TMT
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.
Deal focus: Iron Pillar demonstrates conviction in FreshToHome
Social distancing is driving demand for FreshToHome's farm-to-fork fish and meat supply chain offering. The company's $121 million Series C will go towards expansion in India and the Middle East
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 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.
KKR backs Philippines telecom tower operator
KKR has invested an undisclosed sum in Philippines-based telecom tower operator Pinnacle Towers with a view to helping it expand into a regional platform.
Flipkart buys India mobile gaming start-up Mech Mocha
Indian e-commerce marketplace Flipkart has bought Mech Mocha, a local mobile gaming start-up that has previously received VC funding from Blume Ventures, Accel Partners, and China’s Shunwei Capital.
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
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.
Hong Kong's MindWorks seeks $150m for Fund IV
Hong Kong-headquartered VC firm MindWorks Capital expects to launch its fourth fund in the first half of next year with a target of $150 million.
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
India's FreshToHome raises $121m Series C
FreshToHome, an Indian food delivery platform backed by local VCs Iron Pillar and Ascent Capital, has raised a $121 million Series C round.
Legend Star raises $119m for fourth renminbi fund
Legend Star, the early-stage investment arm of China’s Legend Holdings, has raised RMB800 million ($119 million) for its fourth renminbi-denominated fund.
China e-sports business VSPN raises $100m
VSPN, a China-based start-up that claims to be the world’s largest e-sports provider, has raised nearly $100 million in Series B funding led by Tencent Holdings.
Australia's SafetyCulture raises a further $35m
Blackbird Ventures has led a A$48.5 million ($35 million) round for Australian workplace safety platform SafetyCulture. It comes six months after a Series C investment of similar size.
Warburg Pincus tips Converge to sustain rapid growth
Philippines-based broadband provider Converge ICT has completed the country’s largest-ever IPO on the back of a tenfold expansion in the past four years as local consumers sign up to highspeed internet services previously unavailable to them.
Morningside Venture Capital rebrands as 5Y Capital
Morningside Venture Capital has formally separated from Morningside Group, which is controlled by the Chan family, founders of Hong Kong property developer Hang Lung Group, and rebranded as 5Y Capital.
China O2O medicine platform raises $150m
Chinese online-to-offline (O2O) medicine retailer Dingdang Kuaiyao has raised RMB1 billion ($150 million) in an extended Series B round featuring Dragon Gate Investment Partners.
Legend closes eighth China VC fund on $500m
Legend Capital has closed its eighth US dollar-denominated venture capital fund at the hard cap of $500 million, continuing the rich vein of China VC fundraising.
Hillhouse targets $12b for separate buyout, growth funds
China's Hillhouse Capital has split its current fundraising effort into separate buyout and growth strategies – having raised a single pool in the previous vintage – and is seeking $12 billion across the two funds.
Profile: Jihoon Rim
Jihoon Rim has been a venture capitalist, CEO of one of Korea’s largest technology companies, and a US business school professor – in the space of a decade. He explains the appeal of new challenges
Deal focus: VR gaming comes of age
Japanese videogame publishing company Thirdverse believes the time is right to bring virtual reality entertainment to the masses. VCs with expertise in the sector are beginning to agree
China's Gaorong closes Fund V at $1.1b
Gaorong Capital has closed its fifth US dollar-denominated fund with commitments of $1.15 billion. It brings the Chinese venture capital firm's assets under management to about $4 billion.
Fund focus: CCV raises $300m for China fund
China Creation Ventures secures $300 million for Fund II, having found that some LPs are holding back on China commitments while others are even more willing to engage
China carpooling player Dida pursues Hong Kong IPO
Dida Chuxing – a Chinese peer-to-peer carpooling business that subsequently expanded into ride-hailing, putting it in direct competition with longstanding market leader Didi Chuxing – has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.