Funds
INCJ picks up stake in robotic hand maker
State-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has acquired a 20% stake in Squse - a Kyoto-based company that makes robotic hands - for JPY500 million ($4.9 million). INCJ joins existing investors Amazon and Google.
Piramal, CPPIB form $500m realty finance fund
India's Piramal Enterprises is to form a $500 million realty debt fund with CPPIB Credit Investments,, a subsidiary of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).
CITIC leads $41m China tech fund launch
A group of investors, including CITIC Capital and the Shenzhen municipal government have launched a RMB250 million ($41 million) venture fund to invest in technology companies.
Jafco-backed Eleven Bio raises $50m in NASDAQ IPO
Eleven Biotherapeutics, a US biopharma company firm backed by Japan’s Jafco Ventures, has raised $50 million through its NASDAQ IPO – short of the $69 million initially sought.
TMall's Inman Apparel receives funding from IDG, Alibaba – report
IDG Capital Partners and Alibaba Group have reportedly invested in Inman Apparel, a Guangzhou-based clothing brand that sells its products through Alibaba’s TMall and Taobao platforms.
American Express VC unit backs India's Capillary Technologies
American Express Ventures (AEV), the corporate venture arm of credit card company American Express, has made its first India investment, backing Bangalore-based cloud software solutions provider Capillary Technologies.
Premji tries Myntra on for size
The growth of Indian e-commerce is well documented and recent estimates by online marketplace and industry poster child Flipkart illustrate just how much farther it has to go. According to Sachin Bansal, Flipkart’s co-founder and CEO, e-commerce grew...
CDH Ventures invests in online travel site Lailaihui
CDH Venture has led a new funding round for Lailaihui, a Chinese backpacker travel service start-up, alongside existing investor Unity Ventures. Transaction details were not disclosed but the investment was said to be about $1 million.
VCs pump another $13m into PubMatic
Nokia Growth Partners (NGP) has led a $13 million round of funding for PubMatic, an advertising platform based in India and US. Existing investors August Capital, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Helion Ventures and Nexus Venture Partners also took part in the...
KKR eyes Asia opportunities as valuations fall
KKR sees increasing opportunities in Asia for private equity and special situations as valuations fall amid growing investor uncertainty about the prospects for emerging markets globally.
Cerberus completes Kokusai Kogyo exit - report
Cerberus Capital Management has reportedly completed the sale of its stake in Japanese property operator Kokusai Kogyo for about JPY140 million ($1.37 billion).
Premji Invest leads $50m round for India fashion site Myntra
Bangalore-based fashion portal Myntra Designs has raised $50 million from investors led by Premji Invest, an investment arm owned by Indian tycoon Azim Premji.
Sony agrees to sell Vaio PC unit to JIP
Sony has confirmed that it plans to sell its loss-making Vaio PC division to Tokyo-based mid-market buyout shop Japan Industrial Partners (JIP). Financial details have not been disclosed but previous estimates valued the deal at around JPY40-50 billion...
VCs commit $14.3m to Japan online printing start-up
A consortium of Japanese venture capital investors including Global Brain, World Innovation Lab (WiL), Itochu Technology Ventures and GMO Ventures have invested JPY1.45 billion ($14.3 million) in Raksul, a Tokyo-based start-up providing online printing...
Globis, Gree invest in Japan crowd-sourced editing platform
Globis Capital Partners and Gree Ventures have together invested JPY300 million ($2.9 million) in Viibar, the Japanese start-up behind the video production-focused crowd sourcing platform of the same name.
Navis raises $1.3b for seventh Asia fund
Navis Capital Partners will complete fundraising for its seventh Asia vehicle next week with up to $1.3 billion in commitments from LPs. Work will then begin on a shariah-compliant parallel fund, which is expected to close in June, taking the final total...
Fortisure leads Series C for Indian ad tech player
Jivox, an advertising technology company with operations in India and the US, has raised $5.8 million in Series C funding led by existing investor Fortisure Ventures. Shah Capital also participated, as did existing investors Opus Capital and Helion Venture...
BVCF invests in US-based Jaguar Animal Health
China-focused BVCF has committed $2 million in a Series A round of funding for Jaguar Animal Health, a veterinary drugs developer, with another $3 million to come by the end of the month.
CDC supports funding round for Indian e-commerce platform
CDC Group will contribute approximately $27.5 million to the latest round of funding for Jabong, a fashion and apparel-focused Indian e-commerce platform.
Rocket Internet's Foodpanda secures $20m in funding
Foodpanda, an online meal delivery marketplace incubated by Rocket Internet, has received $20 million in funding from several venture capital firms, including existing investor Phenomen Ventures.
Jungle Ventures backs Singapore's Klinify
Klinify, a Singapore-based electronic medical records management service provider, has received S$770,000 ($604,000) in seed funding round led by Jungle Ventures.
IDG, Ascent invest in India's Newgen, Headland exits
IDG Ventures India and Ascent Capital have acquired a minority stake in Newgen Software Technologies, a Dehli-based business management services provider, for INR1.1 billion ($17.6 million). The investment facilitates the exit of Headland Capital Partners....
Matrix India leads Series B for Mswipe
Mswipe Technologies, a Mumbai-based mobile payment services provider, has raised a Series B round of funding led by existing investor Matrix Partners India. Axis Bank and DSG Consumer Partners also participated.
India to allow LBOs for distressed assets
Indian banks will be allowed to support leveraged buyouts of distressed companies by “specialized entities” according to plans released by the Reserve Bank of India. Under a liberalized regulatory regime for asset sales, sector-specific private equity...