Sectors
Bain buys Chinese financial leasing business
Bain Capital has acquired an 80% interest in China-based Lionbridge Financial Leasing. It is the private equity firm's first investment in China's financial services sector.
Chinese consortium, Benchmark in $70m US education play
Chinese after-school tutoring provider TAL Education Group has teamed up ZhenFund, Yongjin Group and Silicon Valley VC firm Benchmark Capital to invest in an undergraduate education business in the US.
China online finance: Money to the masses
The rise of peer-to-peer lending businesses in China is good for small companies that can't get bank financing and VC firms looking to ride the next wave. But concerns remain over regulation and reliability
India's Lightbox reaches $100m close on Fund II
Indian venture capital firm Lightbox Management has reached a INR6.1 billion ($100 million) close on its second fund.
Levin Zhu resigns as CEO of CICC
Levin Zhu, son of former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, has resigned as CEO and chairman of the management in China International Capital Corporation (CICC) after 16 years.
DCM raises $170m China top-up fund, wins SFERS backing
The San Francisco Employees' Retirement System (SFERS) has committed $25 million to a China-focused venture capital fund being raised by DCM that will make follow-on investments in later-stage portfolio companies.
Bain leads $18m investment in Korean car-sharing service
Bain Capital has led a KRW18 billion ($18 million) Series A round of funding for Socar, a Korean car sharing company.
SoftBank to buy VC-backed online video site DramaFever
Japanese telecom giant SoftBank has agreed to buy DramaFever, a streaming video service that specializes in Korean TV shows and movies. Financial details were not disclosed.
CyberAgent, Mizuho back Japan venue rental marketplace
CyberAgent Ventures and Mizuho Capital have together invested JPY100 million (about $1 million) in SpaceMarket, a Japanese online platform that lists vacant spaces that users can rent for corporate events such as meetings and training courses.
Navis makes Modern Star education play
Just over a year ago, Navis Capital Partners bought Australian childcare services provider Guardian Early Learning from fellow PE investor Wolseley Private Equity for A$120 million ($110 million). The idea then was to anticipate the rise in the demand...
Bain serves up Skylark in Tokyo IPO
When Bain Capital bought Skylark in 2011, the restaurant operator was going through one the rougher patches of its 40-year history. A dysentery outbreak had forced the closure of 120 outlets, further delaying a transaction that had already been on hold...
PayU acquires VC-backed Indian payments start-up
Online payment solutions provider PayU India has acquired Cobboc, the VC-backed start-up behind mobile payments app Eashmart.
Shaw Kwei to support German manufacturer in China expansion
Shaw Kwei & Partners has invested $40 million in German equipment manufacturer Schmid Group to support the company’s expansion domestically and in China.
CVC set for partial exit from Indonesia's Link Net
CVC Capital Partners is set for a partial exit from Link Net, Indonesia’s second-largest fixed-line broadband and cable TV operator, through a share placement.
Tencent leads $100m round for Chinese medical service platform
Tencent Holdings has led a $100 million round of funding for Guahao.com, a Chinese healthcare information portal.
Warburg Pincus leads $30m round for India's CarTrade
Warburg Pincus has led a INR1.85 million ($30 million) investment in Indian auto classifieds site CarTrade. Existing investors Canaan Partners and Tiger Global also took part.
India payments firm FSS raises $57m from Premji Invest
Premji invest - the family office of Wipro Enterprises chairman Azim Premji - has invested INR3.5 billion ($57 million) India payments firm FSS.
Intel invests in China cloud communication service Gotye
Intel Capital, the corporate investment arm of the US chipmaker Intel Corp, has invested an undisclosed sum in Gotye.com, a Shanghai-based start-up that provides cloud communication technology solutions.
J-Star to exit healthcare firm HCM to Alshok Group
Japanese security firm Alshok Group has agreed to acquire Tokyo-based healthcare service provider HCM Corporation, paving an exit for mid-market GP J-Star.
Gree Ventures backs Japan marketing start-up
Japanese online marketing firm Somewrite has raised JPY100 million (about $1 million) from corporate venture capital arm Gree Ventures and other undisclosed investors.
China's Xiaomi commits $14m to GPS firm Careland
Chinese VC-backed smart phone maker Xiaomi has invested RMB84 million ($14 million) in Careland Information System, a Shenzhen-based GPS mapping technology developer.
IDFC closes second India infrastructure fund at $900m
IDFC Alternatives has reached a final close on its second Indian core infrastructure fund of $900 million. LPs have also pledged significant additional capital for co-investment opportunities.
Japan's BrainWars app raises $2.8m in VC funding
East Ventures, Skyland Ventures, Genuine Startups and Line Ventures, the VC unit of messaging app firm Line Corp, have together invested JPY300 million ($2.8 million) in TransLimit, the Tokyo-based start-up behind social quiz app BrainWars.
China's Baidu buys VC-backed Brazilian online discount site
Chinese search giant Baidu has bought a controlling stake in Brazil-based Peixe Urbano, an online discount platform that has received several rounds of VC funding, for an undisclosed sum.