News
NZVIF, Taiwan's NDF to anchor another VC fund
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) and Taiwan’s National Development Fund (NDF) will each commit $7.5 million to a cross-border technology-focused fund.
Kazanah leads $160m round for Hong Kong's WeLab
Malaysian government-backed investor Khazanah National has led a $160 million Series B round of funding for WeLab, a Hong Kong-based mobile lending and credit analytics platform.
GPs look to adapt to a fast-changing China
China-focused private equity investors are modifying their investment approaches in the face of a challenging economic environment and ongoing overcapacity issues.
Japan's ChatWork raises $12.5 Series B round
Japan-based business chat platform ChatWork has raised $12.5 million in Series B funding from Jafco, SMBC Venture Capital and GMO Venture Partners.
China O2O services platform Meituan-Dianping raises $3.3b
Meituan-Dianping, the China-based online-to-offline (O2O) services platform created through the merger of two rival groups, has confirmed that its latest funding round has closed at $3.3 billion.
CDH targets $1.1b buyout of US-listed Zhaopin
CDH Investments is part of a consortium that has submitted a take-private offer for Chinese recruitment website Zhaopin, which is majority owned by Australia’s Seek. The bid values the US-listed company at $1.1 billion.
China’s Lufax raises $1.2b round
Shanghai Lujiazui International Financial Asset Exchange (Lufax), a Chinese online finance platform controlled by Ping An Insurance Group, has completed a $1.22 billion round of funding.
SAIF, Norwest, Accel in $35m round for India's Swiggy
Indian food delivery platform Swiggy has raised $35 million in Series C funding from a group of investors, including existing backers SAIF Partners, Norwest Venture Partners and Accel Partners.
China Cocoon Network launches $720m European tech fund
London-based Cocoon Networks, which is backed private equity firms China Equity Group and Hanxin Capital, has launched a GBP500 million ($720 million) venture fund to invest in UK and European technology start-ups.
Bertelsmann leads round for Indian e-commerce platform
Indian e-commerce platform Kartrocket has raised a $6 million round led by Bertelsmann India Investments.
Korea's KIC appoints new CEO
Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) has appointed Sung-Soo Eun, most recently an executive director at the World Bank, as its CEO. He will also serve as chairman of the sovereign wealth fund’s board.
Japan's J-Star buys nursing care business
J-Star has made another investment intended to leverage Japan’s aging population with the acquisition of Platia, a nursing services business that specializes in caring for people with dementia.
Headland slims team to focus on portfolio management
Headland Capital Partners has seen the departure of two partners and slimmed down its investment team following the decision last September to suspend fundraising and focus on the existing portfolio.
IFC proposes joining $700m round for Alibaba logistics unit
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering investing up to $30 million in Best Logistics Technologies - a Chinese logistics business partly-owned by Alibaba Group - as part of a $700 million pre-IPO funding round.
China online retailer raises $1b for finance unit
Sequoia Capital and China Taiping Insurance have led a RMB6.65 billion ($1 billion) funding round for JD Finance, the financial subsidiary of online retailer JD.com.
China B2B steel-trading platform raises $153m – Update
Zhaogang.com, a Chinese B2B steel-trading platform backed by several VC investors, has completed a Series E round of funding worth RMB1.1 billion ($153 million).
Anchorage speaks out on Dick Smith investment
Anchorage Capital Partners has spoken out for the first time about the demise of its former portfolio company, Dick Smith Electronics, for which the Australian GP has attracted much criticism.
KKR exits stake in India's Dalmia Cement, invests in parent company
KKR has agreed to sell its stake in India's Dalmia Cement Bharat (DCBL) for INR6 billion ($89 million) to the parent company Dalmia Bharat (DBL), and to invest INR6.2 billion in DBL itself.
CDH-owned Nanfu Battery completes China reverse merger
CDH Investments-controlled Fujian Nanping Nanfu Battery, China’s leading manufacturer of alkaline batteries, has listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ) through a reverse merger.
Hong Kong to launch $256m fund to invest alongside VCs
The Hong Kong government will create a HK$2 billion ($256 million) fund that will co-invest in start-ups alongside venture capital funds on a matching basis. It is one of a number of initiatives intended to bolster innovation and technology in the territory.
DBJ, Japan Wind Development to form $423m fund
The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and Japan Wind Development (JWD) – a local developer acquired last year by Bain Capital – have agreed to launch a JPY50 billion ($424 million) wind power fund.
SBCVC commits $60m in China’s Acfun
Acfun, a Chinese social networking platform that focuses on video editing, has secured an extended $60 million Series A round of funding from SBCVC, previously known as SoftBank China Venture Capital.
Germany's Evonik backs China VC fund
Evonik Venture Capital, the VC arm of German industrial group Evonik, has invested an undisclosed amount in Chinese VC firm GRC Managers' SinoGreen Fund III (GRC III).
App analytics firm App Annie raises $63m Series E
App Annie, a mobile app analytics platform developer that was started in Beijing but has since expanded globally, has raised $63 million in Series E funding.