TMT
Sinovation leads $21m round for Chinese AI firm
Sinovation Ventures has led a $20.6 million Series B round for Zhuiyi Technology, a Shenzhen-based artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that specializes in chatbots.
China's Ctrip buys VC-backed Trip.com
Ctrip, China’s largest travel services provider, has made another outbound acquisition with the purchase of US-based Trip.com, which has previously received several rounds of venture capital funding.
Japan's ADK faces lawsuit following Bain tender offer
Bain Capital Private Equity’s buyout offer for Japan-listed advertising agency Asatsu-DK (ADK) has prompted legal action by WPP Group, the company’s largest shareholder.
Qihoo 360 to relist in Shanghai via $7.6b reverse merger
Qihoo 360, a Chinese internet security software provider that was delisted in the US last year by a consortium that includes several PE investors, will relist in Shanghai through a reverse merger worth RMB50.4 billion ($7.57 billion).
India's UFO, Qube to merge, ICICI to invest
UFO Moviez, an Indian digital broadcaster with several PE backers, will merge with domestic peer Qube Cinema Technologies, with support from ICICI Venture.
Alibaba leads $335m round for China's Souche
Alibaba Group has led a $335 million Series E round for Chinese online second-hand car trading platform operator Souche. It is the company’s third funding round in the past 12 months.
VC-backed MC Payment to list in Singapore via reverse merger
MC Payment, a Singapore-based financial technology player with several VC backers, will list on the Singapore Stock Exchange's Catalist board via a reverse takeover of domestic peer Artivision Technologies.
Chinese facial recognition player raises $460m
Megvii Technology, a Beijing-based facial recognition software developer, has raised a $460 million Series C round led by China State-owned Venture Capital Fund.
Yunfeng leads $120m round for China’s Xiaozhu.com
Chinese PE firm Yunfeng Capital has led a $120 million Series E round of funding for Xiaozhu.com, a Beijing-based short-term rentals platform.
Deal focus: GPs back Klook’s tailored travel offering
Hong Kong-based Klook has won $60 million in funding to further its efforts to consolidate the fragmented travel activities space - in Asia and globally
Thailand's Pomelo gets $19m Series B
Thailand-based clothing retailer Pomelo Fashion has received a $19 million investment from Provident Capital Partners, Lombard Investments and JD.com. It is said to be the largest Series B ever raised by a Thai company.
China’s Guazi raises additional $180m for Series B
Guazi, an online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used car trading platform that spun out from US-listed Chinese classifieds site 58.com, has raised another $180 million to close its Series B round at $600 million.
China used car auction player Tiantian Paiche closes Series C
Tiantian Paiche, a Chinese online used car trading platform, has raised $80 million from investors such as Industrial Bank of China to close its Series C round of funding at $180 million.
ClearVue, TAL lead $55m round for China’s Changingedu
Consumer-focused GP ClearVue Partners and US-listed TAL Education Group have jointly led a $55 million Series D round for Changingedu, a China-based education platform that connects teachers and students.
VC-backed auto financing platform Yixin files for HK IPO
Yixin, the VC-backed online financing subsidiary of China-focused online automotive portal Bitauto Holdings, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
MSPEA to exit Chinese convenience store chain Hi-24
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has agreed to sell Chinese convenience store chain Hi-24 to strategic investors in a deal worth $84 million.
Indonesia's Snapcart gets $10m Series A round
Vickers Venture Partners has led a $10 million Series A funding round for an international expansion push by Indonesian marketing data researcher Snapcart.
China Everbright, Walden launch semiconductor fund
China Everbright and venture capital firm Walden International Group have jointly launched a $500 million fund focused on semiconductors and industrial technology.
Deal focus: GPs boost Prenetics' Asia genetics effort
Beyond Ventures and Alibaba Group have led a funding round that will support the Asia expansion of Hong Kong-based genetics healthcare start-up Prenetics
Delphi acquires Singapore-focused NuTonomy for $450m
US-based automotive technology developer Delphi Automotive has acquired Singapore-focused VC-backed driverless car start-up NuTonomy for $450 million.
Hong Kong's Klook gets $60m Series C
Sequoia Capital China, Goldman Sachs and Matrix Partners have co-led a $60 million Series C funding round for Hong Kong-based travel services company Klook.
Deal focus: Vingoo to broaden its fresh offering
Chinese fresh orange juice vending machine maker Vingoo is planning national expansion with a Series B round led by Legend Capital and Joy Capital
Samsung, Ant Financial back China’s DeePhi Tech
Samsung Electronics and Ant Financial have jointly led a $40 million extended Series A round for DeePhi Tech, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) technology developer. China Merchants Venture Capital and China Growth Capital also took part.
PE-backed China online marketing player files for US IPO
China-based online digital marketing business iClick Interactive Asia, which is backed by Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI) and SSG Capital Partners, has filed for an IPO in the US.