Media
Sequoia invests $3.9m in Indian recharge portal
Indian E-commerce portal Freecharge.in has raised INR200million ($3.9million) in its series A round of funding from venture capital firm Sequoia Capital.
Intel backs Japanese tech firm G-cluster
Japanese technology company G-cluster Global has received support from Intel Capital and SFR Développement, the venture capital arm of French telecoms company SFR.
Nine Entertainment’s creditors draw up plan to push out CVC
Creditors of Australia’s Nine Entertainment have put together a proposal to convert their debt to equity which would wipe out the majority of current owner CVC Capital Partners’ interest in the firm. Hedge funds Oaktree Capital and Apollo Global Management...
Cinemacraft receives funding from 500 Startups
Asian interactive media platform provider Cinemacraft has secured funding from US-based business incubator 500 Startups.
Lightspeed targets $675m for ninth fund
Lightspeed Venture Partners is seeking $675million for its new global fund, according to a regulatory filing. The firm principally targets investments in China and India, as well the US and Israel.
Saban Capital-backed Tiger Gate creates media JV
Tiger Gate, the pay-TV distributor backed by Saban Capital Group, has partnered with Celestial Pictures to establish media company Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE).
MediaWorks is latest Oz debt-to-equity target
The phenomenon is known as “loan to own.” Investors buy up companies’ debt on the secondary market and negotiate with the boards to secure what are in effect controlling positions.
Accel takes stake in Trivone Digital
Venture capital firm Accel Partners has invested an undisclosed amount for a minority stake in Bangalore-based digital media content provider Trivone Digital.
CVC, hedge funds exchange barbs over Nine debt
Negotiations over CVC-owned Nine Entertainment’s debt burden have descended into a war of words between the company and its hedge fund creditors. CVC stands accused of playing a “precarious game” by insisting it is under no pressure to restructure...
CVC’s second Asia fund sees value drop by 10%
CVC Asia Pacific’s second regional fund, which closed in 2005 at $1.975 billion, has reportedly lost 10% of its investment value due to failing portfolio companies such as Australian television network Nine Entertainment.
TPG acquires 20% of MediaWorks' senior debt for $54m
TPG has acquired NZ$70 million ($54.1 million) worth of debt in New Zealand-based MediaWorks from lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), accounting for approximately 20% of the company’s full debt load.
CHAMP secures $130m debt for oOh!media deal
CHAMP Private Equity has reportedly secured a senior debt package worth A$130 million ($130 million) to support its take-private of Australian out-of-home advertising firm oOh!media.
CHAMP PE approved for oOh!media buyout
CHAMP Private Equity has received unanimous approval by the board of directors of Australian out-of-home advertising firm oOh!media to purchase the company for A$163 million ($163 million), capping off the firm’s 2011 on a high and marking its first...
Quadrant-backed Media Monitors bolts on China Clipping
Media Monitors, the media intelligence company owned by Quadrant Private Equity, has secured a bolt-on acquisition in the form of media monitoring firm China Clipping.
CHAMP buys oOh!media for $163m
CHAMP Private Equity has acquired Australian outdoor advertising firm oOh!media for A$163 million ($163 million), receiving unanimous approval from the company’s directors after failing to receive a higher bid.
Australian lender sells debt in New Zealand media owner at a discount
A lender of Ironbridge Capital-owned MediaWorks, the New Zealand-based owner of TV and radio channels, is selling its NZ$70 million ($54.1 million) of senior debt in the asset for NZ$0.50 on the dollar.
CVC said to offer Nine's creditors second refinancing plan
CVC Asia Pacific has reportedly offered creditors another refinancing plan for the A$2.6 billion ($2.7 billion) of debt held by its Australian portfolio company, Nine Entertainment, coming after lenders rejected CVC’s proposal of granting the firm a...
Nine's creditors reject debt restructure plan
The creditors of Australian media group Nine Entertainment have rejected a proposal to restructure the company’s A$2.6 billion ($2.59 billion) of senior debt, potentially jamming Nine’s private equity owner, CVC Asia Pacific, with nearly $2 billion...
Hedge funds buy more of Nine's senior debt - report
A group of hedge fund investors has reportedly purchased about A$130 million ($133 million) worth of senior debt in CVC Asia Pacific-owned Nine Entertainment from BNP Paribas and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).
Gobi LPs short-changed by VisionChina dispute
The LPs in Gobi Partners' fund have experienced significant delays in receiving their returns from the VC firm’s investment in China’s Digital Media Group (DMG), a source close to Gobi told AVCJ.
J.P. Morgan gets green light for $1b RMB fund
J.P. Morgan Asset Management has reportedly won approval from the Beijing government to launch a $1 billion renminbi-denominated fund.
Dreamworks plans PE-backed JV in China - report
Dreamworks Animation – the studio responsible for movies including “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda” – is reportedly nearing the launch of a JV production and design studio in Shanghai. The deal is being brokered through a partnership with a consortium...
Asian IPO best Formula One exit for CVC - Ecclestone
CVC Capital Partners-owned Formula One Group, which owns the motor sport’s commercial rights, would list in Hong Kong or Singapore if a decision was made to take it public, according to CEO Bernie Ecclestone.
Lenders ‘will reject debt plan’ for CVC-backed Nine
CVC Asia Pacific's proposed debt restructuring plan for its portfolio company Nine Entertainment is expected to be rejected, following talks between the private equity firm and lenders on Friday.