Media
Japan's SmartNews secures $92m Series E
Japan-based news app SmartNews has closed its Series E round at $92 million with contributions from Japan Post Capital and Globis Capital Partners.
MBK, Mirae buy stake in Asia assets of Korea's CJ CGV
MBK Partners and Mirae Asset Daewoo Private Equity have agreed to pay KRW333.6 billion ($286 million) for a minority position in the China and Southeast Asia assets of Korean cinema chain operator CJ CGV.
Korean mobile app market One Store gets $86m
One Store, a Korean mobile app market controlled by SK Telecom, has raised a KRW100 billion ($86 million) round led by local VC firm Kiwoom Investment.
Vietnam media platform Pops gets $30m
Korean investors Mirae Asset Capital, EastBridge Partners, and Naver have provided $30 million in growth capital to Vietnamese online entertainment broadcaster Pops.
TDM Growth leads $48m Series C for Australia's Rokt
TDM Growth Partners, an Australian GP that invests across public and private companies, has led a $48 million Series C round for local marketing technology supplier Rokt.
Quadrant wins board approval for buyout of Australia's QMS Media
Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to buy Australian outdoor advertising business QMS Media Group for an enterprise valuation of A$571.6 million ($392 million) through a scheme of arrangement.
Japan's J-Star forms media platform with three acquisitions
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has acquired three local internet media companies with a view to bundling them into an acquisition platform for the sector.
Australia’s Canva raises $85m at $3.2b valuation
Australia’s Canva has raised an $85 million growth round led by Bond Capital, the new vehicle of Silicon Valley veteran Mary Meeker. It values the graphic design start-up at $3.2 billion.
Deal focus: Events focus delivers Affinity 2.6x return on TEG
Building a meaningful events promotion business was an early priority for Affinity Equity during its ownership of Australian ticketing player TEG. This transformation paved the way to a lucrative exit
Chinese start-up media player 36Kr files for US IPO
36Kr, a Chinese news service that covers start-ups and emerging business models, has filed for a US IPO.
Deal focus: Russell Simmons backs Singapore's Gushcloud
Singapore-based Gushcloud International has teamed up with the founder of Def Jam Recordings to create a digital talent agency that realizes value for social media influencers in Asia and America
Hony invests $42m in Xinhua News Agency’s mobile platform
Hony Capital has agreed to pay RMB300 million ($42 million) for a 20% stake in Xinhua Xuanmen, a mobile platform launched by China's state-owned Xinhua News Agency.
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.
