Funds
Blackstone, Panchshil Realty to buy Mumbai office tower
The Blackstone Group and Xander Group-backed Indian developer Panchshil Realty are set to buy a majority stake in an office tower in Mumbai for close to INR9 billion ($144 million).
SMBC Venture, Adways invest in Japan e-commerce site
SMBC Venture Capital and strategic investor Adways have together backed Flask Park, a Japanese gift e-commerce company. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Bitcoin boom
“It is in some ways easier to buy things in China using bitcoin than it is using traditional fiat currency,” says Dan Ciporin, partner at the VC firm Canaan Partners.
Bitcoin exchange BTC China Raises $5m from Lightspeed
China’s largest bitcoin exchange by trading volume, BTC China, has raised $5 million in Series A funding from Lightspeed China Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
SAIF, Kalaari provide Series A round for Urban Ladder
Indian online furniture store Urban Ladder has raised $5 million from SAIF Partners and return backer Kalaari Capital in a Series A round.
RRJ to launch $1b real estate fund - report
RRJ Capital, the Hong Kong-based private equity firm set up by former Hopu Investment Management executive Richard Ong, is said to be launching a $1 billion real estate fund targeting investments in China.
CDC commits $200m to IDFC Infrastructure Fund II
CDC Group, the UK government’s development finance arm, has announced a $200 million commitment to IDFC Alternatives’ India Infrastructure Fund 2 (IIF2), its largest ever to an Indian investment fund.
Vision Knight, Softbank China back tourism site 8trip
Vision Knight Capital has led a RMB150 million ($25 million) round of funding for 8trip, a Chinese B2B online travel website. SoftBank China Venture Capital (SBCVC) also participated in the round.
SoftBank China invests in P2P lending site Yooli.com
Chinese peer-to-peer financing platform Yooli.com has received $10 million in Series A funding from Softbank China Capital. The platform launched in February but already has nearly 100,000 registered users and has transacted more than RMB264 million ($43...
Haitong Capital, Orient International launch RMB buyout fund
Haitong Capital, a PE arm of Haitong Securities, and Shanghai-based logistics company Orient International Enterprise have launched a renminbi-denominated buyout fund with a target of RMB3 billion ($493 million).
Riverside acquires Japan bicycle retailer
The Riverside Company has acquired Y. International, a Japanese bicycle retail chain. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
GLP launches $3b China logistics fund
Global Logistic Properties (GLP), a Singapore-listed warehouse developer largely owned by GIC Private, has launched a $3 billion China-focused logistics infrastructure fund, capturing the opportunities in China domestic consumption and the shortage of...
Matrix, Tiger Global back Indian cab rental firm Olacabs
Olacabs has received a Series B round of funding from Matrix Partners India and existing investor Tiger Global Management, reportedly worth $20 million.
Dattels, Gray to lead TPG in Asia, Peel steps back
Tim Dattels, a senior partner at TPG Capital, is moving back to Asia to lead the firm’s regional private equity operations in conjunction with Ben Gray. He is replacing Stephen Peel who is withdrawing from day-to-day management.
Singapore's itBit raises capital for Bitcoin exchange
Canaan Partners and RRE Ventures have co-led a $3.25 million round of funding for Singapore-headquartered Bitcoin exchange itBit. Liberty City Ventures, as well angel investors such as The Jordan Company’s Jay W. Jordan II and Beluga co-founder Ben Davenport...
China online video: Big fish, small fish
As Chinese online video consumers switch to mobile platforms, venture capital investors are looking for ways to ride the wave – but they must do it with one eye on strategic players also entering the space
Asia distress: Playing doctor
Asia appears to be destined for a spate of corporate restructurings. Although they are studying a wealth of potential investments, distress specialists say the obvious targets are not always the most accessible
Profile: Helion Venture Partners' Sanjeev Aggarwal
Sanjeev Aggarwal, co-founder of Helion Venture Partners, has been at the vanguard of several pivotal developments in India’s tech industry, from the birth of BPO to the flowering of e-commerce
Industry ponders the future of fund-of-funds - AVCJ forum
Fund-of-funds still have a significant role to play in Asia despite predictions of their demise in changing LP landscape, industry participants argued at the AVCJ Forum in Hong Kong.
Gobi backs China travel site Yododo
Gobi Partners has committed $4 million in Series A financing to Yododo.com, a Chinese hostel booking and travel site.
Carlyle set for another partial exit from Japan's Chimney
The Carlyle Group is set to reap up to JPY14.3 billion ($145 million) through another partial exit from Japanese casual restaurant chain Chimney Corp, after agreeing to subscribe to a tender offer by liquor retailer Yamaya Corp. to acquire a 48.66% stake....
Jiuding Capital reaches first close on latest RMB fund
China’s Jiuding Capital has reached a first close of RMB1 billion ($164 million) on its latest renminbi-denominated vehicle, which has a full target of up to RMB3 billion.
Japan's Polaris exits Nippon Oil Pump to Wendel
Japanese buyout firm Polaris Capital Group has agreed to exit its entire share in Nippon Oil Pump Group (NOP) - a maker of hydraulic pumps and motors - to French listed investment group Wendel.
CHAMP-owned Accolade to acquire NZ wine brands
Accolade Wines, a winemaker owned by Australia's CHAMP Private Equity, has agreed to acquire a portfolio of wine brands from New Zealand counterpart Mud House Wine Group.