Media
VCs invest $11m in Singapore talent agency
Gushcloud International, a digital talent agency based in Singapore, has received $11 million from a group of regional VCs and US hip-hop mogul Russel Simmons (pictured).
Mithril Capital invests $45m in India's Glance
Mithril Capital, a US-based VC firm launched by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, has invested $45 million in Glance, an Indian smart phone media service provider.
Alibaba, Yunfeng invest $700m in NetEase Cloud Music
NetEase Cloud Music, one of China's largest music streaming platforms, has secured a $700 million investment from Alibaba Group and Yunfeng Capital, a private equity firm established by Alibaba founder Jack Ma.
Korea cross-border consumer: Dining out
Restaurant chains can potentially ride on the tailwinds generated by demand for Korean cultural exports, but strong execution is ultimately the key factor in overseas expansion
Bain to acquire Kantar Australia division for $114m
Bain Capital has agreed to buy the Australia and New Zealand businesses of market research and consulting company Kantar from the local branch of UK-based media conglomerate WPP Group for A$168 million ($114 million).
Twitter leads $100m round for India's ShareChat
Twitter has led a $100 million round for Indian social networking platform ShareChat with support from private equity investor Trustbridge Partners.
KKR's China digital marketing platform gets expansion round
Cue, a China-focused digital marketing platform created last year by KKR, has raised its first round of expansion funding led by Anchor Equity Partners.
Japan Post Capital leads $29m Series E for SmartNews
Tokyo-based news app operator SmartNews is said to have achieved unicorn status following a JPY3.1 billion ($29.2 million) Series E round led by Japan Post Capital.
XIO Group agrees JD Power sale to Thoma Bravo
XIO Group, a cross-border PE firm established by several Asia-based investment professionals, has agreed to sell market research business J.D. Power to technology-focused GP Thoma Bravo.
Fidelity leads funding round for Malaysia's Iflix
Malaysia-based video streaming service Iflix has raised a funding round of more than $50 million led by Fidelity International.
Singapore's PE-backed Home Control files for HK IPO
Home Control International, a Singapore-based manufacturer of remote controls for television and smart devices owned by Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
Qiming leads $15m round for Indian publishing platform
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $15 million Series B round for Pratilipi, a publisher of Indian vernacular language content.
Deal focus: KaiOS looks beyond the iPhone
Hong Kong-based KaiOS Technologies has secured a $50 million Series B round for an expansion plan targeting what could be the mobile telecommunication industry’s most underserved segment
Hong Kong investors subscribe to movie crypto offering
Two Hong Kong investors will commit $100 million to a digital token offering by Proxima Media, a Hollywood production house established by Ryan Kavanaugh, who previously worked with SAIF Partners and IDG Capital on a China-focused film venture.
Hong Kong's KaiOS gets $50m Series B
Hong Kong-based smart phone operating system provider KaiOs Technologies has raised a $50 million Series B round led by Cathay Innovation, a VC affiliate of Cathay Capital Private Equity.
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.
