Technology
Stripes Group leads $81m round for India's Bigtree Entertainment
US venture capital firm Stripes Group has led an INR5.5 billion ($81.4 million) funding round for India’s Bigtree Entertainment, the company behind cinema and events ticketing site BookMyShow.
Legend spin-out Joy Capital raises $200m for VC fund
Joy Capital, a Chinese venture capital firm that spun out from Legend Capital, has raised $200 million for its debut fund.
Go Scale agrees EV battery partnership with SPI Energy
Go Scale Capital, a technology-focused PE firm with links to GSR Ventures, has teamed up with US-listed solar power specialist SPI Energy on a $500 million project to build an electric vehicle (EV) battery projects business in China and globally.
Gobi leads $3m round for Australia's Airwallex
Gobi Partners has led a A$5 million ($3 million) round of funding for Australia-based digital payment services developer Airwallex.
American dreams: China targets US semiconductor assets
Chinese interest in semiconductor assets has again put the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US under the spotlight. Not all deals get through, but corporate China is generally braver and better informed
DCM closes Asia-US fund at $500m hard cap
DCM has closed its latest global fund, which primarily targets investments in China and the US, at the hard cap of $500 million.
US-based Ayla gets $39m round for Asia expansion
Chinese boutique investment bank and asset manager Ants Capital has led a $39 million Series C round for Ayla Networks as the US-based internet-of-things (IoT) company consolidates its Asian footprint.
Australia's Telstra buys Blue Sky-backed Readify
Telstra has acquired Blue Sky Private Equity’s majority stake in Australian IT services company Readify.
Brand Capital invests $22m in India's Meru
Brand Capital has invested INR1.5 billion ($22.2 million) in Indian app-based taxi service provider Meru Cab.
China consumer data analysis business gets $20m Series A
GrowingIO, a Chinese data analysis company founded by executives from LinkedIn’s business analytics division, has raised a $20 million Series A round from Matrix Partners China, NEA and Greylock Partners.
Deal focus: IDG backs Circle’s payments play
Circle is ready to test its blockchain-based online peer-to-peer payments platform in China, with support from a string of local financial and strategic investors
China Mobile fund leads $100m round for job site Liepin
A fund launched by China Mobile in partnership with the State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC) has led a $100 million Series D round of funding for online recruitment services provider Liepin.com.
Lightspeed China closes Fund III at $260m
Lightspeed China Partners has reached a final close of $260 million on its third venture fund, substantially above the vehicle's $240 million target.
OneVentures backs Australia's Employment Hero
OneVentures has led a A$3 million ($2.2 million) Series A round of funding for Australian online human resources services start-up Employment Hero.
Bertelsmann leads $32m round for India's Lendingkart
Bertelsmann India Investments has led a $32 million Series B round for Indian finance platform Lendingkart.
Indonesia VC: Work in progress
As Indonesia’s start-up space matures, with ever more capital pouring in, VC players recognize that exits are the key to creating a sustainable investment environment. However, it is still early days
Deal focus: Asia-IO embraces machine learning
Asia-IO Advisors' strategic co-investment with Foxconn Technology Group has led to the creation of a systems integration specialist that will help manufactures embrace 'industry 4.0'
Wavemaker takes over Ardent's SE Asia venture portfolio
US venture capital firm Wavemaker Partners has taken over the venture portfolio of Thailand-based Ardent Capital.
China Everbright's mezzanine fund backs Neusoft Medical
China Everbright has invested an undisclosed amount in Chinese healthcare conglomerate Neusoft Holdings through its renminbi-denominated mezzanine fund.
Rocket-backed frontier markets e-commerce platforms to merge
Two Asian frontier markets e-commerce platforms created by Rocket Internet – Daraz and Kaymu – have agreed to merge.
Waterbridge in first close on early-stage India fund - report
Waterbridge Ventures, an India-based VC firm founded by angel investor Manish Kheterpal, has reached a first close of $5 million on its fund targeting early and seed-stage investments.
Telstra completes sale of Autohome stake to Ping An
Australia’s Telstra has closed the sale of a 47.7% interest in Chinese auto services company Autohome to Ping An Insurance Group for $1.6 billion.
China’s Qunar receives take-private bid
Chinese private equity firm Ocean Management has made a take-private offer for domestic travel site Qunar that values the US-listed company at about $4.4 billion.
Ant Financial backs Chinese insurance firm
Ant Financial, the online finance affiliate of China's Alibaba Group, has joined a consortium of investors supporting the establishment of Xinmei Mutual Life Insurance Agency.