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VC firm Kleiner Perkins opens China offices

US venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins sets up shop in China hiring Joe Zhou from SAIF Partners and the team from TDF Capital Partners to lead the charge.
Leading American venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has opened offices in Beijing and Shanghai with a new strategy to cover the China market. The Kleiner Perkins China team will be led by Joe Zhou working with a team from TDF Capital Partners. From TDF Tina Ju, David Su and Forrest Zhong will lead the Kleiner Perkins China effort, along with other former TDF professionals.

ôThe breaking news is that Tina, her TDF partners and Joe are joining forces. For more than two years, we respectfully networked with leaders in China to find Joe, Tina, Forrest and David,ö says John Doerr, a partner at Kleiner Perkins.

Kleiner Perkins' $360 million China Fund is intended to be invested in companies promoted by Chinese entrepreneurs in high-growth industries, including technology, the internet, media and wireless communications. It will also invest in new consumer areas, healthcare and green technology.

The firm said that the nature of the venture capital industry in China is driving the decision to bring the TDF team on board. ôNow, more than ever, networks of ærelationship capitalÆ are valuable to new Chinese businesses. And our partnersÆ experience in China will be a significant advantage to our US investment perspective and US ventures in this increasingly global market,ö says Ted Schlein, a partner at Kleiner Perkins.

Zhou has had a focus on opportunities in telecommunications, media and technology, and the healthcare and consumer sectors. He started his venture capital career in 1999 with Softbank China Venture Capital. Since 2001 he has been with VC firm SAIF Partners.

Ju has 19 years of experience, with TDF and before that with Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs. She is associated with ventures such as Alibaba, Baidu, Cgen, China Netcom, Focus Media and Hurray.

Kleiner Perkins has been directly investing in China since 2006, and its China partners have been investing since 1999.

Earlier this month, Citi and Credit Suisse used similar strategies to tackle the alternatives space. Citi acquired Old Lane, bringing on board Vikram Pandit to head the alternatives space worldwide. Credit Suisse hired a substantial part of the team from Ritchie to strengthen its private equity business.
¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.
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