Funds
KKR-owned Bis Industries acquires Powertrans for $27m
KKR-held Australian mining logistics company Bis Industries is to acquire mining haulage systems operator Powertrans for A$30 million ($27.46 million).
JAFCO-backed ZIGExN raises $58m in Tokyo IPO
ZIGExN, a JAFCO portfolio company that runs network of search engine websites, saw its stock more than double to JPY1750 on its first day of trading following a JPY5.8 billion ($58 million) Tokyo IPO.
Oaktree, China Cinda form distressed assets JV
Oaktree Capital Group has entered into a joint venture with China Cinda Asset Management Corp. that will see the two groups invest in distressed assets in China. Cinda was originally set up to absorb non-performing loans (NPLs) from China’s Big Four state-owned...
Sequoia backs China CRM platform Xiaoshouyi
Sequoia Capital has provided a Series A round of funding for Xiaoshouyi, a Chinese customer relationship management (CRM) platform.
Nissay, Globis, SMBC invest $3m in Japan's Itandi
Japanese VC investors Nissay Capital, Globis Capital and SMBC Ventures have committed JPY300 million ($2.9 million) to Itandi, an IT solutions provider to the real estate industry.
Phillip PE leads Series B round for Singapore's Clozette
Phillip Private Equity has led a $3 million Series B round for Singapore-based fashion shopping network Clozette.co, with participation from existing backers Walden International and several angel investors.
Providence-owned Study Group buys Australian college
Study Group, an education services provider owned by Providence Equity Partners, has acquired ANU College from Australian National University. Financial details were not disclosed.
DFJ consolidates China operations
Draper Fisher Jurvetson’s (DFJ) Shanghai office will close as the firm consolidates its operations in China. Existing portfolio companies will continue to receive support and Hope Chen remains a managing director responsible for overseeing China investments,...
ICG, Nomura set up Japan mezzanine fund
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), a global mezzanine specialist, and Japanese investment bank Nomura Holdings have together launched a joint venture to manage a Japan-focused mezzanine fund. Each will the contribute JPY10 billion ($98 million).
Risa Partners exits drug store to Tsuruha Holdings for $99m
Risa Partners, a unit of NEC Capital, has exited its 56% stake in Japanese drug store operator Hearty Wants to strategic investor Tsuruha Holdings for JPY10.1 billion ($99 million).
Indonesian fashion site Berrybenka raises $5m Series B
Japan's Transcomos has led a $5 million Series B round of funding for Berrybenka, picking a more than 30% interest in the Indonesian fashion e-commerce start-up. Existing backer GREE Venture also participated.
Tencent an investor in Snapchat – report
Tencent reportedly made a minority investment in video messaging app Snapchat in June.
Virgin forms India JV with Cinema Capital Venture Fund
Richard Branson’s Virgin Produced media production company has entered into a partnership with Mumbai-based Cinema Capital Venture Fund and Tantrik Group, a media and entertainment asset management firm, to launch Virgin Produced India, which will develop,...
DCM, Bertelsmann commit $10m to China's Ucloud
Ucloud, a Chinese cloud computing service provider, has received more than $10 million in Series A funding from DCM and Bertelsmann Asia Investments.
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).