Media
SAIF Partners backs iStream.com with $5m
Private equity firm SAIF Partners has backed A2 Media, the publisher of online video site iStream.com, with $5 million in equity financing.
CVC to meet with NINE's lenders
CVC Asia Pacific is reportedly to meet with the lenders of its Australian media company NINE Entertainment tomorrow to discuss refinancing opportunities.
Samsung Ventures invests in digital TV ad platform YuMe
Samsung Ventures, the VC investment arm of Korea’s Samsung Group, has participated in a $12 million funding round in US-based YuMe, a digital video advertising platform.
Judge rules on VisionChina case
Venture investors in Shanghai-based subway mobile television advertiser Digital Media Group (DGM) have begun taking steps to attach $30 million of assets belonging to out-of-home digital advertising network VisionChina Media following a ruling by the...
Blackstone, Carlyle near Reliance tower acquisition - report
A consortium comprised of The Blackstone Group and The Carlyle Group may purchase Reliance Group’s cellular towers by December, in a deal that will finally see the Indian communications major divest its ailing tower assets.
Navis acquires marketing units from Australia's Photon Group
Navis Capital Partners has purchased the field marketing and retail units of Australian marketing services firm Photon Group for $146.5 million, valuing the company at 7x EBITDA. According to Photon, the completed transaction would leave the company debt...
VC-backed Lashou targets $100m in US listing
Venture capital-backed Chinese group-buying website Lashou is looking to raise up to $100 million through an IPO on NASDAQ, with the proceeds to be used to expand its operating capacity and marketing.
VC-backed 6waves buys Chinese game developer Smartron5
Venture-backed social media and gaming developer 6waves Lolapps has expanded its Asian operations via the acquisition of Beijing-based gaming firm Smartron5.
IDG, Helion invest in Indian e-commerce start ups
IDG Ventures India and Helion Venture Partners have invested in two separate e-commerce start-ups sites last week, adding to the perception of India's online shopping space as an effective proxy for capitalizing on consumer and digital growth.
PE-backed SkyLand starts production on China-focused movie
SkyLand, the $100 million China-focused film venture backed by Hollywood entertainment firm Relativity Media, SAIF Partners and IDG China Media, has begun production on the film "21 and Over." It is the company's first movie since announcing its partnership...
Mitsui backs US mobile advertising platform
Mitsui & Co. has participated in a $14 million round of fundraising for US-based mobile advertising and media company 4INFO, alongside Vulcan Capital and existing investors Draper Fisher Jurveston, Gannett, Mezzanine Capital and US Venture Partners. Vulcan...
KPCB leads Series B round for China’s Moment Systems
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) has led a $20 million Series B round of financing for Chinese third-party digital marketing measurement company Moment Systems. China Broadband Capital, Redpoint Ventures and WPP Digital also participated.
MBK's CNS exit may be stalled - report
MBK Partners’ exit from Taiwanese media group China Network Systems (CNS) may again face delays, as regulators have called into question Want Want China Holdings’ intentions for the asset.
Saban Capital Group takes 5% stake in Media Nusantara
Saban Capital Group, the Los Angeles-based private equity firm controlled by billionaire Haim Saban, has purchased a 5% stake in PT Media Nusantara Citra from PT Global Mediacom for INR692 billion ($78.2 million). Saban Capital, which is investing through...
TA Associates invests in Asia-focused telecom firm Aicent
TA Associates has made an undisclosed growth capital investment in data network provider Aicent, which provides services to Asian telecom operators.
Telecom firms struggle to offload towers
India’s cellular towers are crucial in supporting its burgeoning mobile market, but when it comes to selling these assets, operators find that less may be more
PE firms offer Alibaba staff a liquidity event
The timing of Silver Lake's investment in Alibaba Group, alongside parties including DST Global, Yunfeng Capital, Temasek Holdings, was curious. Days earlier Silver Lake reportedly contacted Yahoo as one of several private equity firms considering a bid...
CVC considers US bond issue to cover Nine Entertainment debt
CVC Asia Pacific may service Nine Entertainment’s A$3.5 billion ($3.7 billion) in debt by raising more debt from private investors in the US. It is thought that a “144A” bond issue would raise $500 million to $1 billion that would go toward reducing...
Softbank invests $200m in mobile ad network InMobi
Softbank Corp. has invested $200 million in InMobi, which claims to be the world’s largest independent mobile advertising network. The Japanese telecom firm will invest in two tranches of $100 million, one due this month and the other due in April 2012.
PAG backing takes Funtalk China private
PAG Asia Capital's $250 million commitment to Funtalk China Holdings cements the fourth privatization of a US-listed Chinese firm in the space of five weeks. In total, six management teams – often backed by private equity – have closed buyout transactions...
KKR-backed Seven West Media looks into debt refinancing
Australia’s Seven West Media, which is part-owned by KKR, is assessing bank proposals to refinance up to A$2 billion ($2.1 billion) of debt. Sources familiar with the situation told Reuters that several banks have bid to underwrite 3-5 year funding...
CVC considers refinancing options for Nine Entertainment
CVC Asia Pacific is looking into refinancing options for up to A$3.5 billion ($3.7 billion) in debt on the books of portfolio company Nine Entertainment. Sources told Reuters that – contrary to earlier reports – the private equity firm is not yet...
NEA considering Flipkart investment - report
NEA, the US venture capital firm is considering an investment in Bangalore-based Flipkart, an online retailer of books, mobile phones and other consumer goods. Investment bankers familiar with the situation told The Business Standard that the company...
Innovation Works closes China internet fund at $180m
Innovation Works, the tech incubator started by Google’s former China head Kai-fu Lee, has closed its debut fund at $180 million. The vehicle, which specifically targets Chinese internet companies, was oversubscribed, the company said.