Tencent’s investment arm gets a new website as influential unit readies for more deals in 2020

The traditionally low profile investment unit of China internet giant Tencent Holdings has thrown more light on its complicated web of investments and core team with a newly-launched website, as it readies to scour the market for more deals amid fallout from the global health pandemic.

The new website of Tencent Investment, which was founded in 2008 and has made over 800 investment deals, discloses that the department is led by Jeffrey Li Zhaohui, a key player in Tencent’s earlier acquisition of Finnish mobile gaming group Supercell.

Li, managing partner at Tencent Investment and vice-president at Tencent Holdings, is mainly responsible for investments in games and social media, the core business of the tech giant. Investment partner Zhan Weibiao, five managing directors and four executive directors complete the management team.

Tencent Holdings in March co-led a US$300 million funding round in Beijing-based big data and artificial intelligence (AI) company MiningLamp Technology, which has been called “China’s Palantir”. The deal is highlighted on the homepage of the new website together with other notable investments the unit has made, such as in food delivery app Meituan Dianping, streaming video operator Bilibili and China's Quora-like service Zhihu.

Besides gaming and social media, Tencent’s investments now cover artificial intelligence, consumer retail, education, financial technology and corporate services and beyond. The influential investor has built investments in Chinese bubble tea chain HeyTea, Chinese talent agency Wajijiwa Entertainment, US record label Universal Music Group and Chinese low-cost retail chain Miniso, according to information on the new website.