China
Deal focus: V2Food tackles alternative protein's price problem
Australia’s V2Food is bringing affordability to the alternative protein space as fresh funding fuels an Asian expansion. The China entry will be a delicate proposition
China math tuition platform VIPThink secures $180m
VIPThink, a Guangzhou-based online mathematics teaching platform for kids, which is also known as Wandou Siwei, has received $180 million in Series C funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
China e-signature business raises $150m Series D
Shenzhen Capital Group, Evergrande High-tech Group and Fortune Capital have participated in a RMB1 billion ($150 million) Series D round for eSign, a China-based electronic signature service provider.
Chinese antique e-commerce start-up raises $80m Series C
Wanwu Dezhi, a Chinese e-commerce platform specializing in antiques, has closed a $80 million Series C round co-led by Huaxing Growth Capital and Source Code Capital.
Vision Plus, CYTS lead round for China hotel marketing player
Zhiketong – a WeChat-based direct sales and marketing service for high-end hotels – has raised $50 million in its Series D round led by Vision Plus Capital and CYTS Hongqi Fund.
Q&A: Investcorp's Duncan Zheng
Duncan Zheng, head of China private equity at Investcorp, observes that COVID-19 dislocation has created some timely inroads as the firm’s broader expansion agenda ramps up
LionRock acquires UK shoe brand, targets China expansion
LionRock Capital, an Asian private equity firm that invests in global consumer brands with a China growth angle, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in British shoe brand Clarks.
China's JW Therapeutics trades up after $300m Hong Kong IPO
JW Therapeutics, a private equity-backed Chinese drug developer specializing in CAR T-cell therapies that engineer immune cells to fight cancers, has raised HK$2.33 billion ($300 million) through a Hong Kong IPO.
Model behavior: China to Southeast Asia tech transplants
Plenty of internet start-ups in Southeast Asia have been inspired by Chinese forebears, but transplanting ideas from one market to another is often fraught with complications
China's CARsgen raises $186m Series C
Chinese biotech player CARsgen Therapeutics has raised $186 million in Series C funding led by Loyal Valley Capital.
China cosmetics brand Perfect Diary files for US IPO
Yatsen Holding, the parent company of Chinese cosmetics brand Perfect Diary has filed for a US IPO, potentially delivering a liquidity event for the likes of Hillhouse Capital, ZhenFund and Gaorong Capital.
Regulators halt Ant Group's Shanghai, Hong Kong IPO
Private equity-backed Ant Group’s bumper IPO in Hong Kong and Shanghai has been put on hold by Chinese regulators over a potential failure to meet listing qualifications or disclosure requirements.
Asia e-sports: Pumping up in a timeout
A recent slew of deals targeting e-sports in Asia has coincided with the live events that generate most of the industry's revenue going on hiatus. Investors appear happy to play the long game
Eight Roads adds healthcare partner in China
Eight Roads Ventures has recruited Xin Liu, formerly of Greater Pacific Capital, as a partner in its China team.
China's Bits x Bites hits first close on second food tech fund
Chinese food and agriculture technology investor Bits x Bites has reached a first close of $30 million on its second VC fund. The target is $70 million.
Chinese O2O retail platform Dmall gets $418m Series C
Dmall, a Chinese digital solutions provider for traditional retailers, has raised a Series C of RMB2.8 billion ($419 million) led by Industrial Bank and China Structural Reform Fund at a valuation of $2 billion.
Deal focus: Proterra whisks Asia supply chain for Eat Just
With China consuming more eggs per capita than its Western peers, Proterra Investment Partners sees strong growth potential for plant-based substitute Just Egg. The GP has committed $100 million to an Asia supply chain roll-out
PE-backed Lufax follows $2.3b US IPO with weak debut
Online lending and wealth management platform Lufax raised $2.36 billion in the largest US IPO by a PE-backed Chinese company so far this year but endured a difficult first day of trading.
China biotech player Genecast raises $149m Series E
Genecast Biotechnology, a Chinese gene sequencing and precision diagnostics company, has closed a RMB1 billion ($149 million) Series E funding round led by China Structural Reform Fund.
China's LianBio receives $310m round
LianBio, a Chinese biotech start-up incubated earlier this year by life sciences investor Perceptive Advisors, has raised $310 million from a group featuring BlackRock.
China biotech player Gracell raises $100m Series C
Wellington Management, OrbiMed and Morningside Ventures have led a $100 million Series C round for Gracell Biotechnologies, a China-based developer of cancer treatments.
Shunwei leads $22m round for Chinese fruit tea brand
Chinese fruit tea brand Sweet7 has raised RMB150 million ($22 million) in funding led by Shunwei Capital, with participation from Insight Fund, a vehicle launched by financial advisor MM Capital.
China apartment rental start-ups: In arrears
There were doubts about the viability of long-term property rental platforms in China before COVID-19. Post-pandemic regulation is creating further problems
Fund focus: Secondaries drive Ping An unit's transition
China Ping An Insurance Overseas Holdings has aspirations to manage assets for third-party investors. Spinning out part of the global private equity portfolio may help it get there