Region
Japan mystery shopper company raises $2.2m
Mizuho Capital, Jafco Ventures and DBJ Capital have invested JPY220 million ($2.1 million) in Research and Innovation, a Tokyo-based internet market research company.
Maybank leads $25m round for China casual dining platform
Maybank Private Equity has made its first investment in China, leading a $25 million Series D round of funding for YPX Cayman Holdings, which owns and operates Cloud 9, the mainland China licensee of a Taiwan casual dining chain.
NZVIF, Taiwan NDF reach $75m first close on VC fund
The first VC fund to be supported by a co-investment partnership between New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) and Taiwan's National Development Fund (NDF) has reached a $75 million first close.
China-Israel fund invests $42m in Swiss tool maker
Catalyst CEL Fund, a joint venture between China Everbright and Israel-based Catalyst Equity Management, will invest approximately $42 million in Lamina Technologies, a Switzerland-based tool manufacturer.
India's Kaizen opens US office ahead of Fund II launch
Indian education-focused GP Kaizen Private Equity has opened an office in Silicon Valley ahead of launching its first pan-Asian fund, which has a target of $120 million.
Internal strife returns to China's NVC Lighting
NVC Lighting, a Chinese lightning products manufacturer backed by SAIF Partners and Goldman Sachs, has once again run into corporate governance problems as its founder and CEO refused to accept a board resolution that he step down.
SAIF Partners leads $38m round for Chinese video site Aipai
SAIF Partners has led a $38 million Series C round of funding for Chinese video-sharing platform Aipai, with participation from Matrix Partners.
Accel leads new round for India's TaxiForSure
Accel Partners has led a Series C round of investment for Indian car rental and taxi booking site TaxiForSure.com.
Chinese payment platform completes Series B
Qufenqi.com, a Chinese installment payment platform, has raised a Series B round of funding from Source Code Capital, Golden Summit and BlueRun Ventures.
Alibaba leads Series B round for online education site
Myfriday.cn, a Chinese timetable social mobile app developer, has received a Series B round of funding led by Alibaba Group. Existing investors the Sequoia Capital and Ceyuan Ventures also participated.
Hony in $113m China farm machinery deal
Hony Capital has acquired a 20% stake in Chinese farm machinery maker Chery Heavy Industry for RMB696 million ($113 million).
SIG, Meridian to exit China digital advertising firm adSage
SIG China and Meridian Capital will exit adSage Corporation after Shanghai-listed BesTV New Media agreed to acquire a majority stake in the digital advertising firm for $88.88 million.
Creador beats expectations with $300m final close on Fund II
Creador has reached a final close on its second fund at the hard cap of $300 million. A rush of late commitments saw the Southeast Asia and India-focused GP exceed its projected $275 million total.
CITIC Capital buys Chinese mattress maker
CITIC Capital Partners has acquired a controlling stake in King Koil Shanghai Sleep System, a Chinese mattress maker.
L Capital Asia to invest in Korean talent manager
L Capital Asia, a private equity firm sponsored by French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, will invest KRW61 billion ($60 million) in YG Entertainment, the Korean record label and talent manager responsible for acts including “Gangnam Style” rapper Psy....
India's Orios Venture raises $50m
Orios Venture Partners - a VC firm set up by Indian angel investor Rehan Yar Khan - has raised INR3 billion ($50 million) for its first fund.
Ex-Groupon HK CEO launches $10m seed fund
Former Groupon CEO for Hong Kong and Taiwan Danny Yeung raised a $10 million seed-stage investment fund following the launch of his new venture capital firm SXE Ventures.
Orchid hits $920m hard cap on sixth China fund
Orchid Asia has closed its sixth China growth capital fund, hitting the hard cap of $920 million after receiving more than $1.3 billion of interest from prospective LPs.
China mobile healthcare developer gets $50m Series C round
Spring Rain Software, a Chinese mobile healthcare app developer, has raised a $50 million Series C round from new investors China International Capital Corp. (CICC), Rushan Investment Management and Temasek Holdings’ Pavilion Capital.
Asia energy: Oil angle
The continued growth of the Asia economies means increased demand for energy. Major Asian countries and corporations are rising to the challenge and paying top dollar for almost every oil and gas interest they can lay their hands on - not to mention extraction...
Qiming leads $25m round for China job seeking site Lagou
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $25 million Series B round for Lagou.com, a Chinese job listing website focused on IT industry, with participation from Bertelsmann Asia Investment.
Everstone names ex-Goldman executive as CEO
India and Southeast Asia-focused GP Everstone has hired L. Brooks Entwistle,formerly of Goldman Sachs, as a partner and group CEO.
Australia infrastructure: Ideal owners
Australian pension funds are keen to invest in a raft of infrastructure privatizations, with some of the proceeds earmarked for new projects. But more can be done to get long-term capital into greenfield infrastructure
SEAF backs Indian fast food chain
SEAF India Investment Advisors has acquired a significant minority stake in the Kolkata-based Guha Roy Food Joint & Hotel, which runs biriyani fast food chain Only Alibaba and fried chicken brand Baked & Fried.
