Funds
J-Star buys majority stake in Japan plastic parts manufacturer
Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star has acquired a 70% stake in Kugami, a Yokohama-based plastic parts manufacturer serving the auto and electronics industries, for an undisclosed sum.
PE firms eye Standard Chartered consumer finance unit - report
Bain Capital and The Carlyle Group are said to be among first-round bidders for Standard Chartered's Hong Kong-based consumer finance unit, PrimeCredit.
Insight Venture commits $250m to Australia's Campaign Monitor
Insight Venture Partners has invested $250 million in Campaign Monitor, an Australian business that makes software for email-marketing campaigns.
Sailing, Yingli form $161m China solar fund
Shanghai Sailing Capital Management is teaming up with Yingli Green Energy Holding to form a solar energy-focused fund with an initial size of RMB1 billion ($161 million).
IDG, Vertex lead $23m round for India's Yatra
IDG Ventures and Temasek Holdings-owned Vertex Ventures have led a INR1.4 billion ($23 million) round of funding for Yatra.com, a leading Indian online travel company.
Warburg Pincus leads $70m round for China job site Liepin
Warburg Pincus has led a $70 million Series C round of funding for Liepin.com, a Chinese online recruitment services provider, with participation from existing investor Matrix Partners China.
China’s LeTV launches $160m internet fund
LeTV.com, a Shenzhen-listed online video portal, is seeking to raise up to RMB1 billion ($161 million) for an internet and technology-focused private equity fund .
Lightspeed bets on financial disruption
Regulation is the primary concern for PE and VC firms considering investments in China’s peer-to-peer (P2P) lending industry. The market opportunity has never really been in doubt. Online P2P lending platforms are a bridge between individual lenders...
1Q analysis: Big fish, small fish
Country fund stars, China VCs make their mark on fundraising; the trade sale spike won't be sustained and the IPO surge may falter too; South Korean buyouts continue to create headlines
Pomona raises $1.75b for global secondaries fund
Pomona Capital has reached a final close on its eighth global secondaries fund at the $1.75 billion hard cap. The vehicle, which had a target of $1.3 billion, was substantially oversubscribed.
CBC, AsiaInfo back China travel solutions provider Baoku
China Broadband Capital (CBC) and telecom software developer AsiaInfo-Linkage have backed a Series A round of funding for Baoku.com, a Beijing-based travel solutions provider.
India's SIDBI invests in diabetes hospital
SIDBI Venture Capital has invested INR180 million ($3 million) in the India Kanungo Institute of Diabetes Specialities (KIDS) via its Samridhi Fund.
China online health forum secures $1m from Lightspeed
Lightspeed China Partners has committed $1 million to Kanchufang, a Chinese online healthcare information operator.
Jafco reaches $260m final close on fifth global VC fund
Jafco Ventures has reached a final close on its latest global fund at $260 million for its latest global fund. The vehicle, which was originally targeting $250 million, is the largest the firm has ever raised.
VC-backed China cosmetics retailer Jumei targets $400m IPO
Sequoia Capital investee Jumei International Holding, which claims to be China’s leading online retailer of beauty products, is seeking to raise up to $400 million through a NASDAQ IPO.
Indian regulator to issue crowdfunding guidelines
India’s securities regulator plans to issue guidelines for crowdfunding as part of efforts to open up additional financing channels for start-ups.
DCM commits $9m to China's DerbySoft
DCM has committed $9 million in a Series D round of funding for DerbySoft, a Chinese hotel technology solutions provider.
Zhongnan Heavy, ZEG Capital launch China media fund
Jiangyin Zhongnan Heavy Industries, a Chinese steel equipment manufacturer, and ZEG Capital, an investment arm of China Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, want to raise up to RMB3 billion ($483 million) for a media-focused buyout fund.
Japan's B Dash Ventures backs photo curation site Iemo
Japanese VC firm B Dash Ventures has invested an undisclosed sum in Iemo, an interior design-focused photo site.
Meridian Capital backs China Wi-Fi solutions provider
Chao WiFi, a Chinese Wi-Fi services provider, has received RMB15 million ($2.4 million) in Series A funding from Meridian Capital.
FLAG hires Myron Zhu as co-head of Asia
FLAG Capital has appointed Myron Zhu, previously head of J.P. Morgan’s alternative investments division in the region, as partner and co-head of Asia.
Lightspeed leads Series B round for China P2P lender PPDai
Lightspeed China Partners has led a Series B round of funding for PPDai, which claims to be China’s first and largest peer-to-peer lending (P2P) platform. Other investors include Sequoia Capital and US-listed wealth management firm Noah Holdings.
IDG, China Growth Capital invest in job site HunterOn
HunterOn.com, a Chinese online recruitment website, has secured a Series A round of funding from IDG Capital Partners and China Growth Capital.
Vertex leads round for Southeast Asia taxi-booking app
Vertex Ventures, a unit of Temasek Holdings, has led a round of funding for GrabTaxi, a taxi booking app set up in Malaysia that is looking to continue its expansion into other Southeast Asian markets.