Technology
Google Capital in debut China VC investment
Google's discomfort at the growing level of censorship imposed on US internet players by the Chinese authorities after 2008 saw the company withdraw from the M&A scene. There were no deals at all until last week, when Google Capital – a $300 million...
Vista Equity acquires Indian-owned TIBCO in $4.3b take-private
Tech-focused GP Vista Equity Partners has agreed to buy TIBCO Software, the US-listed business software provider founded by Indian entrepreneur Vivek Ranadivé, in a deal worth $4.3 billion including debt.
GGV, Tencent invest $13m in US tracking device maker
Tile, a US start-up that makes devices used to track lost items, has raised $13 million in funding from China-based investors.
Google, Lightspeed lead $38m round for China's InnoLight
Google Capital, the growth-stage venture arm of Google, and Lightspeed China Partners have co-led a $38 million Series C round of funding for InnoLight Technology, a Chinese manufacturer of cloud computing optical transceivers.
Intel commits $1.5b to Tsinghua University-funded semiconductor business
Intel Corporation has agreed to invest up to RMB9 billion ($1.5 billion) for a 20% stake in Tsinghua Unigroup, owner of Chinese semiconductor makers Spreadtrum Communications and RDA Microelectronics.
Alibaba invests $458m in hotel IT software firm
Alibaba Group has bought a 15% stake in Beijing Shiji Information Technology, a Chinese hospitality information technology developer, for RMB2.81 billion ($458 million).
Pavilion, Recruit provide Series B2 for Japan's Freee
Temasek Holdings-owned Pavilion Capital and Recruit Strategic Partners, the VC arm of Recruit Holdings, have led a Series B2 round of funding worth $6 million for Freee, a Tokyo-based provider of automated online accounting software.
CVC-owned SPi to sell US healthcare business for $235m
SPi Global, a Philippines-based business process outsourcing (BPO) provider owned by CVC Capital Partners, has agreed to sell its US healthcare business to Conifer Health Solutions in a deal worth $235 million.
Singapore supports med-tech accelerator program
Spring Seeds Capital, an investment arm of government-backed Spring Singapore, has launched an initiative that could channel up to S$60 million ($47 million) into local medical technology start-ups.
IDG invests in Chinese mobile tech player AVOS Cloud
IDG Capital Partners has invested in a Series A round of funding for AVOS Cloud, a Chinese mobile back-end as a service (BaaS) provider. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Canaan's Khanna to launch India venture debt fund
Canaan Partners Managing Director Rahul Khanna is to launch a INR3 billion ($49 million) debt fund aimed at supporting early-stage and established technology ventures in India.
Morningside bets on social network
"We currently have a large position in Apple. We believe the company to be extremely undervalued. Spoke to Tim Cook today. More to come." This 24-word Tweet, comprising just 111 characters, managed to push up Apple's value by $12 billion in less than...
What now, Alibaba?
Chinese online furniture retailer Meilele started out life as a store within Taobao, Alibaba Group's C2C e-commerce platform in 2008. The company's transactions ran through the Taobao platform, with online payment service Alipay collecting monies owed....
Legend leads $50m round for China online finance site Tongbanjie
Legend Capital has led a $50 million Series B round of funding for Tongbanjie, a Chinese online finance mobile app, with participation from existing investors IDG Capital Partners and China Growth Capital.
Matrix invests in India's Red Monster
Matrix Partners India has invested an undisclosed sum in mobile game developer Red Monster Games.
China Haier VC, SAIF launch smart home industry fund
Qingdao Haier Venture Capital (Haier VC), a corporate VC arm of Chinese white goods maker Qingdao Haier, has teamed up with SAIF Partners to form a RMB320 million ($32 million) smart home-focused VC fund.
Xiaomi Ventures backs China health products maker
Xiaomi Ventures, a corporate VC unit of Chinese mobile phone maker Xiaomi, has paid $25 million for a 20% stake in iHealth, an offshore unit of healthcare electronics maker Andon Health.
New Zealand's Shuttlerock raises $2.35m Series A
Shuttlerock, a New Zealand-based visual marketing software company, has raised $2.35 million in a Series A round of funding.
UK's Amadeus Capital to open India office
Amadeus Capital Partners, the UK-based technology venture capital firm, will open an office in India as it looks to invest up to $10 million in local start-ups.
KKR to buy majority stake in Japanese DJ equipment business
KKR has agreed to buy Japanese electronics manufacturer Pioneer Corporation’s DJ equipment division for around JPY59 billion ($551 million). Pioneer will retain a minority interest in the business.
ClearVue leads Series A for China mobile crowdtasking app
ClearVue Partners have led a $3.2 million Series A round of funding for WeiChaiShi, a Chinese mobile crowdtasking platform, with participation from Nokia Growth Partners.
Baring Asia drops out of Japan electronics deal
Baring Private Equity Asia has abandoned plans to acquire the audio-video operations of Japanese car electronics maker Pioneer Corp - alongside the company's rival Onkyo Corp - three months after reaching a basic agreement.
India's BigBasket raises $32.8m Series B from Helion, Zodius
Helion Venture Partners and Zodius Capital have led a INR2 billion ($32.8 million) Series B round of investment in BigBasket.com - the Indian online retailer owned by Bangalore-based SuperMarket Grocery Supplies.
Australia’s Looop raises $2m
Looop, an Australian online learning platform for employees, has raised a $2 million seed round from an undisclosed education investor.