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IDM Venture Capital backs online gaming network
Singapore-based firm IDM Venture Capital has led a $3 million funding round for Xfire, an online social platform that for PC-based gamers. The funding will be used for Xfire’s expansion into Asian territories.
PE-owned oOh!Media tipped to buy Ten’s outdoor ad business
Australia’s Ten Network Holdings has entered into exclusive negotiations with a bidder for its outdoor advertising business, Eye Corp. The company didn’t disclose the identity of the bidder, but it is thought to be oOh!Media Group, which was bought...
Globis leads $3.6m Series A round for quiz developer
Globis, the Japanese venture capital firm, has led a GBP2.3 million ($3.6 million) Series A round of funding for Quipper, a UK quiz applications manufacturer. Benesse, a Japanese education and publishing company, and Atomico, the VC firm led by Skype...
Alibaba to buy back 20% of Yahoo’s stake for $7.1b
Alibaba Group has agreed to repurchase about a 20% stake in itself from Yahoo for $7.1 billion ahead of an initial public offering. The US internet company bought 40% of Alibaba - founded by Jack Ma (pictured) - in 2005, paying $1 billion plus ownership...
Accel, Tiger-backed Freshdesk sets up $10m future fund
Indian technology product start-up Freshdesk, which is backed by international funds Tiger Global Management and Accel Partners, has announced phase one of its $10 million Freshdesk Future Fund, which will provide cloud-based support solutions to new...
SAIF Partners to stay invested in Just Dial after listing
SAIF Partners will stay invested in Indian search engine Just Dial after its INR3.6 billion ($66 million) public issue, which is expected to hit the market this June.
IndoUS Venture Partners backs New York-based digital magazine store
IndoUS Venture Partners has invested in New York-based digital magazine store Magzter in a Series A funding round. The investment is estimated at $3-5 million.
SingTel's Amobee buys VC-backed ad startup
Singapore Telecommunications, Southeast Asia's largest telecoms company, has acquired AdJitsu, a VC-backed Silicon Valley startup in the mobile advertising sector. This is SingTel's second acquisition in two months.
Starfish Ventures invests $2m in gaming start-up Scalify
Starfish Ventures has invested $2 million into Melbourne-based gaming start-up Scalify for an undisclosed stake. The capital will primarily be used for sales and marketing.
CBC sets up Chinese venture with Evernote
China Broadband Capital (CBC) is working with US-based app maker Evernote on a China joint venture. It comes after the PE player led a $70 million Series D investment in the company alongside Meritech Capital.
Micron closes in on Elpida acquisition – report
Micron Technology has reportedly won the right to exclusive talks over the acquisition of bankrupt Japanese chipmaker Elpida Memory, beating rivals including TPG Capital and Hony Capital.
Hony to sell Elpida plant to SMIC if bid succeeds – report
Hony Capital plans to sell or outsource the operations at Elpida Memory's Hiroshima plant to China-based Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) if it wins the bid for the bankrupt Japanese chipmaker.
PE firms lag behind VCs in adopting social media
Venture capital firms have long embraced social media for everything from networking with entrepreneurs to sparking dialogue about industry trends. Why are private equity players so slow to join in?
Korea’s Tstone agrees partnership with Newsweek
South Korea’s Tstone Corp. has entered into a partnership with Newsweek to develop the magazine’s business in Asia. This will involve expanding the existing Asian edition of Newsweek across the digital, broadcast and events space.
India’s HomeShop18 targets $100m IPO in the US – report
HomeShop18, the online retail arm of Indian media group Network 18, is said to be readying a US IPO that could raise about $100 million. The company raised $26 million from SAIF Partners in two tranches between 2007 and 2008.
Comply or die? GPs, technology and reporting standards
Fund managers are dealing with the challenges of an increasingly demanding LP base. Asian GPs looking for institutional money must invest in compliance or rely on their track records to carry them through
CDIB secures over 3x through WeMade exit
CDIB Capital, the overseas investment arm of China Development Financial Holding Corporation, has exited 80% of its investment in Korean online game developer WeMade Entertainment, realizing a money multiple in excess of 3x.
CVC seizes rare chance to buy HK telecom asset
Private equity mega-deals are a comparative rarity in Hong Kong. Discount pre-IPO investments in large Chinese state-owned enterprises and one is left with a number of significant minority transactions and barely a handful of buyouts. Until last week,...
TA continues India spree by backing BillDesk
TA Associates' decision to establish a permanent India presence appears to be paying off. The firm’s first investment in the country was completed in 2006 but four of its five deals have come since the Mumbai office opened in late 2009. BillDesk, an...
Has the China online video story run its course?
The merger of online video sites Youku and Tudou ensures market dominance, but they must still bring costs under control in a competitive environment. Investors are advised to sell up or stay out
KKR in new push for MMI IPO – report
KKR has reportedly revived plans to exit MMI International, the precision-engineering company it took private in 2007, through a Singapore IPO. The offering could generate $400-500 million, but it is unclear how much of its holding the private equity...
VC-backed DangDang's CFO resigns
Dangdang, the New York-listed Chinese e-commerce company, announced that its CFO Conor Chia-huang Yang is leaving the company for personal reasons.
CBC leads Series C round for Chinese HR service provider
China Broadband Capital (CBC) has led a Series C funding round for CDP Group, a human capital management services provider in Greater China and Asia.
Hony, TPG consider bid for Japan’s Elpida Memory
Hony Capital and TPG Capital are preparing a bid for Elpida Memory, the Japanese chipmaker that filed for bankruptcy protection in February. The private equity firms are expected to face significant competition from strategic investors, with South Korea’s...