Funds
Advantage acquires Japan's Ishii Sports
Advantage Partners has acquired Tokyo-based outdoor sports equipment retailer Ishii Sports.
China's LeTV raises $153m for cloud-computing unit
LeTV Cloud, a cloud-computing service platform owned by Chinese online video company Leshi Internet Information & Technology (LeTV), has raised RMB1 billion ($153 million) from state-owned Chongqing Industrial Investment Fund.
Equis launches SE Asia's largest solar project
Renewable energy-focused developer and investor Equis Funds Group has launched Southeast Asia's largest solar energy project in the Philippines.
Guo Jin leads $15m round for China education platform
Guo Jin Capital, a Shenzhen-based early-stage VC firm, has led a RMB100 million ($15.3 million) Series B round for ABC360, an online English learning platform.
Malaysia car sale platform raises $2m Series A round
Malaysian PE fund IdeaRiverRun has led a $2 million Series A round of funding for Carsome, a local car purchasing platform.
Pfingsten closes Fund V at $382m
Pfingsten Partners, a US-based GP with a presence in China and India that reflects its manufacturing-focused remit, has closed its fifth middle-market fund at $382 million, exceeding the target of $350 million.
Oaktree opens Australia office
Oaktree Capital Group has opened its first office in Australia, with Byron Beath, previously of Macquarie Bank, appointed to lead investment activities in the region.
Investec backs Australia fintech investor H2 Ventures
Investec has acquired a stake in Australia-based financial technology investor H2 Ventures. It is part of a broader collaboration that will see Investec contribute to H2’s accelerator and early-stage investment program.
Indian e-commerce site Hopscotch secures $13m
Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has led a $13 million Series C round of funding for a technological expansion of Hopscotch, an online retailer of baby and children’s products targeting Indian mothers.
Cybernaut China hires ex-IBM executive, launches M&A fund
China-focused PE firm Cybernaut has hired Matt Wang, formerly a vice president at IBM, as president and announced the launch of a RMB60 billion ($9 billion) M&A fund.
Legend leads $30m round for China cloud services provider
Legend Capital has led a $30 million Series C round of funding for Haizhi, a China-based cloud computing service provider.
China PE regulation: Operation good guys
The rapid growth of online finance technology has turned China into a hotbed for illegal fundraising, with local PE fund managers drawn into the mess. Can new regulation restore investor confidence?
Corporate VC in China healthcare: Formula for success
Despite the rapid growth of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry, corporate venture capital so far has not built a large presence. Industry participants say this shows the market, though booming, is still immature
Q&A: BHR Partners' Jonathan Li & Xin Wang
BHR Partners was set up as an extension of Bohai Industrial Investment Fund to support Chinese companies going overseas. CEO Jonathan Li and Managing Partner Xin Wang explain the strategy
Kings of content: Investors target China media
From Alibaba Group to Wanda Group, Chinese companies are looking to tighten their hold on the media value chain, moving upstream and downstream. Private equity can profit from this evolving ecosystem
India budget promotes start-ups, boosts public investment
India's newest Union Budget will provide incentives to the country's entrepreneurs and a mixed bag of measures for the investment industry.
China cloud technology start-up Transwarp secures $24m
Transwarp Technology, a Chinese big-data technology developer, has raised a RMB155 million ($24 million) Series B round of funding from domestic investors including Shanghai Real Power Emerging Industry Funds and Shenzhen Capital Group.
China cross-border shopping platform gets $15m
California-based Chinese cross-border shopping platform 55Haitao has raised $15 million in Series A funding from JJ Capital, a VC arm of Chinese game developer JJ.
Eight Roads leads $8m round for Japan's Port
Eight Roads Ventures Japan has led a JPY900 million ($7.9 million) round of funding for Tokyo-based online content developer Port.
Shunwei leads round for China legal services platform
Shunwei Capital Partners has led a Series B round of funding for Kuaifawu.com, a Chinese legal services platform that targets at small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Matrix leads $5m Series A for India's OfBusiness
Indian business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform OfBusiness has raised a $5 million Series A round led by Matrix Partners India.
Accel leads $5.8m round for India's Juspay
Accel Partners has led a INR400 million ($5.8 million) Series A round for Indian mobile payments start-up Juspay.
Ex-Khosla partner raises $200m for cross-border tech fund
Andrew Chung, formerly a partner at US-based Khosla Ventures, has launched his own VC firm - 1955 Capital - and reached a first close of $200 million on a cross-border technology fund.
VCs commit $15m to Indonesia's Orami
MoxyBilna, an Indonesia-based mother and baby-focused e-commerce group, has received a $15 million funding round led by Sinar Mas Digital Ventures (SMDV), and also announced a rebranding as Orami.