Funds
Baidu, VC-owned Qunar ups US IPO target
Qunar, a Chinese-travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, has increased the indicative price range for its forthcoming IPO and is now expected raise as much as $155.4 million.
New Zealand, Taiwan cross-border fund ups target to $70m
A cross-border fund launched by New Zealand-based Pan Pacific Capital and Taiwan's state-run Institute for Information Industry (III) has raised its target to $70 million and is nearing a first close.
Matrix provides Series A for Shotformats Digital Works
Matrix Partners India has provided a Series A round of funding for Shotformats Digital Works, a distribution and digital entertainment company. Financial terms were undisclosed.
Sequoia leads $16m investment in Cloudnine hospital chain
Sequoia Capital has led INR1 billion ($16.3 million) investment into Bangalore-based infant and maternity care hospital chain Cloudnine. Existing investor Matrix Partners also participated in the round.
NYSTRS commits $100m to Carlyle’s fourth Asia buyout fund
New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) has committed $100 million to The Carlyle Group’s fourth Asia buyout fund. The vehicle, which has a target of $3.5 billion, had raised $1.5 billion as of the first quarter of 2013, with a final close...
Vietnam government launches ‘Silicon Valley Project’
Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology will build two accelerators under its Silicon Valley Project for technology commercialization - turning research into practical applications.
Chinese digital magazine Viva receives $20m round
Viva, a Chinese digital magazine operator, has received a $20 million Series C round of financing from an undisclosed French investment institution. Minhong Yu, founder of Chinese education provider New Oriental, also participated in the round.
Fosun VC, ChinaRock back Shijiebang Series A round
Fosun Venture Capital Investment, Fosun Group’s VC arm, and US-based ChinaRock Capital Management have invested in a Series A round of financing for online travel site Shijiebang. Angel investor Jerry Yang, co-founder and former CEO of Yahoo, also participated...
Gaw Capital closes fourth China real estate fund above $1b
Gaw Capital Partners, the Hong Kong-based private equity real estate investor, has reached a final close on its fourth China real estate fund at the hard cap of $1.025 billion. It is the largest vehicle the firm has ever raised.
Asia real assets: Need returns, will travel
Interest in Asian real assets has surged as investors look to higher growth emerging markets for income and upside. Opportunities run from real estate to infrastructure, and in some cases offer a bit of both
CDH leads $20m round for movie ticket site Gewara.com
Existing investor CDH Investments has led a $20 million round of funding for Gewara.com, a Shanghai-based online movie ticket website.
Schwarzman bullish on Blackstone's Australia prospects
The Blackstone Group is looking to increase its investments in Australian real estate and private equity, according to Stephen Schwarzman, the firm’s co-founder.
LotusPool targets $125m India fund, IFC to invest
LotusPool Capital, a private equity firm set up by executives from Actis and ePlanet Capital, has received a $15 million commitment from International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its debut fund. The vehicle, which has a target of $125 million, will...
Polaris-backed apparel supplier files for bankruptcy
Fusen-Usagi Corporation,a children's apparel supplier backed by Polaris Capital Group, has filed for bankruptcy at Osaka Regional Court with JPY3 billion ($30 million) in debt.
Jafco-backed Ride On Express files for Japan IPO
Ride On Express, a Japanese food delivery franchise operator backed by Jafco Ventures, has filed for a Tokyo IPO.
INCJ invests $8m in Japanese mobile payment start-up
Government-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY800 million ($8 million) in mobile payments processor Coiney.
CDH invests $3m in Chinese personal finance app Wacai
CDH Investments has committed $3 million in the latest round of funding for Hangzhou Wacai Science, a Chinese personal finance management mobile app developer.
Qiming invests in traditional Chinese medicine business
Qiming Venture Partners has committed a Series A round of funding to Jun He Tang, a traditional Chinese medicine business. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Malaysian financial comparison start-up gets $2m
Jungle Ventures has led a $2 million round of Series A funding for iMoney, a Malaysia-based financial comparison start-up. Other investors include IMJ Fenox, Fenox Venture Capital, Redbright Partners, 500 Startups and Vogel Ventures, as well as German...
Tata Capital buys stakes in Tata Sky, Mitra Biotech
Tata Capital’s offshore Tata Opportunities Fund (TOF) has acquired a 5% stake in direct-to-home (DTH) TV provider Tata Sky, while VC fund Tata Capital Innovations has backed cancer care company Mitra Biotech.
VC-backed Chinese lottery site files for $150m US IPO
VC-backed Chinese sports lottery provider 500.com has made an initial filing to raise around $150 million through an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.
China’s Sungy Mobile targets $80m US IPO
Sungy Mobile, a Chinese app developer backed by IDG Capital Partners, JAFCO, WI Harper and China Broadband Capital (CBC), is targeting a $80 million IPO and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The company, which focuses on apps, widgets and functions...
Lead Capital invests $2m in Japan's Talknote
Lead Capital Management has invested JPY200 million ($2 million) in Talknote, the Japanese start-up behind the corporate social networking platform of the same name. This is the second round of funding the company has received, following an undisclosed...
Intel Capital unveils seven new Asia investments
Intel Capital, a corporate VC arm of chipmaker Intel Corporation, has invested in seven Asia-based companies as part of a batch of 16 global commitments totaling $65 million. The Asian firms, coming from China, India, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan, account...