Technology
KKR platform Emerald Media commits $50m to Indian streaming site
Emerald Media, a pan-Asian media and entertainment investment platform founded by KKR, has committed $50 million to India and US-based video-streaming provider YuppTV.
China's CSC Group backs UK AI incubator
Chinese private equity firm CSC Group has invested in Founders Factory, a London-based accelerator and incubator, with a view to getting exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) technology start-ups.
Philippines' Xurpas buys VC-backed mobile ad firm
Early-stage VC firm Wavemaker Partners has made a full exit from Art of Click as Philippines-based mobile service developer Xurpas acquired the Singaporean mobile advertising player in deal worth $45 million.
Everstone buys US-based CRM firm to support India expansion
Everstone Group has agreed to buy US-based customer relationship management (CRM) solutions provider CustomerContactChannels (C3) with a view to helping the company expand in India.
SBCVC-backed data center business files for US IPO
China-based data center provider GDS Holdings, in which SBCVC and Ping An Insurance are minority shareholders, has filed for a NASDAQ IPO.
India's Ventureast reaches $83m first close on tech fund
Indian venture capital firm Ventureast Fund Advisors has reached a first close of $83 million on its latest technology-focused fund.
China tech M&A: Friends or rivals?
Consolidation is becoming a dominant theme in China’s internet industry as ever more sophisticated companies use M&A as a means of remaining dominant in their core areas and exploring new ones
Alibaba fund leads $10m Series A for Hong Kong's Grana
Hong Kong-based online fashion start-up Grana has raised a $10 million Series A round led by the Alibaba Group's Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund.
SBCVC invests in listed visual effects business Digital Domain - update
SBCVC and the Hong Kong-listed unit of Chinese conglomerate CITIC Group have agreed to invest as much as HK$368 million ($47 million) investment in Digital Domain, which has interests in media and entertainment.
Japan's INCJ invests $102.6m in domestic VC funds
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has committed up to JPY10.4 billion ($102.6 million) to funds managed by domestic VC firms MedVenture Partners and Universal Materials Incubator.
Eight Roads leads $12m round for Japan's Toreta
Eight Roads Ventures Japan has led a JPY1.2 billion ($11.8 million) investment in Toreta, a Tokyo-based reservation and customer management platform aimed at restaurants.
Korea's Viva Republica gets $23.7m Series B
Goodwater Capital and Qualcomm Ventures have led a $23.7 million Series B funding round for South Korean financial technology provider Viva Republica.
EDBI in $40m round for US-based Shape
EDBI, the corporate VCs arm of Singapore's Economic Development Board, has joined a $40 million Series D round for Shape Security, a US-based provider of online security technology.
Deal focus: H&Q backs flexible EV player
Efficient Drivetrains produces powertrain systems suitable for electric vehicles and hybrids, leveraging automakers desire to meet emissions requirements without building costly in-house operations. H&A Asia Pacific is financing a wider geographic roll-out...
Hong Kong hospitality technology firm Tink Labs raises $125m
Tink Labs, a Hong Kong-based start-up that provides hotel guests with free smart phones, has raised $125 million in a new round of funding led by existing investor FIH Mobile, a Hong Kong-listed unit of Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group.
Sequoia leads $51m round for Indian data security firm Druva
Sequoia Capital has led a $51 million funding round for Indian cloud data security and information management solutions provider Druva.
Huasheng leads round for China education site Zmlearn
Huasheng Capital, a private equity firm established by financial advisor China Renaissance, has led a Series C round of funding for Zmlearn.com, a Chinese K-12 online learning and teaching platform.
Thailand e-commerce platform secures Series B
German internet conglomerate Hubert Burda Media (HBM) has acquired a $24.9% stake in Thailand e-commerce company Priceza from Japan's CyberAgent Ventures as part of a Series B funding round.
Deal focus: Taking truckers to the cloud
CHAMP Private Equity is supporting the development of Containerchain's software-as-a-service proposition as a means of improving supply chain communications between truckers, depots and warehouses
PE-backed Go-Jek acquires India home healthcare start-up
Go-Jek, an Indonesian mobile ride-hailing and delivery platform backed by several PE investors, has bought Bangalore-based online home healthcare services platform Pianta, its third acquisition in India.
Deal focus: Vertex sees silver lining for CloudCherry
Venture capital investors back CloudCherry's comprehensive, technology-enabled approach to helping corporates better understand their customers in India
Q&A: LeapFrog Investments' Pritesh Modi
In its eight years in Asia, LeapFrog Investments has kept lower-income consumer finance at the center of its investment strategy. Pritesh Modi, director and chief actuary at the firm, discusses the value of a narrow focus
iSigma exits Japanese auto parts maker for $99m
ISigma, a mid-size buyout firm controlled by Japanese trading and investment conglomerate Marubeni, has agreed to sell domestic automotive industry supplier Iino Manufacturing for JPY10 billion ($99.4 million).
India's YourNest launches $45m early stage fund
Indian venture capital firm YourNest has launched its second fund for early-stage investments with a target size of INR3 billion ($45.1 million).

