China
C-Bridge backs China pharma merger
China healthcare-focused GP C-Bridge Capital and Tasly Holding, a traditional Chinese medicine business, have agreed to invest $150 million in a newly-created entity formed through the merger of two local pharmaceutical companies.
Tencent leads $350m round for VC-backed Kuaishou
Kuaishou, a Chinese live-streaming video app backed by VC investors and search engine Baidu, has raised $350 million in a new round of funding led by Tencent Holdings.
China video communication player Xiaoyu Link gets $18m
Xiaoyu Link, a Chinese video communication services provider, has raised a RMB125 million ($18 million) Series B round of funding jointly led by ZhenFund and Zhen Cheng Fund.
China NPL securitization: Pass the parcel
China wants to use securitization and debt-for-equity swaps to address its non-performing loan problem. Even without structural concerns and political agendas, they are unlikely to supplant portfolio sales
China real estate financial services player Dadao raises $29m
Shenzhen Qianhai Dadao Financial Services, a Chinese start-up that specializes in residential property financial services, has raised a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round led by Huaxing Capital Partners, the private equity arm of China Renaissance.
IFC-backed Minsheng Education gains after Hong Kong IPO
China’s Minsheng Education Group closed up 9.4% on its first day of trading in Hong Kong, following a HK$1.38 billion ($177 million) IPO in which the International Finance Corporation (IFC) participated as a cornerstone investor.
China’s state-backed SME fund leads round for Tianyancha
China’s National Small & Medium Enterprises Development Fund has led a RMB130 million ($18 million) Series A round for Tianyancha, a Beijing-based business data search firm.
Alibaba assumes control of VC-backed online ticket platform
Alibaba Group has taken full ownership of Damai.cn, a leading Chinese online ticketing platform that previously raised funding from VC investors.
Portfolio: Eight Roads and China's DeltaHealth
Eight Roads decided to leverage the development of China’s healthcare sector by building a hospital, but addressing the various challenges that come with a greenfield strategy requires very patient capital
Due diligence: Behind the curve
Gaining an accurate impression of an industry is vital for investors, but this can be difficult in markets where information is patchy or unreliable. Those who hope to prosper must learn to judge data carefully
CMC, HG Capital lead $26m round for China’s Newrank
China-focused GPs CMC Capital Partners and HG Capital have jointly led a RMB180 million ($26 million) Series B round of funding for Newrank, a Shanghai-based media platform.
China travel sites Woqu, Lulutrip merge, raise $25m
Chinese outbound online travel platforms Woqu.com and Lulutrip – both of which have received several rounds of funding from VC and strategic investors – have agreed to merge. The combined entity has received $25 million in new funding.
Chinese car-trading platform Mychebao gets $100m Series C
PAG Asia Capital has led a $100 million Series C round of funding for Mychebao.com, a Chinese online auction platform for second-hand cars.
SDIC Fund leads $40m Series B for Chinese drug developer
Suzhou Ribo Life Science, a Chinese drug developer that focuses on liver diseases, has raised a RMB270 million ($40 million) Series B round led by SDIC Fund Management.
Chinese logistics robot developer Geek+ secures $14m
Chinese logistics and warehousing robotics developer Geek+ has raised a RMB100 million ($14 million) round of funding led by Vertex Ventures China.
Ex-MBK Greater China head to launch private equity firm
Kuo-Chan Kung, former head of Greater China at MBK Partners (pictured), is launching his own private equity firm called Nexus Point Partners.
China's Makeblock gets $30m Series B round
Evolution Media China (EMC) and Shenzhen Capital Group have led a $30 million Series B round for Shenzhen-based education and robotics start-up Makeblock.
China launches $21.7b SOE restructuring fund
Guangzhou Industrial Investment Fund Management, an investment arm of the Guangzhou government, has partnered with China Reform Holdings and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to launch a state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring fund with a target size...
Investors need boots on the ground to target China distress - AVCJ Forum
The credit and distress investment opportunity is significant – and expected to grow – but an on-the-ground presence is seen as essential to accessing it, industry participants told the AVCJ China Forum.
China buyouts depend on industry, company expertise - AVCJ Forum
Chinese GPs are shifting to buyout strategies with a view to having more influence and operational input in portfolio companies, but they should have clear plans on post-deal integration when making these investments.
Productivity, innovation critical to a changing China - AVCJ Forum
China is adjusting to a slower growth model driven by consumption rather than investment, but significant gains can still be made through productivity and innovation, industry participants told the AVCJ China Forum.
Euronet challenges Alibaba's acquisition of PE-backed MoneyGram
US payment services company Euronet Worldwide has extended a buyout offer worth about $2 billion for NASDAQ-listed MoneyGram, contesting a bid made earlier this year by Alibaba Group’s PE-backed affiliate Ant Financial. The pending sale will provide...
Fund focus: Hosen wins support for China food thesis
China agriculture investor Hosen Capital has completed its evolution from a corporate-sponsored GP into an independent player with a $440 million fundraise from institutional and industrial LPs
VC value-add: Personal touch
Chinese VC firms are expected to offer value-added services as a way of differentiating themselves from the competition. Are formalized concierge services for founders and their families a step too far?