Articles by Anita Davis
Archer, Ironbridge achieve iNova exit
It may have taken longer than expected, but Archer Capital and Ironbridge Capital have finally exited Australian portfolio company iNova Pharmaceuticals to a Canadian trade buyer two years after launching an auction for the company. A healthy return on...
Baring-backed Courts Asia seeks expansion
Baring-backed electronics and furniture retailer Courts Asia is looking to invest S$70 million ($54.1 million) to launch new Southeast Asian retail outlets, coming at a time when its private equity backer is considering its exit options.
IDFC teams with corporates to launch Indian infra JV
IDFC Project Equity Fund has teamed with Mumbai-based Ashok Piramal Group (APG) and Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Group to launch a joint venture to develop public-private roads and highway projects across India.
Lone Star may sell KEB for 7% less - report
Lone Star is reportedly nearing the sale of Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) to Hana Financial Group at a 7% discount to the KRW4.4 trillion ($3.8 billion) offer price. If agreed, the move would highlight the pressure that embattled Lone Star faces to offload...
CVC sells Minit to Unison Capital
CVC Capital Asia has succeeded in exiting shoe repair chain Minit Asia Pacific to Tokyo-based Unison Capital, reportedly after two failed attempts to sell the company.
CIC, Greentown partner for real estate JV
China Investment Corporation (CIC) has teamed with domestic property developer Greentown Group to launch an RMB2 billion ($313.3 million) real estate joint venture that will build office buildings for local government bodies.
Mizuho subsidiary exits Matsubo
A portfolio company owned by Mizuho Capital Partners has reportedly exited its stake in Matsubo, a machinery trading company, to Shinsho Corp.
Morgan Stanley names Godbole head of India real estate
Morgan Stanley has appointed investment banking veteran Shirish Godbole as its head of Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI) India, replacing Naresh Naik who left the firm earlier this month to spin off his own investment fund.
IFC highlights focus on India
The International Finance Corp. (IFC), the World Bank’s investment arm, has reported that 8.8% of its total portfolio in 2011 is focused on India, marking the largest commitment to any one region.
Primavera takes stake in Chinese fertilizer maker
A subsidiary of Primavera Capital, the private equity firm founded by Fred Hu, former Greater China chairman of Goldman Sachs, has invested $51 million in China XLX Fertilizer. Primavera has taken a 14.97% stake, becoming the firm’s third-largest shareholder...
Investors eye Tokyo properties - report
Tokyo properties are materializing as a key target for overseas investors in the coming year, pinpointed a growth area while other sectors struggle.
Korean regulators to investigate KEB
South Korean regulators have launched a probe into the inside operations of Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) to ensure that the lender complied with court orders to fire members of its board related to embattled owner Lone Star.
Blackstone plans up to $720m annual commitment to India
The Blackstone Group is considering a $500-720 million annual injection into India over the next few years, said Akhil Gupta, the firm's chairman and managing director for the country. He added that the firms has invested nearly $1.8 billion in the market...
SKS Microfinance Chairman Vikram Akula resigns
The founder and chairman of embattled microlender SKS Finance, Vikram Akula, has resigned his post after 14 years at the firm. It comes as the publicly listed lender looks to recoup costs amid an increasingly difficult business environment.
Dreamworks plans PE-backed JV in China - report
Dreamworks Animation – the studio responsible for movies including “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda” – is reportedly nearing the launch of a JV production and design studio in Shanghai. The deal is being brokered through a partnership with a consortium said...
India fundraising: Survival of the fittest
India has seen plenty of private equity spinouts but an increasingly difficult fundraising environment is expected to separate the men from the boys
Centro to launch trust to avoid collapse
The financial backers of distressed Australian real estate owner Centro Properties Group have agreed to create an A$4.4 billion ($4.3 billion) listed property trust called Centro Retail Australia in order to keep the company afloat.
Advantage takes stake in Japanese eyewear chain - report
Japanese private equity firm Advantage Partners has reportedly acquired a stake in Tokyo-listed eyewear retail chain Meganesuper.
Hony plans $2.4b USD fund - report
Hony Capital has reportedly targeted up to $2.6 billion for its latest private equity fund, touted as the biggest US dollar fund raised by a China-based fund.
PE, Itochu-led consortium near $7b Samson acquisition
A KKR-led consortium, that is said to include Japan's Itochu Corp., is nearing the acquisition of Oklahoma-based oil- and natural-gas producer Samson Investment for $7 billion. It will mark one of the world’s most expensive PE buyouts this year if the...
Kingfisher closes in on $370m injection
Debt-ridden Indian airline Kingfisher is nearing the close of a $370 million recapitalization deal with an Indian private investor and a group of banks that should prevent it from collapsing.
Lone Star ordered to sell down KEB stake within six months
Lone Star has been ordered to sell down the majority of its 51% stake in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB), South Korea’s sixth-largest bank by assets, to 10% or less within six months. This has reportedly prompted US-based Lone Star to seek out buyers as its...
Kumho Industrial to sell assets to private equity
South Korean construction and transportation firm Kumho Industrial is reportedly looking to divest KRW1 trillion ($884.5 billion) worth of assets to approximately 10 private equity funds.
Maybank launches $500m regional cleantech fund
The Singapore arm of Malaysian financial services major Maybank has launched a $500 million regional cleantech fund.