Softbank China & India Holdings
China mobile app platform Wandouja gets Goldman funding
Wandougjia, a Chinese mobile app platform, has received an undisclosed sum in follow-on funding from Goldman Sachs to complete a Series B round of funding that saw new and existing investors commit $120 million in January.
Alibaba hires US lobby group for potential Yahoo bid
Alibaba Group has hired Washington lobbying firm Duberstein Group in what is seen as evidence that the company is considering a bid for all of Yahoo if negotiations to buy back the US firm’s Asian assets fail.
Yahoo studies part-exit from its Asian assets
Yahoo is considering the sale of a substantial chunk of its 40% interest in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group as well as exiting its 35% holding in Yahoo Japan. The value of the transaction would reportedly be $17-18 billion, allowing the US internet...
Alibaba seeks $4b loan to support Yahoo buyback
Alibaba Group has approached lenders about financing part of the company’s buyback of a 40% stake currently held by Yahoo. The Chinese e-commerce firm is seeking a $4 billion loan to support the purchase.
Yahoo examines options for exiting Japanese business – report
Yahoo is close to unloading its 35% stake in Yahoo Japan and it is thought that a sale could happen relatively quickly, potentially simplifying decisions about the US firm’s wider prospects.
InMobi tools up for Google, Apple battle
Mobile advertising network InMobi seeks to position itself as an alternative to Google and Apple. Now the company has capital to reinforce its claim.
Softbank invests $200m in mobile ad network InMobi
Softbank Corp. has invested $200 million in InMobi, which claims to be the world’s largest independent mobile advertising network. The Japanese telecom firm will invest in two tranches of $100 million, one due this month and the other due in April 2012.
VC-backed social networking giant Oak Pacific next in line for IPO
Oak Pacific Interactive is the latest VC-backed Chinese powerhouse with aspirations of a public listing in 2011, with reports suggesting that an IPO may be launched as early as the first quarter.
Bean appointed MD for new SingTel VC fund SingTel Innov8
William Bao Bean, former partner at Softbank China & India Holdings, has been engaged as Managing Director of SingTel Innov8, the newly-formed $150 million corporate venture arm of Singapore telecoms giant SingTel.
RockYou gets $10 million more from SoftBank
Social media content distributor RockYou has received $10 million in new funding from existing investor, Tokyo-based SoftBank, and has acquired a majority stake in its JV with SoftBank, RockYou Asia.