Media
Taiwan’s Wei family confirms acquisition of MBK-owned CNS
Taiwan-based food and drinks conglomerate Ting Hsin International Group has agreed to buy a majority stake in local TV operator China Network Systems (CNS) from MBK Partners.
Japan mystery shopper company raises $2.2m
Mizuho Capital, Jafco Ventures and DBJ Capital have invested JPY220 million ($2.1 million) in Research and Innovation, a Tokyo-based internet market research company.
SIG, Meridian to exit China digital advertising firm adSage
SIG China and Meridian Capital will exit adSage Corporation after Shanghai-listed BesTV New Media agreed to acquire a majority stake in the digital advertising firm for $88.88 million.
L Capital Asia to invest in Korean talent manager
L Capital Asia, a private equity firm sponsored by French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, will invest KRW61 billion ($60 million) in YG Entertainment, the Korean record label and talent manager responsible for acts including “Gangnam Style” rapper...
Indonesia’s Telkom to invest $200m in tech start-ups
Telkom, the biggest information and communication operator in Indonesia, plans to invest $200 million in technology start-ups.
EQT exits Taiwan’s Gala TV
EQT Partners has exited Taiwanese cable TV operator Gala Television Corp. to the management of local conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group.
CMC leads $49m round for China entertainment firm Yuehua
CMC Capital has led a RMB300 million ($49 million) Series B round of financing for Yuehua Entertainment, a Chinese music and movie producer. Gravity Media, a Chinese advertising firm, also took part in the round.
India's Skymet raises $4.5m Series B round
Skymet Weather Services, an Indian provider of weather forecast solutions for the agricultural sector, has raised $4.5 million Series B round of funding led by dmg::information Asia Pacific, a unit of UK media group Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT)....
Fosun ups stake as Bona Film founder buys out Fox
Fosun International will increase its stake in Bona Film Group as part of an ownership restructuring of the Chinese film studio and distributor, which will also see the exit of 21st Century Fox.
CMC commits $32m to China online movie ticket site
China Media Capital (CMC) has led a RMB200 million ($32 million) Series C+ funding round for Gewara, a Chinese online movie ticket site.
China’s Pixar dream wins VC support
Gary Wang has start-up pedigree. The Chinese entrepreneur took online video company Tudou.com from nothing to a US listing, and two years ago, a merger with rival Youku.com in a deal worth $1 billion. Wang now runs an animated film studio, which is already...
GGV, Chengwei lead $20m round for Chinese animation studio
GGV Capital and Chengwei Capital have led a $20 million Series B round of funding for Light Chaser Animation Studios, a Chinese animation producer.
China’s Fosun to invest in Hollywood movie studio
Chinese conglomerate Fosun International plans to invest in Studio 8, a Hollywood film studio. Financial details were not disclosed.
Singapore's Sova raises $3m seed round
Sova, a Singapore start-up that provides a cloud-based WordPress hosting service, has secured $3 million in seed funding from undisclosed investors.
VC-backed Cheetah Mobile buys HK mobile advertising firm
Cheetah Mobile, the US-listed internet security software backed by Matrix Partners and Tencent Holdings, has acquired mobile advertising firm HongKong Zoom Interactive Network Marketing Technology in a deal worth around $30 million.
Singtel's Amobee acquires VC-backed Adconion, Kontera
Amobee, the mobile ad company owned by Singapore telecoms giant SingTel, has acquired two VC-backed digital ad firms: Adconion and Kontera, for $235 million and $150 million, respectively.
Providence tunes into India TV shopping
To trace the origins of Providence Equity Partners' latest India deal it is necessary to look back to the PE firm's INR3.58 billion (US$71.36 million) joint investment in Hathway Cable & Datacom in 2012. Providence and Macquarie acquired a 17.3% stake...
Quadrant makes partial exit as iSentia IPO raises $264m
Shares in Australian media monitoring company iSentia gained nearly 20% on their trading debut after a A$283.6 million ($264.6 million) IPO facilitated a partial exit by Quadrant Private Equity.
Sequoia leads $100m round for China news app
Toutiao, a Chinese mobile news app operator, has received $100 million in a Series C round of investment led by Sequoia Capital.
Providence to buy Star Group's stake in India shopping JV
Providence Equity Partners has acquired a 50% interest in home-shopping channel Star CJ Network India from Star Group. The business is a joint venture with Korea-based CJ O Shopping.
Charm Communications accepts CMC-backed buyout offer
Chinese advertising agency Charm Communications has accepted a take-private offer from a consortium backed by China Media Capital (CMC) that values the NASDAQ-listed company at around $180 million.
China audio platform Ximalaya raises $11.5m
Ximalaya, a Chinese audio sharing platform, has raised $11.5 million in a Series A round of funding from KPCB, SIG China and Sierra Ventures.
FidelisWorld backs India's Smaaash Entertainment
Sport, media and entertainment-focused GP Fidelis World Asset Management has invested in India's Smaaash Entertainment, a sports-centric digital entertainment complex.
Chinese digital marketing platform AdSame raises $30m
AdSame, a Shanghai-based digital marketing firm, has secured a $30 million Series C round of funding led by Taiwan-based Pacific Venture Partners and Dream Capital Group.