News
Blume Ventures backs India software firm Kuliza
Bangalore-based Kuliza Technologies, a marketing software maker has raised seed funding from Blume Ventures. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Nominations for the 2013 AVCJ Awards close today
Nominations for the 13th AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards close today.
China Everbright’s private markets business sees profit spike
China Everbright's private market business - which includes a variety of PE, VC and sector funds - generated a pre-tax profit of HK$205 million ($26.4 million) in the first half of 2013, up 17% year-on-year.
Armstrong reaches $130m third close on SE Asia energy fund
Netherlands Development Finance Company FMO, the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) and the IFC Catalyst Fund will invest about $45 million to Armstrong Asset Management's Southeast Asia cleantech fund, bringing the total capital raised...
Ascent Capital invests $3.7m in CARE Ratings
Ascent Capital will invest INR250 million ($3.69 million) in Indian credit rating agency Credit Analysis and Research (CARE)
Indonesia VCs, incubators form lobbying alliance
Eight Indonesian venture capital firms and incubators have come together to form a lobbying group known as the Alliance of Venture Capitals in Indonesia (AVCII). Members include CyberAgent Ventures, East Ventures, GEPI, Grupara, Ideosource, Jakarta Founders...
SMBC, IGPI invest $1.3m in Japanese game design platform
SMBC Venture Capital and Industrial Growth Partners (IGPI) have invested JPY130 million ($1.3 million) in Mugenup.com, a start-up that crowd-sources design talent to work on projects for game developers.
Commercial Intelligence targets $150m for Asia, Africa litigation fund
Specialist distressed debt and litigation investor Commercial Intelligence Funds Group (CI) is launching an Asia- and Africa-focused fund with a target of $150 million. A first close is planned for the end of 2013.
TPG-backed China Grand Auto plans $500m Hong Kong IPO – report
TPG Capital-backed China Grand Automotive Group reportedly plans to raise at least $500 million through a Hong Kong IPO early next year.
Hans Tung leaves China VC firm Qiming for the US
Hans Tung, Beijing-based managing partner at Qiming Venture Partners, has left the firm. AVCJ understands the departure was amicable, driven by Tung’s desire to relocate to the US for family reasons. He has yet to join a new firm.
Carlyle, Townsend commit $200m to China warehousing platform
The Carlyle Group and the US-based investment firm The Townsend Group will have agreed to invest $200 million in logistics warehouses in China. The capital will be used to acquire an undisclosed stake in five warehouses owned by Shanghai Yupei Group and...
Nalanda Capital invests in India’s Info Edge
Nalanda Capital has invested more than INR268 million ($3.9 million) in listed online classifieds company Info Edge India. The PE firm bought 1.7 million shares on the secondary market for around INR300 apiece.
Japan's Rakuten leads $23m Series B round for e-commerce app Slice
Rakuten Group - Japan's largest e-commerce firm - has led a $23 million financing round for the Silicon Valley-based start-up behind online shopping app Slice.
Morpheus Fund invests $6m in TVC Skyshop
India’s Morpheus Fund has invested INR420 million ($6.17 million) for an 8% stake in direct-to-consumer retailing platform, TVC Skyshop.
China education site Fenbi.com to raise Series B round
Fenbi.com, a Beijing-based online education platform, is about to close its second round of VC funding. It is said that IDG Capital Partners and Matrix Partners China have joined the round, taking total capital raised to $7 million.
Fenox leads Tech in Asia Series B round
Fenox Venture Capital has led a Series B round of investment in digital media company Tech in Asia. Existing investors, East Ventures and Simile Venture Partners, also took part in the round. Financial details were not disclosed.
JFDI.Asia launches latest accelerator program
Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (JFDI.Asia) - a Singapore-based accelerator - has launched its latest 100-day program with an intake of 10 new start-ups. The teams were chosen through an open competition that attracted 321 applications.
PE-backed Australian fashion retailer enters administration
Bleach Group, the Australian parent of fashion brands Insight, Something Else and Ksubi, has been placed into voluntary administration. The company received growth capital investment from US-based Breakwater Investment Management in late 2012.
Simcere accepts Hony-backed take-private bid worth $490m
Chinese drug developer Simcere Pharmaceutical Group has agreed to a management buyout offer from a consortium led by its chairman and Hony Capital that values the company at approximately $490 million. Simcere is now expected to de-list from the New York...
Korea launches fund class to support overseas contractors
South Korea plans to launch specialist private equity funds as a means of encouraging financial institutions to support local firms competing for overseas construction contracts. The government hopes that $8.6 billion can be raised through these funds...
Rabo, Proparco invest $21m in India’s Prabhat Dairy
Rabo Equity’s India Agribusiness Fund has invested another INR800 million ($12 million) in Prabhat Dairy, while French development finance institution Proparco has committed INR600 million to the company.
SIG Asia leads $18m round for China photo app Camera360
SIG Asia Investment (SAI), an affiliate of US financial group the Susquehanna International Group, has led a $18 million Series B round of funding for Camera360, a photo-editing mobile app. Existing backers Matrix Partners China and Gobi Partners also...
Billabong posts $777m loss, brand value drops to zero
Distressed Australian surfwear retailer Billabong International- which is currently negotiating a A$325 million ($290 million) refinancing deal with a consortium led by Altamont Capital Partners - has booked a net loss of A$860 million, while cutting...
JAFCO invests $3m in Japan online laundry service
JAFCO Ventures has invested JPY300 million ($3 million) in White Plus, the Japanese start-up behind Lenet, an online laundry delivery service.