Nippon Life-backed Nissay Capital has returned to back a $6.6m round for Lifestyle Design, the operator of custom fashion e-commerce platform LaFabric.

UK-based GoCompare has made its first strategic investment outside its home country, in a $14.5m round for Middle East price comparison platform Souqalmal.

University of Tokyo's investment unit and financial services provider Shinsei Bank have backed the fund, which will support local spinouts and startups.

Nippon Life and Kaga were among the participants in a $6.5m round for connected sensor technology developer Skydisc, which will use the cash for hiring.

Spice Mobility will pay $5.25m for the 10.8% stake in mobile services provider Spice Digital acquired by fabless semiconductor provider MediaTek in 2011 for $20m.

The Japan-based mobile accounting software provider has floated in an offering that valued it at more than $500m, giving exits to a host of corporate investors.

The Kyoto University spinout has been valued at $114.7m in a cash-and-shares deal that gives University of Tokyo Edge Capital a partial exit.

Shell's corporate venturing unit has chosen Shanghai as the location for its sixth office, enabling it to access a market it views as "exploding".