(Yicai Global) Aug. 23 -- The operator of Chinese manga platform Kuaikan Comics has secured USD240 million in a new round of financing from a group of investors, including internet giant Tencent Holdings.

CCB International under China Construction Bank and South Korean mobile application store operator One Store were some of Kuaikan World Technology's new investors, tech media outlet 36Kr reported today. Shenzhen-based Tencent and other existing shareholders also invested in the firm this time.

Founded in 2014, Beijing-headquartered Kuaikan has now completed five rounds of financing, raising a total of CNY2.5 billion (USD384.5 million). The platform has nearly 50 million monthly active users, of which those born after 1995 make up more than 90 percent, according to founder and Chief Executive Chen Anni.

With the latest capital injection, the startup will launch a CNY2 billion content creation program. Half of that money will go into supporting comic artists in the next three years. The other half will be used to adapt comics for television or the big screen with partners.

Prior to this round, Kuaikan raised USD125 million in its Series E round of financing, led by Tencent, in August 2019. The comics publisher reached a valuation of more than USD1 billion after that, the same news report added.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi