Technology
Hony emphasizes its global ambitions
Hony Capital has reiterated its commitment to helping Chinese companies go global, in addition to supporting international firms that want to maximize their exposure to China – and the firm established a presence in Shenzhen to address these opportunities.
Macquarie Capital invests $10m in Korea's Yello Mobile
Korean mobile internet platform Yello Mobile has issued $10 million in convertible bonds to Macquarie Capital. The investment values the business at approximately $4 billion.
New Zealand's Movac reaches $74.5m first close on tech fund
New Zealand venture capital firm Movac has achieved a first close on its fourth technology-focused fund with NZ$105 million ($74.5 million) in commitments.
Singapore's MC Payment gets $3.5m for SE Asia expansion
Singapore private equity firm 2W Group has led a $5 million ($3.5 million) funding round for domestic financial technology company MC Payment.
IFC proposes $25m investment in CompareAsiaGroup
The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed an investment of up to $25 million in Hong Kong-based financial comparison platform CompareAsiaGroup.
Singapore to ease regulations on start-ups as part of fintech push
Singapore is promising to provide venture capital firms with streamlined approval processes and tailored incentives as part of efforts to develop the fundraising landscape for local start-ups.
Q&A: Qunar co-founder CC Zhuang
As co-founder of Chinese online travel site Qunar, Chenchao Zhuang has experience building and selling a technology business. Now a VC investor in his own right, he offers insights into the world of start-ups
Tech & government: Living laboratories
As governments of Southeast Asia’s emerging economies look to create more workable VC policy environments, start-ups and investors have proliferated across a patchwork of imperfect systems
Q&A: Go-Jek's Nadiem Makarim
Three months on from a $550 million Series D round of funding, Nadiem Makarim, founder and CEO of Indonesia-based ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek, discusses where he sees the market heading
SoftBank marks down valuations of India's Ola, Snapdeal
SoftBank has marked down the value of part of its investment portfolio, including holdings India-based ride-hailing app Ola and its e-commerce counterpart Snapdeal.
Reliance PE arm commits $12m to India real estate start-up
Square Yards, an online listings service dedicated to the property sector, has received $12 million in funding from the private equity arm of Reliance Group.
Japan's Monstar Lab gets $2.4m round
Monstar Lab, a Japan-based company specializing in global outsourcing services for IT companies, has raised JPY250 million ($2.4 million) from investors including Resona Capital.
Japan's INCJ invests $10m in Treasure Data
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested $10 million in Treasure Data, a Silicon Valley-based big data start-up founded by two Japanese entrepreneurs.
China online learning site Smartstudy raises $29m
Smartstudy.com, a Chinese online learning site, has raised a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round of funding led by Hong Kong-based private equity firm Golden Brick Capital.
Northstar backs SE Asia business accommodation supplier
Northstar Group has taken what is understood to be a minority stake in MG Group – a Southeast Asian “bedbank” that supplies hotel rooms to travel agents, wholesalers, aggregators and tour operators – for an undisclosed sum.
China bike-sharing start-up Ubike raises $22m
Ubike, a Chinese bike-sharing start-up, has raised a RMB150 million ($22 million) Series A round of funding led by Yicun Capital, a corporate PE arm of Shenzhen-listed chemical fiber manufacturer Jiangsu Huaxicun.
IDG, Accel invest $3m in India's Bizongo
IDG Ventures has led a $3 million Series A round for Indian business-to-business packaging marketplace Bizongo, with participation by existing investor Accel Partners.
Alibaba, Legend invest $20m in China seafood importer Gfresh
Gfresh, a China-based seafood importer and online marketplace operator, has raised $20 million from Riverhill Fund, an investment arm of Alibaba Group, and Legend Capital.
China-backed PE firm buy Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3b
Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, a newly-formed US-based buyout firm backed by Chinese LPs, has agreed to acquire NASDAQ-listed chip maker Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3 billion.
VC-backed GDS prices IPO below indicative range
GDS Holdings, a Chinese data center provider that counts SBCVC among its investors, raised $192.5 million in its US IPO after pricing the offering below the indicative range.
Alibaba-backed Lazada buys Singapore's RedMart
Lazada, a Southeast Asia-based e-commerce platform founded by Germany's Rocket Internet and recently acquired by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has bought Singapore-based online grocer RedMart.
Singapore's Jubilee Capital in $30m first close on tech fund
Jubilee Capital, a newly formed venture investment firm based in Singapore, has reached a first close of $30 million on an early-stage technology fund targeting $100 million.
Fund focus: Blume gets early-stage boost
Blume Ventures plans a narrower approach with its second technology-focused fund
Deal focus: J-Star helps Asiro bring law online
Asiro came into being as a means of addressing the demand-supply imbalance in Japan's legal services industry. New owner J-Star will help the company expand its platform