TMT
Deal focus: Hua Juan leverages celebrity selling power
China's Hua Juan plans to use a new investment led by Sinovation Ventures to grow its personality-based online advertising model
Home automation: Digital digs
Home automation has graduated from a hobbyist niche to a sprawling, multifaceted consumer market that mobilizes a suite of cutting-edge technologies. Asian investors are identifying the early entry points
Chinese financial products platform files for US IPO
Jianpu Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese VC-backed independent financial products search and recommendation platform Rong360, has filed for an IPO in the US.
China's VC-backed Xing Bian Li acquires industry peer
Shanghai-based Xing Bian Li, a VC-backed new retail company that integrates online and offline channels, has acquired industry counterpart 51 Snackbar.
SE Asia's Sea hikes IPO price, raises $884m
Singapore-headquartered mobile internet and gaming platform Sea has raised $884 million in its US IPO after increasing the offer price and size.
China’s Segway & Ninebot raises $100m Series C
China-based electric scooter manufacturer Segway & Ninebot Group - previously known as Ninebot - has raised a $100 million Series C round from the Chinese state-backed SDIC Fund and a fund owned by China Mobile.
Southeast Asia's Grab gets $700m in debt funding
Southeast Asian ride-hailing app operator Grab has secured debt facilities of up to $700 million from leading global and regional banks.
Intel Capital announces China, Japan investments
Intel Capital, the captive VC arm of Intel Corp, has invested in technology start-ups from China and Japan as part of a $60 million overall investment in 15 companies worldwide.
China's Meituan-Dianping raises $4b in new round
Meituan-Dianping, China's largest online-to-offline (O2O) local services platform, has raised $4 billion in a Series C round of funding led by existing investor Tencent Holdings.
PE-backed NZ cricket platform goes into receivership
CricHQ, a cricket-focused online platform based in New Zealand and backed by Singapore-based Tembusu Partners, has been placed in receivership.
Sinovation leads $40m Series B for China's Hua Juan
Sinovation Ventures has led a $40 million Series B round for Chinese e-commerce and online video platform Hua Juan.
Fund focus: Vickers prepares to narrow its focus
Vickers Venture Partners raised $230 million for its latest VC fund on the back of a strong track record, but the firm's future vehicles are likely to have more specific remits
Legend, Joy Capital lead $60m for China's Vingoo Juice
Vingoo Juice, a Shanghai-based start-up that develops fresh orange juice vending machines, has raised a RMB400 million ($60 million) Series B round jointly led by Legend Capital and Joy Capital. Yunqi Capital also took part.
Alibaba, Beyond lead $40m round for Hong Kong's Prenetics
Beyond Ventures and Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group have led a $40 million funding round for Hong Kong-based genetic testing and wellness start-up Prenetics.
Southeast Asia VC: Growth impediment?
Southeast Asia has an abundance of local players targeting early-stage deals while foreign investors fly in to participate in the later stage rounds. The industry is looking for ways to fill the hole in the middle
Cathay, GGV back China’s Momenta
Cathay Innovation, a VC affiliate of Cathay Capital Private Equity, has led an extended Series B round for Momenta, a Chinese start-up that develops road sensors and mapping software for self-driving cars, with participation from GGV Capital.
Square Peg leads $13m round for Singapore's Chope
Australia’s Square Peg Capital has led a S$18 million ($13.3 million) funding round for Singapore-based restaurant app operator Chope.
ADK management offers support to Bain buyout bid
Japan-based advertising agency Asatsu-DK (ADK) has expressed its support for Bain Capital Private Equity’s proposed JPY151 billion ($1.3 billion) buyout, against opposition from its largest shareholder, WPP Group.
Amicus invests $9.3m in India's RenewBuy
Amicus Capital Partners has made its maiden investment, committing INR600 million ($9.3 million) to Indian online insurance aggregator RenewBuy.
Hillhouse leads $46m round for China O2O fitness platform
Lefit, a China-based online-to-offline (O2O) fitness platform, has raised a RMB300 million ($46 million) Series C round of funding led by Hillhouse Capital.
Wavemaker closes second SE Asia VC fund at $66m
US and Singapore-based venture capital investor Wavemaker Partners has raised $66 million for its second Southeast Asia-focused fund. The target was $50 million.
True North, IDG in $77m round for India's Policybazaar
Indian online financial services portal Policybazaar has raised INR5 billion ($77 million) from a group of investors led by True North, IDG Venture Partners, and US-based Wellington Management.
CPPIB commits $500m to Singapore-based ADCF
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has committed up to $500 million to Alpha Data Centre Fund (ADCF), a data center-focused PE fund managed by Singapore conglomerate Keppel Group.
Ola confirms Tencent investment, targets $2b round
China's Tencent Holdings has led a $1.1 billion investment in Indian ride-hailing app developer Ola. The company is in talks with other investors to raise a further $1 billion as an extension of this funding round.