North Asia
VC-backed news app Gunosy sees modest gain after Tokyo IPO
Shares in Gunosy - a Japanese news app developer backed by the venture capital firm Jafco, telecoms company KDDI Corp. and B Dash Ventures - is up marginally on its IPO price after two days trading in Tokyo.
Unison sells Asahi Tec casting assets to India's Amtek Auto
Asahi Tec, a Japanese auto-parts supplier controlled by Unison Capital, has agreed to sell a portfolio of companies covering casting and forging to India's Amtek Auto.
OPIC seeks fundraising proposals from emerging markets GPs
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development finance institution (DFI) backed by the US government, has issued a call for proposals from private equity fund managers raising funds for emerging markets.
Mitsui leads $21m round for India's Naaptol
Japanese trading house Mitsui has led a INR1.36 billion ($21 million) round for India home shopping and e-commerce start-up Naaptol Online Shopping. Existing investors New Enterprises Associates (NEA), Canaan Partners and Saama Capital also took part....
Portfolio: IMM Private Equity and Korea's Hollys Coffee
IMM Private Equity thinks Hollys Coffee has what it takes to become a homegrown star in Korea’s fiercely competitive coffee house industry. Two years into the investment, rejuvenation efforts appear to be paying off
Ticket Monster tools up for e-commerce fight
EBay paid $1.2 billion for a dominant position in Korean online retail in 2009 with the privatization of NASDAQ-listed Gmarket. It was the leading e-commerce marketplace, accounting for KRW3.99 trillion (then $2.6 billion) of the country’s estimated KRW18.1...
Japan's Rebright launches $20m fund for India start-ups
Rebright Partners - an early-stage investor backed by a consortium of Japanese internet companies - has formed a JPY2.4 billion ($20 million) fund to invest technology start-ups in India.
Korea's NPS ups alternatives exposure to 9.9%
The National Pension Service of Korea (NPS) increased its alternatives allocation from 9.4% to 9.9% over the course of 2014 as total assets grew by 10.3% to reach KRW470 trillion ($435 billion).
Integral, ANA agree joint sponsorship of Japan's Skymark
Tokyo-based private equity firm Integral Corp. has reached an agreement with local airline operator ANA Holdings to invest JPY18 billion ($150 million) in ailing Japanese carrier Skymark.
Japan crowd translation start-up raises $5.4m
Japan's Recruit Holdings has led a $5.4 million Series C round of funding for crowdsourced translation company Gengo.
KKR, Anchor buy controlling stake Korea's Ticket Monster
A consortium led by KKR and Anchor Equity Partners has agreed to buy a controlling stake in South Korean mobile e-commerce company Ticket Monster from US-listed Groupon for $360 million.
Rakuten invests in VC-backed China discount site Fanli
Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten has bought a less than 10% stake in VC-backed Chinese discounts site Fanli in a Series C round of funding that values the business at about $1 billion.
Sprinklr raises Series A round to launch Japan unit
US-based social media management software developer Sprinklr has raised JPY1 billion ($8.4 million) in a Series A round to support its Japan branch, with participation by Recruit Holdings and Suneight.
Japan's Dentsu launches $42m corporate venture fund
Japanese advertising agency Dentsu has established a new corporate venture capital arm, Dentsu Ventures, and launched a new fund with a corpus of JPY5 billion ($42 million).
Accel, Recruit Holdings back Australia's 99designs
Australia-founded online design marketplace 99designs has raised $10 million in a Series B round led by Recruit Strategic Partners, with existing investor Accel Partners also participating.
PE consortium closes in on Korea's Ticket Monster - report
A group of private equity investors including KKR is set to buy Korean e-commerce mobile app Ticket Monster from US-based Groupon in a deal that could value the company as highly as $800 million.
Asia Alternatives raises $1.8b for funds, separate accounts
Asia Alternatives Management has closed $1.8 billion in new commitments from LPs, comprising $1 billion for co-mingled fund-of-funds and $800 million in separately managed accounts.
SoftBank joins $13.3m Series B for Japan e-commerce app
Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group, credit card firm Credit Saison, and Makoto Takaono - editor-in-chief of Forbes Japan - have invested JPY 1.6 billion ($13.3 million) in Origami, a Tokyo-based mobile commerce platform.
Japanese biotech firm targets $42m venture fund
An investment unit of Japanese biotech company Euglena is looking to raise JPY5 billion ($41.5 million) for a VC vehicle it has launched alongside SMBC Nikko - which is controlled by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group - and science start-up incubator Leave...
Japan news app raises another $10m from VCs
SmartNews, the Tokyo-based start-up behind the news curation app of the same name, has raised $10 million in another round of funding led by Japanese internet gaming firm Gree.
Japan's Beenos leads $2.5m Series A for flea market app
Japanese e-commerce incubator Beenos has led a $2.5 million Series A round of funding for Southeast Asian flea market app Duriana. Existing investors also took part in the round.
Japan's Zozotown acquires VC-backed Aratana
Start Today - the Japanese start-up behind fashion site Zozotown - has acquired VC-backed e-commerce solution provider Aratana.
Japan's Livesense buys VC-backed e-commerce start-up
Livesense - a Japanese internet company known for its flagship career search site Jobsense - has acquired a 71.7% stake in VC-backed e-commerce start-up Waja for JPY400 million ($3.3 million).
VC-backed Gunosy files for Tokyo IPO
Gunosy - a Japanese news app developer backed by the venture capital firm Jafco, telecoms company KDDI Corp. and B Dash Ventures - has filed for a Tokyo IPO.