Funds
AVCAL CEO Katherine Woodthorpe resigns
Katherine Woodthorpe, CEO of the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCAL), has resigned. Having spent seven years in the role, Woodthorpe announced she would be stepping down on October 31 in order to "pursue fresh challenges."
Mapletree reaches $1.4b final close on China fund
Mapletree Investments, the real-estate arm of Temasek Holdings, has closed its real estate fund, Mapletree China Opportunity Fund II (MCOF II) at its hard cap of $1.4 billion, above the initial target of $1 billion.
Citigroup sells CVCI to Rohatyn Group
Citigroup is selling its $4.3 billion private equity unit, Citi Venture Capital International (CVCI), to emerging markets investment firm The Rohatyn Group (TRG) for an undisclosed sum.
Nissay Capital leads $1.5m round for Japan skills marketplace
Nissay Capital has a led a JPY150 million ($1.5 million) round of investment in WelSelf, the Tokyo-based start-up behind online skils marketplace Coconala. Other investors include internet marketing companies Opt and Adways, and the CEO of cosmetics site...
Century Bridge commits $32.8m to Hangzhou residential project
Century Bridge Capital has invested $32.8 million in a joint venture with property developer Zhejiang Headway Real Estate to construct a middle-income, residential project in the eastern China city of Hangzhou.
Japan's Future Venture Capital raises $5m venture fund
Japan's Future Venture Capital has raised a JPY500 million ($5 million) venture fund, Ehime Venture Fund 2013.
Patent funds: Creative returns
Asia is now responsible for just over half of all patent filings worldwide. Will independent patent funds, which have already won a niche following in the US, catch on over here?
Asia Incubators: From acorns to oaks
As Asia’s tech start-up community flourishes, more incubators are setting up shop in the region in a bid to emulate Silicon Valley success – but what is the best way to do it?
Japan's Rakuten acquires VC-backed video site Viki
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has acquired Viki, a VC-backed global video streaming platform.The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Morningside, Jingdong invest in Chinese food delivery service Daojia
Existing backer Morningside Ventures and B2C e-commerce site Jingdong (formerly 360Buy) have led a Series C round of investment in Chinese online food ordering platform Daojia. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Taiwan regulators stress commitment to PE – AVCJ Taiwan
Taiwan’s minister of economic affairs stressed that the government sees private equity as an important contributor to local economic development, highlighting draft legislation that promises to ease the deal approvals process. However, PE investors...
Composition Capital appoints Head of Asia Pacific
Real estate fund manager Composition Capital Partners has appointed Whye Choong Low as principal and new Head of Asia Pacific at its Hong Kong office. He will be in charge of both running the company's Asia Pacific operations and expanding its activities...
Blume Ventures backs India software firm Kuliza
Bangalore-based Kuliza Technologies, a marketing software maker has raised seed funding from Blume Ventures. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Indonesia VCs, incubators form lobbying alliance
Eight Indonesian venture capital firms and incubators have come together to form a lobbying group known as the Alliance of Venture Capitals in Indonesia (AVCII). Members include CyberAgent Ventures, East Ventures, GEPI, Grupara, Ideosource, Jakarta Founders...
SMBC, IGPI invest $1.3m in Japanese game design platform
SMBC Venture Capital and Industrial Growth Partners (IGPI) have invested JPY130 million ($1.3 million) in Mugenup.com, a start-up that crowd-sources design talent to work on projects for game developers.
Commercial Intelligence targets $150m for Asia, Africa litigation fund
Specialist distressed debt and litigation investor Commercial Intelligence Funds Group (CI) is launching an Asia- and Africa-focused fund with a target of $150 million. A first close is planned for the end of 2013.
Hans Tung leaves China VC firm Qiming for the US
Hans Tung, Beijing-based managing partner at Qiming Venture Partners, has left the firm. AVCJ understands the departure was amicable, driven by Tung’s desire to relocate to the US for family reasons. He has yet to join a new firm.
Japan's Rakuten leads $23m Series B round for e-commerce app Slice
Rakuten Group - Japan's largest e-commerce firm - has led a $23 million financing round for the Silicon Valley-based start-up behind online shopping app Slice.
China education site Fenbi.com to raise Series B round
Fenbi.com, a Beijing-based online education platform, is about to close its second round of VC funding. It is said that IDG Capital Partners and Matrix Partners China have joined the round, taking total capital raised to $7 million.
Fenox leads Tech in Asia Series B round
Fenox Venture Capital has led a Series B round of investment in digital media company Tech in Asia. Existing investors, East Ventures and Simile Venture Partners, also took part in the round. Financial details were not disclosed.
JFDI.Asia launches latest accelerator program
Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (JFDI.Asia) - a Singapore-based accelerator - has launched its latest 100-day program with an intake of 10 new start-ups. The teams were chosen through an open competition that attracted 321 applications.
PE-backed Australian fashion retailer enters administration
Bleach Group, the Australian parent of fashion brands Insight, Something Else and Ksubi, has been placed into voluntary administration. The company received growth capital investment from US-based Breakwater Investment Management in late 2012.
Korea launches fund class to support overseas contractors
South Korea plans to launch specialist private equity funds as a means of encouraging financial institutions to support local firms competing for overseas construction contracts. The government hopes that $8.6 billion can be raised through these funds...
JAFCO invests $3m in Japan online laundry service
JAFCO Ventures has invested JPY300 million ($3 million) in White Plus, the Japanese start-up behind Lenet, an online laundry delivery service.