Media
Tenaya Capital leads SMS GupShup’s $10m Series E round
San Francisco-based venture capital firm Tenaya Capital has led the $10 million Series E round of financing for SMS GupShup, an Indian social networking company. The company plans to use the funds to add new senior management who can help it expand and...
India’s Reliance Broadcast in talks with prospective PE investors
Reliance Broadcast Network is in talks with private equity investors over the sale of INR4 billion ($87 million) in preferential shares. Asheesh Chatterjee, Reliance’s CFO, told The Wall Street Journal that the company hopes to reach agreements by the...
Nirvana Venture Advisors backs YourNextLeap.com
Nirvana Venture Advisors has contributed an undisclosed amount to the Series A round of financing for YourNextLeap.com, an Indian internet start-up that acts as a career counselor for students. The company, which was only founded 10 months ago, will use...
Temasek affiliate part-exits Shin Corp holding
An affiliate of Temasek Holdings has sold 7.9% of its stake in Thai telecom company Shin Corp. Cedar Holdings, which is 49% owned by the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund, raised THB9.126 billion ($305 million) through the sale of 253.3 million shares...
PE-backed Just Dial targets $79m IPO
Indian search engine Just Dial is planning a INR3.6 billion ($79 million) IPO that will allow its private equity backers to make full or partial exits. A draft prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Board of India indicates that offering will...
Tudou raises $174m in NASDAQ IPO
Venture capital-backed Chinese video site Tudou has raised $174 million through its NASDAQ IPO, surpassing the $100-150 million target it set earlier this year.
Indian media group assumes control of BBC’s local magazine business
Bennet, Coleman & Co. (BCCL), owner of the Times of India, has bought out joint venture partner BBC Worldwide to take full control of Worldwide Media, an Indian magazine publisher. The sale is part of a wider effort by the commercial arm of the UK public...
iLabs looks to exit 35% stake in Indian broadcasting network
Indian VC firm iLabs Venture Capital Fund, sponsored by businessman Srini Raju, is negotiating with private equity firms to offload a 35% stake in its television network Associated Broadcasting Company (ABCL), which runs the TV9 regional channels, according...
SAIF, IDG team with Hollywood producer to release Chinese films globally
Hollywood entertainment company Relativity Media has teamed with SAIF Partners and IDG China Media to launch a $100 million fund that will produce and distribute China-focused film content and release it to global moviegoers.
SCPE, Providence bid for stake in Indian broadcast giant
Standard Chartered Private Equity and Providence Equity Partners are reportedly closing in on a joint 35% stake purchase in Indian broadcast giant Multi Screen Media (MSM) for approximately INR10 billion ($223.3 million).
SAIF, MakeMyTrip back Indian travel search engine
Indian travel search engine iXiGO.com has received $18.5 million in funding from SAIF Partners and online travel company MakeMyTrip. The two investors purchased stock in iXiGO’s parent, Le Travenues Technology, and also received new shares.
India Innovation Fund makes second investment
India Innovation Fund (IIF) has closed its second investment, committing INR100 million to Bangalore-based digital media technology start-up Sure-Waves MediaTech. Accel Partners, another early stage investor, partnered IIF in the deal, The Economic Times...
Nine Entertainment meets with lenders on debt repayment
Nine Entertainment’s private equity owner, CVC Asia Pacific, has taken steps to refinance the company's A$3.6 billion ($3.8 billion) in debt, The Australian reported. This comes as Adrian MacKenzie, CVC's Australia head, starts preliminary negotiations...
Vodafone wants PE partner for its India business
Vodafone is in talks with at least two private equity companies as it seeks a replacement for its Indian partner Essar, The Economic Times reported, citing a person involved in the discussions.
Tencent pays $115m for 15% stake in Chinese software company
Chinese software company Kingsoft has agreed to sell a 15.68% stake to leading internet platform Tencent for HK$892 million ($115 million). Tencent will also invest $20 million in Kingsoft’s internet security subsidiary, which counts Matrix Partners...
Pegatron, Mitsui invest in Israel's Valens Semiconductor
Taiwan-based Pegatron and Japan's Mitsui & Co. Global Investment have participated in a $14 million Series B financing round for Israeli firm Valens Semiconductor.
SingTel's Innov8 leads Series A investment in Dealised
Singapore-based group buying start-up Dealised has received $5.35 million in a Series A funding round led by SingTel Group’s corporate venture fund SingTel Innov8. The financing tranche also includes Australian-based venture investor Yuuwa Capital.
Baidu takes off with Qunar
The ample potential of China's online travel industry was reiterated last week when internet search giant Baidu agreed to pay $306 million for majority ownership of venture capital-backed booking site Qunar. It follows the likes of Alibaba and Tencent...
Carlyle sells majority stake in Newgen to PE consortium
The Carlyle Group has sold its majority stake in Chennai-based publishing and data services firm Newgen to a private equity consortium comprising Franklin Templeton Private Equity Strategy, Aureos South Asia Fund and ePlanet Capital. Financial details...
Baidu set to become largest shareholder in VC-backed Qunar
Internet search giant Baidu is set to invest $306 million in venture capital-backed Chinese travel site Qunar, which would make it the majority shareholder in the company.
Matrix Partners, Capital Today invest in Ihush.com
Shanghai-based e-retailer Ihush.com has received $43 million in venture capital funding from Matrix Partners China and Capital Today, China Business News reported.
PEP to target smaller deals in India
Providence Equity Partners plans to focus on smaller investments in India, having previously been involved in large telecom and media deals. Biswajit Subramanian, managing director of Providence Equity Advisors India, told Mint that, with big transactions...
Angel investors rise in China
Venture capitalists are turning to earlier-stage funding as they seek to add value and avoid the crowded growth capital space
HSBC’s private equity unit invests in Indian post-production firm
HSBC Principal Investments has agreed to pay $60 million for a minority interest in Avitel Post Studioz, a Mumbai-based post-production company serving the media and entertainment industries.