Media
Australia’s Canva raises $70m at $2.5b valuation
Australian graphic design start-up Canva has raised $70 million from investors including US-based General Catalyst and Bond Capital, the new vehicle of Silicon Valley veteran Mary Meeker. It values Canva at $2.5 billion.
CITIC Capital invests in Singapore marketing firm
CITIC Capital has invested an undisclosed sum in Cityneon, an entertainment media-focused marketing firm based in Singapore.
ION to buy majority stake in Acuris
Financial software and data platform developer ION Investment Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Acuris, the parent company of AVCJ, for an undisclosed amount. The deal will provide a full exit for Singapore’s GIC Private, while current...
Deal focus: CDIB finds media consumption proxy
CDIB Capital is backing VHQ China to leverage the growing demand for visual effects in China's domestic movie and TV production industry
Orchid, TPG-backed Duiba trades flat on Hong Kong debut
Duiba, operator of a China-based interactive advertising platform and software-as-a-service (SaaS) management system for online businesses, traded flat on its Hong Kong debut, following an IPO of HK$766.2 million($97.6 million).
Magic Leap gets $280m from Docomo, targets Japan expansion
Magic Leap, a US virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) goggles maker backed by several private equity firms, has secured $280 million for a Japanese expansion from NTT Docomo.
CDIB invests in China VFX player
CDIB Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in VHQ China, a Taiwan-based provider of post-production and visual effects services focused on China’s film and TV drama industry.
Sequoia backs $35.5m round for India gaming player
Mobile Premier League (MPL), an Indian e-sports gaming platform operator, has raised a $35.5 million Series A round from a group of investors including Sequoia Capital India.
Bain falls short in tender offer for Japan's Kosaido
The proposed JPY17.4 billion ($157 million) acquisition of Japanese printing and IT services provider Kosaido by Bain Capital has reached an impasse after the private equity firm’s tender offer failed to win sufficient shareholder support.
Deal focus: Boomplay aspires to become Africa’s Spotify
Boomplay has leveraged demand for its Chinese parent's smart phones to become the leading music streaming platform in Africa. Maison Capital and Yunshi Capital were sufficiently impressed to back a $20 million Series A round
Hony co-leads $700m round for US-based STX
Hony Capital has co-led a $700 million funding round for US film and TV studio STX Entertainment along with TPG Growth, the mid-market investment platform of TPG Capital.
Deal focus: 90 Seconds simplifies complex video variables
Singapore-based 90 Seconds raises $20 million to expand its online video production networking marketplace
Singapore's 90 Seconds raises $20m Series B round
Singapore video platform operator 90 Seconds has raised a $20 million Series B from a group including Susquehanna International Group (SIG), Australia’s AirTree Ventures, and Sequoia Capital India.
PE-backed ticketing player falls on debut after $287m HK IPO
Maoyan Entertainment, a Chinese online movie ticketing business backed by Tencent Holdings and several private equity investors, fell on its trading debut in Hong Kong following a HK$2.25 billion ($287.1 million) IPO.
LionRock buys stake in Italian football club Inter Milan
Asian private equity investor LionRock Capital has agreed to buy a minority stake in Italian football club Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan), which has been controlled by Chinese electronics retailer Suning since 2016.
PE-backed Tencent Music gains on US debut
Chinese music streaming platform Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) gained 7.7% on its US trading debut, following a $1.1 billion IPO that facilitated partial exits for several investors.
China's Data Grand raises $23m Series B round
Data Grand, a Chinese natural language processing (NLP) solution developer, has raised RMB160 million ($23.1 million) in a Series B round of funding led by Chenshan Asset Management, an arm of Chinese venture capital firm China Broadband Capital.
VCs commit $15m to Chinese art tuition start-up
Chinese online art tutoring services provider Meishubao has raised $15 million in the third tranche of a Series B round led by BHG Long Hills Capital.
Singapore's One Championship receives $166m Series D
Sequoia Capital has led a $166 million Series D funding round for One Championship, a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization that stages tournaments across the region.
China Sports Capital leads $15m round for gaming network
Fighting Esports Group (FEG), a China-based online gaming network, has raised a RMB100 million ($14.5 million) Series A round led by China Sports Capital, a joint venture between Sequoia Capital China and CMC Capital Partners.
PAG-backed Tencent Music files for US IPO
Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME), one of the world’s largest music streaming services, has filed to list in the US. PAG Asia Capital is among the company’s minority backers.
China sports streaming: Match of the day
Private capital entering China’s sports streaming space is gravitating to platforms backed by the incumbent internet giants. But how long will it be before the big content bets pay off?
Q&A: Emerald Media's Paul Aiello
KKR-backed Emerald Media was formed to invest in Asia’s media landscape, but it has found a growing number of opportunities in technology. Managing Director Paul Aiello discusses how the sectors have grown together
Silver Lake to invest $600m in Wanda-owned cinema chain
Silver Lake has invested $600 million in AMC Entertainment Holdings, a US cinema chain owned by Dalian Wanda Group, a once acquisitive Chinese conglomerate now said to be retreating from overseas markets.
