Venture
Ex-CDH executive arrested in China
Gongquan Wang, founder of CDH Venture Capital, has been formally arrested by Chinese authorities following his detention last month on charges of assembling a crowd to disturb public order. Wang left CDH two years ago.
India e-commerce: Sink or swim
India’s e-commerce sector is in the midst of consolidation. VC money continues to flow to the larger players but even they are examining their business models in a climate of higher operating costs
Ex-Qiming partner Hans Tung joins GGV Capital
Hans Tung, formerly Beijing managing partner at Qiming Venture Partners, has become a partner at GGV Capital. He is based in Silicon Valley but will be part of GGV’s single team that invests across the US and China.
Baidu, VC-backed Qunar sets terms for $127m US IPO
Qunar, a Chinese-travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, is seeking to raise up to $127.8 million through its NASDAQ IPO. The company is also backed by GSR Ventures and GGV Capital, neither of which will sell any shares in the offering....
New Horizon leads $50m round for China's Chukong Technologies
New Horizon Capital has led a $50 million Series D round of investment in Chukong Technologies, a Chinese mobile game developer. GGV Capital, Sequoia Capital, Steamboat Ventures and Northern Light Venture Capital also participated in the round, which...
Chinese online marketplace 58.com sets terms for $165m US IPO
Chinese online marketplace 58.com is seeking raise up to $165 million through its New York Stock Exchange IPO. The company’s venture capital investors – Warburg Pincus, SAIF Partners and DCM – will not sell any of their shares in the offering.
Japan's Astellas Pharma leads US-based Mitokyne $45m Series A round
Astellas Pharma, a Tokyo-listed pharmaceutical firm, has led a $45 million Series A round of investment in US biotech start-up Mitokyne, alongside MPM Capital and Longwood Founders Fund.
Nokia Growth leads Series D round for China's SolarVista Media
Nokia Growth Partners (NGP) has led a Series D round of investment for SolarVista Media, a Chinese outdoor billboard technology and media company. China Ease Management, existing backers Northern Light Venture Capital, Tuspark Ventures and FnH also participated....
Helion, Blumberg invest $1.5m in India's Mygola for US expansion
Mygola.com, an Indian online travel planning start-up, has raised a $1.5 million Series A round led by Helion Venture Partners and including existing backer Blumberg Capital. The funding will be used to support the company's US expansion plans.
Fosun VC leads Series B round for Chinese animation producer
Fosun Venture Capital Investment, a VC arm of Fosun Group, has invested in a Series B round of funding for Beijing Dream Castle Culture, a Chinese animation producer. Existing backer GGV Capital also participated. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Japan's SoftBank acquires VC-backed Supercell for $1.5b
Japanese telecom giant SoftBank has acquired SuperCell - a Finnish mobile games developer backed by Index Ventures, Accel Partners and Atomico - paying JPY150 billion ($1.53 billion) for a 51% stake.
Apax adds to global outsourcing exposure
"Including GlobalLogic, Apax funds would have invested about $1.5 billion of equity in the outsourcing space in a number of transactions around the world," says Shashank Singh, partner at Apax Partners and head of their India office. "Technology spend...
Matrix, Valara invest $150m in New Zealand's Xero
New Zealand-based online accounting software company Xero has raised a NZ$180 million ($150 million) round from existing backers Matrix Capital Management and Valara Ventures. The transaction was priced at $15.10 per share for 9.92 million shares - representing...
Singapore's DCP leads $20m Series B for Amaranth Medical
DCP Management has led the $20 million Series B round of funding for Amaranth Medical, a medical device manufacturer. Existing investors Bio*One Capital, Charter Life Sciences and Phillip Capital, as well as new entrant Venstar Capital, also participated....
Sierra Ventures leads Series C round for China's Social Touch
Chinese social marketing services provider Social Touch has raised $10 million in Series C funding from a group of investors led by Sierra Ventures. Legend Capital and GGV Capital, which backed the company in its previous two rounds, also participated....
VC-backed Eneres in $25m Japan IPO
Eneres, a venture capital-backed energy resources management firm, saw its stock more than double to JPY717 on its first day of trading in Tokyo yesterday following a JPY2.5 billion ($25 million) IPO.
Japan online fish seller raises $1.5m VC round
Hachimenroppi, a Japanese firm that operates an IT-enabled fresh fish distribution platform, has secured a JPY150 million ($1.5 million) round of investment from Pygmalion No 2, a venture fund managed by Tokyo-based firm Value Create. Two strategic investors...
Online tourism: Ticket to ride
Online tourism is on the rise in emerging Asia and numerous venture-backed businesses are looking to hitch a ride on the consumer growth trend. The key is finding the right niche
Singapore payment platform Fastacash receives Series A round
Fastacash, a Singapore-based social payments platform, has raised a $3 million in Series A round from Jungle Ventures, Spring Seeds Capital and Hong Kong-based Funding the Future (FTF).
Matrix Partners exits China Bona Film to Fosun
Matrix Partners China and other undisclosed pre-IPO shareholders have exited a 6.4% stake in Bona Film Group, a NASDAQ-listed film distributor in China, to Chinese conglomerate Fosun International for $20.8 million.
INCJ, VCs back Japan big data firm Smart Insight
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) is to invest up to JPY1 billion ($10.3 million) in Smart Insight Corp, a big data analysis software developer for the corporate sector. The business has also secured JPY400 million from Energy & Environment...
VC-backed Value HR sees shares double after $8.5m Japan IPO
VC-backed Value HR, a Japanese human resources benefits service provider, saw its stock more than double in value to JPY4035 ($41.5) on its trading debut in Tokyo on Friday.
VC-backed Forgame raises $206m in HK IPO
Forgame Holdings, a Chinese mobile game developer backed by several VC firms, saw its stocks jump 32.4% to HK$67.50 ($8.7) a share on its first day trading following its $206 million Hong Kong IPO yesterday.
Kyoto University launches $60m venture fund
Japan's Kyoto University has launched its second venture fund, a $60 million vehicle which will invest in start-ups in Japan and the rest of Asia.