, followed by TrustBridge Partners.