Sectors
Japan's VC-backed Metaps files for IPO
Metaps, a Japanese mobile software developer and IT services start-up backed by a slew of VC investors, has filed for its Tokyo IPO and is expected to raise as much as JPY3.8 billion ($30.6 million).
GSR, Go Scale raise $1b for M&A fund, seek to deploy $5b – update
GSR Capital and its affiliate Go Scale Capital has raised $1 billion for a cross-border buyout and M&A fund, which it hopes will translate into $5 billion worth of dry powder once debt financing and co-investment are factored in.
China P2P lending site Firstp2p raises $41m
Firstp2p, a Chinese online peer-to-peer (P2P) financing site, has raised a $41 million Series B round of funding from San Shan Capital, CITIC Capital and China Equity.
China after-school tutoring app raises $24m
Entstudy.com, a Chinese after-school tutoring mobile app, has raised $24 billion in an extended Series B round from two domestic VC firms: Kun Ling Capital and Sharing Capital.
GGV leads round for China B2B drug retail platform
GGV Capital has led an extended Series A round of funding for Ypzdw.com, a Chinese online B2B drug retail platform. Existing investor Matrix Partners China also participated.
Sequoia commits $20m to Indian gene researcher MedGenome
Sequoia Capital has committed $20 million in Series B funding to Indian genomic diagnostic and research service provider MedGenome.
NLVC leads Series A for China online car retailer
Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC) has led a Series A round of funding for Maihaoche.com, a Chinese automotive e-commerce platform that specializes in parallel imports.
Australia's Heron Resources gets backing from Greenstone
Mining and metals investor Greenstone Resources has committed up to A$20 million ($14.6 million) to Heron Resources, an Australia-listed company currently developing a zinc-copper project in New South Wales.
Korea launches another attempt to sell Woori Bank stake
The South Korean government is once again trying to sell its controlling stake in Woori Bank, this time dividing the asset into multiple tranches so that there is no one dominant shareholder.
VC-backed China parenting site Babytree raises $300m
Chinese online beauty products retailer Jumei International has led a $300 million round of funding for Babytree, a Chinese parent-focused social platform backed by several VC investors.
DCM closes second Android fund at $100m
DCM has raised $100 million for its second Android-focused fund, which will target start-ups building apps for Google’s mobile operating system.
Leading Capital backs take-private for China's Mecox Lane
China health, beauty and lifestyle products retailer Mecox Lane has received a take-private offer from majority shareholder Cnshangquan in conjunction with private equity firm Leading Capital. It values the business at approximately $52 million.
Singapore's Qoo10 raises $82.1m Series A
Singapore-based Giosis, which manages e-commerce site Qoo10, has raised $82.1 million in a Series A round led by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).
PE-backed CICC files for Hong Kong IPO
China International Capital Corp. (CICC), which is backed by KKR, TPG Capital and Singapore’s GIC Private, among others, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO. The company is said to be looking to raise around $1 billion.
Matrix, Falcon Edge in $25m Series C for India's Mswipe
Indian mobile point-of-service (POS) developer Mswipe has raised $25 million in Series C funding from a group of investors including Matrix Partners, Falcon Edge Capital and Meru Partners.
Singapore flatbread machine maker raises $11.5m
Zimplistic, the kitchen robotics start-up behind automatic flatbread maker Rotimatic, has raised $11.5 milllion in Series B funding from NSI Ventures and RBVC, the venture capital arm of German electronics multinational Robert Bosch.
Tiger Global, Flipkart commit $12m to India's NestAway
Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart and its backer Tiger Global have together invested INR760 million ($12 million) in online home rentals start-up NestAway.
Portfolio: Lunar Capital and Guizhou Yonghong
Lunar has spent the last two years building Yonghong’s regional beef jerky brand into a national contender. The firm hopes to show the possibilities for progress that come with control deals.
China angels: Divine intervention
Angel investors, both unsophisticated amateurs and industry-savvy professionals, are flooding into China’s tech sector in search of stellar returns. Everything looks great as long as the market keeps on going up.
Deal focus: Fastacash brings payments everywhere
Digital networks are remaking communication patterns across the world; where people living abroad once relied on postal services and analog telephone lines, now their loved ones are just an instant message away.
Fund focus: Shunwei raises $1b, eyes growth deals
The line between venture and growth capital in China has always been blurred, and in recent years it has become more so as start-ups raise ever larger private rounds. Nevertheless, based on AVCJ Research’s records, with $1 billion at its disposal across...
India QSR: Hungry for growth
India’s quick service restaurant (QSR) space is poised for massive growth, but translating that into private equity returns is a challenge. Logistics and real estate are the primary obstacles to achieving scale
Singapore's Temasek, UOB to offer $500m in venture debt
Singapore's government-sponsored investment fund Temasek Holdings and United Overseas Bank (UOB) have agreed to form a joint vehicle which will offer $500 million in venture debt financing to start-ups in China, India and Southeast Asia.
Vivo Capital leads Series B for China's cosmetic surgery app
Healthcare specialist Vivo Capital has led a Series B round of funding for Gengmei, a Chinese cosmetic surgery social networking app, with participation from Sequoia Capital.