China
Chinese AI start-up AInnovation raises $59m
Beijing-based artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider AInnovation has raised RMB400 million ($58.9 million) in Series A funding led by CICC Alpha, a subsidiary of China International Capital Corporation.
Jafco acquires Japanese manufacturer from China SOE
Jafco has acquired Japanese construction equipment manufacturer Nagano Industry (NKK) from Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric Holding (Jingcheng).
PE-backed Manpower unit files for Hong Kong IPO
Manpowergroup Greater China, the China branch of American staffing giant Manpower Group, has filed for a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Profile: EmergeVest's Heath Zarin
Heath Zarin has taken EmergeVest out of the Asian private equity mainstream, leveraging a specialist strategy and operational expertise to create the UK’s largest private logistics business
China's sharing economy: Shared dilemma
With Ofo teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, bike-sharing and the broader concept of the sharing economy in China is being called into question. The survivors will be sustainable and suitably differentiated
Immunochina secures $20.5m Series C round
Beijing-based Immunochina Pharmaceuticals has closed a RMB140 million ($20.5 million) Series C round with support from a group of investors including PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.
Redpoint China raises $400m across two new funds
Redpoint China Ventures has closed a $300 million fund focusing on early-stage investments and a $100 million opportunity fund looking to invest in growth-stage companies.
Shanghai launches $7.35b biotech fund
The Shanghai government has launched a biotech sector-focused fund targeting a hard cap of RMB50 billion ($7.35 billion) in partnership with Guotai Junan Securities, China Pacific Insurance and Shanghai Zhangjiang Group.
GPs commit $15m Series B to China's Ekuaibao
Ekuaibao, a Chinese corporate cost management software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider has raised $15 million in a Series B round of funding led by Mandra Capital, with participation from existing investors DCM Ventures and Future Capital.
China’s MabPlex raises $59m Series A
Shandong province-based biologics and biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) MabPlex has raised RMB400 million ($59 million) in Series A funding led by SDIC Venture Capital and Shenzhen Capital Group.
China VC firm Qiming announces promotions
China’s Qiming Venture Partners has announced the promotion of several staff members, including Stella Zhou (pictured), who is the first person to be elevated from associate to partner within the firm.
HighLight reaches first close on third renminbi vehicle
Chinese healthcare-focused GP HighLight Capital, which was set up by Steven Wang, formerly of CDH Investments, has reached the first close for its third renminbi vehicle at around 70% of the hard cap.
Suning invests in Yunfeng co-invest vehicle for iKang take-private
Chinese consumer electronics retailer Suning has committed $50 million to a US dollar-denominated co-investment vehicle managed by Yunfeng Capital that will support the $1.4 billion privatization of iKang Healthcare Group.
Deal focus: Medbanks brings big data to China cancer care
Medbanks raises a $59 million Series C round to update the traditional information networks that make China’s growing oncology industry tick. Quality of management has proven a critical investment factor
PE-backed Shenzhen Scholar files for Hong Kong IPO
Shenzhen Scholar Education, a Chinese after-school tutoring business backed by CRE Alliance, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
China’s GaiaWorks raises $44.4m in Series C
China-based GaiaWorks, an HR-focused software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider, has raised RMB300 million ($44.4 million) in a Series C round of funding led by Tiger Global Management.
GPs eye carve-outs from Chinese SOEs
Private equity investors expect divestments of domestic and overseas businesses by Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to become more prevalent as result of the government's sweeping efforts to reduce corporate debt levels, the Hong Kong Venture Capital...
China early-stage investment round-up
Venture capital deals involving DCM, Sinovation Ventures, Langsheng Investment, United Capital, Shenzhen Capital, Capital Fortune Investment, Tiantu Capital, IDG Capital, Shunwei Capital, and Sky9 Capital
4Q analysis: Defined by uncertainty
Korea comes to the fore as investment in China slows; venture capital and pan-regional players remain preeminent in Asia fundraising; IPO weakness reflects investor wariness
Testing China: Openings in a downturn?
With the health of China's economy deteriorating, private equity investors have every reason to expect to see plenty of opportunities to deploy capital in 2019
Tencent-backed Weimob surges 14% on Hong Kong debut
Weimob, a Shanghai-based provider of marketing and cloud services to online merchants that is backed by Tencent Holdings and several private equity firms, has surged 14% on its first day of trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Carlyle makes six promotions in Asia
The Carlyle Group has promoted Ling Yang, a managing director in the firm’s Shanghai office, to partner. Yang is one of 60 senior promotions announced by Carlyle worldwide, including six in the Asia buyout team.
Fund focus: Lightspeed ends 2018 with a flourish
Lightspeed China Partners took just three months to raise $560 million for its fourth US dollar fund, which includes a $200 million sidecar for follow-on investments
Chinese eye hospital chain Chaoju raises $59m
Chinese eye hospital chain operator Chaoju Ophthalmology has raised RMB400 million ($59 million) in a Series B round of funding backed by Orchid Asia Group and River Head Capital.