Media
Matrix Partners exits China Bona Film to Fosun
Matrix Partners China and other undisclosed pre-IPO shareholders have exited a 6.4% stake in Bona Film Group, a NASDAQ-listed film distributor in China, to Chinese conglomerate Fosun International for $20.8 million.
China Media Capital backs Charm Communications take-private
Hong Kong-based China Media Capital is backing management buyout of Charm Communications, a US-listed Chinese advertising agency. The bid values the company at about $180 million.
Australia’s Wolseley exits magazine publisher to trade buyer
Wolseley Private Equity has completed its second exit in a month with the sale of Australian magazine publisher nextmedia to Forum Media Group.
Focus Media targets $500m dividend recap - report
Focus Media, a Chinese advertising company backed by The Carlyle Group, FountainVest Partners, CITIC Capital Partners, China Everbright and Fosun International intends to return to the loan market with recapitalization plan of around $500 million.
Japan's Rakuten acquires VC-backed video site Viki
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has acquired Viki, a VC-backed global video streaming platform.The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
SMBC, IGPI invest $1.3m in Japanese game design platform
SMBC Venture Capital and Industrial Growth Partners (IGPI) have invested JPY130 million ($1.3 million) in Mugenup.com, a start-up that crowd-sources design talent to work on projects for game developers.
Fenox leads Tech in Asia Series B round
Fenox Venture Capital has led a Series B round of investment in digital media company Tech in Asia. Existing investors, East Ventures and Simile Venture Partners, also took part in the round. Financial details were not disclosed.
Fuji Startup Ventures backs Japanese classifieds site
Fuji Startup Ventures (FSV), the VC investment arm of Japanese national TV network Fuji Terebi, has invested JPY50 million ($500,000) in classifieds website JMTY.com - pronounced "Jimoti."
Media investor Bruno Wu to raise $500m PE fund
Chinese media entrepreneur Bruno Wu plans to raise a $500 million media-focused private equity fund. The vehicle will invest in small to medium-sized internet, digital media and e-commerce companies.
Creditors to assume control of New Zealand’s MediaWorks
MediaWorks Holdings, a new company owned by a consortium of lenders, including Oaktree Capital and TPG Capital, has signed a conditional sale and purchase agreement for the New Zealand broadcaster and its subsidiaries.
Shenzhen Capital invests China’s Le Vision Pictures
Shenzhen Capital Group has invested in a Series A round of funding for Le Vision Pictures, the Beijing-based film making arm of online film and TV portal LeTV. Details of transaction were not disclosed but this latest investment bring to total amount...
Deal focus: Affinity agrees chaebol restructuring carve-out
Apple iTunes store has a library of more than 26 million songs, a presence in 119 countries and revenues of $12.9 billion in 2012. Its US market share is around 63%.
Affinity pays $239m for majority stake in Korean music platform
Affinity Equity Partners will pay KRW265.9 billion ($239 million) for a 52.6% stake in Loen Entertainment, a South Korean record label and digital music platform. The holding is being divested by SK Planet, a subsidiary of SK Telecom, the country's largest...
Providence ups stake in India's Hathway Cable & Datacom
Providence Equity Partners has increased its stake in Indian cable and broadband operator Hathway Cable & Datacom by injecting INR1.5 billion ($25.1 million) alongside the promoter.
MBK considers IPO for Taiwan’s CNS – report
MBK Partners is reportedly considering an IPO for China Network Systems (CNS), Taiwan’s largest cable TV and broadband provider, in place of a longstanding trade sale agreement that has yet to materialize amid regulatory concerns.
Media entrepreneurs to create China alternative investment group
Chinese media entrepreneur Bruno Wu and Thomas Middelhoff, former CEO of German media group Bertelsmann and Arcandor, are to form a China-focused media and investment joint venture, pooling assets with revenues of $1-2 billion.
Macquarie commits $58m to Prime Focus World
Macquarie Capital has invested $53 million in Prime Focus World (PFW), the creative services division of India-headquartered entertainment company Prime Focus.
AID Partners-backed Prime Focus to open in China
Prime Focus, a global movie effects and entertainment company headquartered in India and backed by Hong Kong PE firm AID Partners Capital, is to open an office in Beijing.
KKR, Blackstone, Carlyle among bidders for SingTel Australia unit - report
KKR, The Blackstone Group and The Carlyle Group are said to have submitted first-round bids for Optus Satellite, the Australian satellite unit of Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel).
PE-owned MediaWorks New Zealand enters receivership
Creditors are poised to take control of Ironbridge Capital-owned MediaWorks as the New Zealand broadcaster and its subsidiaries went into receivership.
Hony to set up China film fund with Shanghai Media Group
Hony Capital will team up with SMG Pictures to launch a joint film and television fund worth a reported RMB3 billion ($489 million).
Japan's NTT Docomo acquires Guam cable operator from Seaport Capital
Japanese wireless operator NTT Docomo has acquired Guam cable operator MCV Broadband from New York private equity firm Seaport Capital for an enterprise value of approximately $130 million.
Capital18 exits India's Webchutney, sees 3x return
Capital18, the venture capital arm of Indian media conglomerate Network18, has sold its 70% stake in Webchutney Studio to Dentsu Media and Holdings India (DMHI), a subsidiary of Japanese advertising company Dentsu, generating a 3x money multiple.
Tata Capital to buy minority stakes in Tata Sky, infra assets
Tata Capital’s Tata Opportunities Fund (TOF) is in the process of buying minority stakes in direct-to-home (DTH) TV provider Tata Sky and TRIL Roads.