Growth capital
Baidu leads Series C for China ride-sharing app 51yongche
Chinese search provider Baidu has led a Series C round of funding for 51yongche, a China-based ride-sharing mobile app. Sequoia Capital also participated.
Legend leads Series C round for China’s UCloud
Legend Capital has led a Series C round worth approximately $100 million for UCloud, a Chinese cloud service provider, with participation from VMS Investment Fund, DCM, Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI) and GX Capital.
China installment payment platform Qufenqi raises $100m
Qufenqi, a Chinese electronics retailer that allows buyers to pay in installments, has raised approximately $100 million in a new round led by Shenzhen-listed games developer Beijing Kunlun Tech.
India digital wallet app MobiKwik gets $25m Series C round
India-based digital wallet app developer MobiKwik has raised $25 million in a Series C round led by Tree Line Asia.
Chinese online finance site 9fbank secures $110m
9fbank.com, a Chinese internet finance platform, has raised a new round of funding worth $110 million.
Ascendent seeks $500m for second China fund
China-focused GP Ascendent Capital Partners has set a target of $500 million for its second fund.
Legend Capital, SIG lead Series C for China’s PPDai
Legend Capital and SIG Asia Investment have led a Series C round of funding for PPDai, which claims to be the first and largest peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform in China.
Mandala backs Indian agriculture finance business
Mandala Capital has invested INR1.1 billion ($17.9 million) in Sustainable Agro-commercial Finance (SAFL), a agriculture-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC) controlled by India's Jain Irrigation Systems (JISL).
GGV, Shunwei invest in China education site Xiaozhan Jiaoyu
GGV Capital and Shunwei Capital Partners have co-led a $29 million Series B round of funding for Xiaozhan Jiaoyu, a Chinese online education platform that focuses on students studying abroad.
PE-backed film studio gets funding from China’s Huayi
STX Entertainment, a Hollywood studio set up with support from Hony Capital and TPG Capital, has secured a three-year financing deal with China’s Huayi Brothers Media Corp. to release 12-15 movies a year by 2016.
India's AppsDaily raises 16m Series C from Zodius, others
Zodius Capital has led a $16 million Series C round for Indian mobile app developer and distributor AppsDaily, with participation by current investors Kalaari Capital, ru-Net Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures.
China exits: Liquidity lags
Despite the return of domestic listings, many China PE investors are struggling on distributions. Much rests on the success of IPO reforms, the ability to execute trade sales, and an unblocking of the secondary market
India microfinance: Acorns to oaks
Several large funding rounds – plus the birth of a new bank – have shown how far India’s microfinance institutions have come in just four years. But more is to come, and more VC backing will be required
China's middle market: Small is beautiful
What has become of China's middle-market GPs? Twelve managers reached final closes in 2014 of $301-750 million. All bar two of them were raising venture capital funds.
PEs seek a harvest in rural India
A tractor is one of the most versatile tools on a farm, but it is out of reach for many in rural India because they have no access to credit.
Banyan leads $50m Series A for China education platform
Banyan Capital has led a $50 million Series A round of funding for Genshuixue, committing $41 million to the online education platform.
CMC, New Horizon lead $60m round for China education site
CMC Capital Partners and New Horizon Capital have co-led a $60 million Series D round of funding for Yuantiku, valuing the Chinese online education platform at $360 million.
CDH participates in $483m round for Chinese P2P lending platform
CDH Investments has participated in a RMB3 billion round ($483 million) round of funding for Shanghai Lujiazui International Financial Asset Exchange (Lufax), a Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform controlled by Ping An Insurance Group.
China sex toy online retailer Chunshuitang raises $13m
New Margin Ventures and Shenzhen Cowin Capital have committed RMB80 million ($13 million) in a Series B round of funding for Chunshuitang.com, a Chinese sex toy e-commerce site.
China travel social media site raises C round
Mafengwo, a Chinese travel social media platform, has raised a Series C round of funding from Hillhouse Capital Management, Qiming Venture Partners, hedge fund Coatue Management and technology firm Cobuilder.
Taiwan’s 91App raises $9m from AppWorks, CID
91App, a Taiwan-based start-up that helps e-commerce companies set up mobile apps, has secured a Series A round of funding worth $9 million led by local incubator AppWorks.
Chinese smart bicycle maker raises $15m
700Bike, a Chinese smart bicycle manufacturer, has raised a Series A round of funding worth $15 million from Banyan Capital, China Growth Capital and IDG Capital Partners.
Malaysia's Ekuinas buys mobile payments firm, school chain
Ekuinas, the Malaysian government-backed private equity investor, has acquired two companies - mobile payment platform Tranglo and private school chain Tenby Educare - for a total MYR124 million($33.8 million).
PE investors commit $96m to Indian microfinance player
A consortium of private equity firms, including CX Partners, CDC Group, NewQuest Capital Partners and Bajaj Holdings, have invested INR6 billion ($96.2 million) in Indian microfinance institution (MFI) Ujjivan Financial Services.