Growth capital
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.
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.
FTV Capital leads $56m round for Indian researcher
US venture investor FTV Capital has taken a minority stake in India-based industry research and consulting company MarketsandMarkets after leading a $56 million funding round.
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.
Sands Capital leads $70m round for India's BlackBuck
Sands Capital has led a $70 million Series C round of funding for Indian business-to-business (B2B) logistics technology start-up BlackBuck.
VCs invest $75m in US-New Zealand aerospace player
US venture capital firms Data Collective and Promus Ventures have joined a number of existing investors in a $75 million Series D funding round for US and New Zealand-based aerospace company Rocket Lab.
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.
Deal focus: PayPal backs Korean counterpart Viva Republica
Viva Republica has confirmed its preeminence in Korea's peer-to-peer payments space with rival provider PayPal joining existing investors in the company's $48 million Series C round
Fund focus: Apis seeks to make specialization count
Apis is relying on its team's financial services expertise and networks to deliver the goods in South Asia and Africa. LPs have given them $287 million with which to prove the thesis
CMC, Sequoia launch sport fund, back China kickboxing business
CMC Holdings – a unit of media-focused GP CMC Capital Partners – and Sequoia Capital China have formed a sports investment fund and led a Series A round of funding for Wanmingyang Media, which organizes and video streams kickboxing events in China.
Pioneer hits $180m hard cap on third New Zealand fund
New Zealand’s Pioneer Capital has hit the hard cap of NZ$260 million ($180 million) on its third growth fund, beating the target of NZ$210 million. It follows the first investment from the new vehicle in Havelock North Fruit.
Qualcomm, Accel back India-China IoT player Borqs
Qualcomm Ventures and Accel Partners India have co-led a new round of funding worth $10 million for Borqs, an India-China venture that develops internet-of-things (IoT) devices.
Apis closes South Asia, Africa fintech fund at $287m
Emerging market financial technology investor Apis Partners has closed its debut fund at $287 million. It has already deployed about $130 million across five deals in South Asia and Africa.
Matrix leads $15m Series C for China’s Easemob
Matrix Partners China has led a RMB103 million ($15 million) Series C round of funding for Easemob, a Chinese start-up that provides instant-messaging services to mobile app developers.
CLSA invests in China’s Azoya
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has invested in Chinese cross-border e-commerce solutions provider Azoya.
China rural e-commerce platform raises $145m
Maihuolang Information Technology, a Chinese e-commerce company focused on selling agricultural products, has raised a RMB1 billion ($145 million) Series A round of funding from several domestic GPs.
Deal focus: GPs target healthy scale
Oaktree Capital Management and Navis Capital Partners are merging Fitness First and Celebrity Fitness in the expectation that scale will be rewarded in Southeast Asia's gym market
Welkin invests $17m in Chinese camellia oil brand
China-focused PE firm Welkin Capital has acquired a 15% stake in Hunan Guitaitai Camelia Oil Technology, a camellia oil specialty brand listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), for RMB120 million ($17 million).
India's Updater Services gets $15m from Motilal Oswal
Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE) has invested INR1 billion ($15 million) in Indian facilities management company Updater Services.
Formation Group closes debut US-Asia fund at $357m
Formation Group, a Silicon Valley and Asia-focused venture capital firm established by Brian Koo (pictured), co-founder of Formation 8, has closed its debut fund at $357 million.
IFM invests Australian fashion retailer
IFM Investors’ private equity arm has acquired a significant minority stake in Colette By Colette Hayman, an Australian retailer of handbags and fashion accessories.
KKR invests in China’s Gambol Pet Group
KKR has invested in Gambol Pet Group, a China-based company that sells pet food products.