
CMB International Capital Corporation
Description
CMB International Capital Corporation (CMBI) is the wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank (CMB), one of China's leading commercial banks. Operating as the bank's offshore investment banking platform, CMBI offers a comprehensive suite of financial services, including corporate finance, asset management, wealth management, and strategic equity investments. Its investment arm plays a significant role in deploying capital into high-growth enterprises, primarily across Greater China and occasionally globally.
CMBI's investment strategy focuses on sectors poised for substantial expansion, such as Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT), healthcare, advanced manufacturing, new energy, and consumer industries. The firm typically targets growth-stage to pre-IPO companies, often participating in large funding rounds alongside other prominent institutional investors. Their portfolio showcases a preference for innovative companies with strong market potential and proven traction, including notable names like AI giant SenseTime and autonomous driving leader WeRide.
The scale of CMBI's investments reflects its strategic approach to supporting market leaders and disruptors. The firm has made over 100 investments, demonstrating a broad engagement across various industries. While specific individual cheque sizes are not always publicly disclosed, their participation in substantial funding rounds indicates significant capital deployment. For instance, CMBI was a participant in a Series C+ round for SenseTime that successfully raised $600 million, and also in a Series D round for Horizon Robotics, which similarly closed at $600 million. These examples highlight their capacity and willingness to contribute to large-scale growth equity rounds.
As a corporate venture arm of a major financial institution, CMBI leverages its extensive network, deep industry insights, and robust financial resources to provide strategic value beyond just capital. Their involvement often aims to facilitate portfolio companies' expansion, market penetration, and eventual public listings, aligning with China Merchants Bank's broader strategic objectives in the financial ecosystem.
Investor Profile
CMB International Capital Corporation has backed more than 32 startups, with 3 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 11 rounds, about 34% of its total and boasts 11 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series B, Series C, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in China, United States, Singapore.
- Strong thematic focus on Health Care, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical.
- Led 1 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $5M – $50M.
Stage Focus
- Series B (31%)
- Series C (22%)
- Series A (13%)
- Series D (13%)
- Series Unknown (6%)
- Seed (6%)
- Private Equity (3%)
- Series E (3%)
- Post Ipo Equity (3%)
Country Focus
- China (81%)
- United States (13%)
- Singapore (3%)
- United Kingdom (3%)
Industry Focus
- Health Care
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceutical
- Manufacturing
- Software
- Automotive
- Biopharma
- Medical
- Electronics
- Hardware
Frequently Asked Questions
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