News
India’s VC-backed Zomato acquires US-based Urbanspoon
Zomato, a VC-backed restaurant search service based in India, has acquired US-based counterpart Urbanspoon as it seeks to accelerate growth in overseas markets.
China online payment site Aixuedai raises $40m Series A round
Aixuedai, a Chinese online payment platform that finances purchases of consumer electronics, has completed a $40 million Series A round of funding.
CPPIB, Longfor set up JV to invest in Suzhou commercial property
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has formed a joint venture with Chinese real estate developer Longfor Properties to invest in a mixed-used project in Jiangsu province, China.
China e-commerce player WoWo files for US IPO
WoWo, which came to prominence as operator of the 55tuan group-buying site before expanding into a broader entertainment and lifestyle-focused e-commerce platform, has filed for a US IPO.
JD, Tencent invest $1.55b in Chinese online auto platform
Chinese online retailer JD.com and its investor Tencent Holdings have formed strategic partnership with Bitauto, committing $1.55 billion in the auto e-commerce operator and its investment unit.
Infosys expands Innovation Fund five-fold to $500m
Indian IT and business consulting firm Infosys has expanded its early-stage investment vehicle - Innovation Fund - from its original $100 million corpus to $500 million.
Hony scraps plan to purchase Chongqing hotpot chain
Hony Capital has abandoned its plan to buy Chongqing Cygnet Hotpot, a Chinese hotpot restaurant chain backed by Sequoia Capital and SIG Asia.
China's BVCF provides $8m round for US biotech firm
China-focused biotech investor BVCF has led an $8 million Series A round of funding for DiaCarta, a US-based firm that develops test kits for detecting cancer.
Alibaba to invest in Indian e-commerce, payments platform
Alibaba Group has agreed to invest at least $550 million in One97 Communications, owner of India-based mobile commerce platform and payments solution provider Paytm, which has several venture capital backers.
EIG hires CIC’s oil and gas head to lead Hong Kong office
EIG Global Energy Partners has hired Yangyang Liu, formerly of China Investment Corporation (CIC) as managing director in its recently-established Hong Kong office.
India's Multiples set for $325m first close on Fund II
Indian mid-market GP Multiples will reach a $325 million first close on its second fund by end of this month, with a final close of $650 million slated for around September.
Google Capital backs India real estate platform CommonFloor
Google Capital has provided a new round of funding for CommonFloor.com, an India-based property listings website.
Ally Bridge leads $25m round for Shanghai Hua Medicine
Ally Bridge Group, a healthcare-focused PE firm, has led a $25 million Series B round of funding for Hua Medicine, a Shanghai-based clinical-stage biotech company.
Dentsu challenges take-private of China’s Charm Communications
The CMC Capital-backed privatization of Charm Communications is being challenged by Dentsu Aegis, which refused to accept the terms for the acquisition of its minority stake in the Chinese advertising agency.
Japan’s NTT Docomo Ventures backs France-based Sunpartner
NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the eponymous Japanese telecom giant, has taken part in a EUR4 million ($4.7 million) round for Sunpartner Technologies, a French solar panel manufacturer.
Japan's GPIF targets new hires as part of investment strategy shift
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) is trying to attract more talent with better pay in order to meet the demands of its changing investment strategy.
China food delivery app Line0 raises $30m
Chinese food delivery mobile app Line0 has completed a Series B round of funding worth $30 million, led by Tencent Holdings. Existing investors Sequoia Capital and Gobi Partners also participated.
DST, Iconiq join Series A round for Hong Kong P2P lender WeLab
DST Global founder Yuri Milner, Iconiq Capital and a joint venture between China Post and TOM Group have been added to Hong Kong-based internet finance start-up WeLab’s Series A round, taking the total raised to $20 million.
Xeraya, Spruce in $150m first close on second life sciences fund
Khazanah Nasional-controlled Xeraya Capital and Spruce Capital Partners have reached a first close of $150 million on MLS Capital Fund II, successor to the vintage Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund, which is now fully allocated.
BAI invests in China mobile advertising solutions provider
Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI), an investment arm of German media giant Bertelsmann, has committed $10 million in Series A funding to OptAim, a Chinese mobile marketing solution provider.
Japan's REVIC, NCB, DBJ set up $42m fund
Japan's Nishi-Nippon City Bank (NCB) has set up a JPY5 billion ($42 million) fund in cooperation with Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and Regional Economy Vitalization Corporation of Japan (REVIC).
KKR, GIC launch real estate-focused India NBFC
KKR has launched its second Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC), teaming up with Singapore’s GIC Private to focus on providing structured credit solutions for real estate developers.
IDG, Vertex lead $52.5m round for NetDragon’s online education unit
Best Assistant Education, an online education unit of China games developer NetDragon Websoft, has raised a $52.5 million Series A round led by IDG Capital Partners, Temasek Holdings-owned Vertex Venture and Shenzhen-listed animation producer Alpha Animation.
India's Lenskart raises $22m in Series C funding
Valyoo Technologies, the Indian start-up behind online eyewear retailer Lenskart, has raised INR13.5 billion ($21.9 million) in Series C funding led by TPG Capital's growth unit.