Articles by Allen Lee
Playing Asia's PE field
In a business where a small number of individuals make a big amount of impact, investors in Asian private equity are finding departures of senior dealmakers becoming more than a handful
Blackstone, Carlyle and DT Capital approved for QFLP pilot
Three private equity firms, Blackstone, the Carlyle Group and local representative DT Capital, have received approved from the Shanghai government for its Qualified Foreign Limited Partners (QFLP) scheme says a report by Reuters.
Australian cleaning company rejects private equity bid
Spotless Group, a ASX-listed Melbourne-based cleaning services company, has rejected a conditional $700 million bid from a private equity firm, Blackstone, reported by Reuters.
Private equity in China's insurance sector
The growth of the insurance sector in China has rocketed in recent years with the potential still remaining tremendous and private equity has been in the center of this rise. And it has been a profitable relationship for GPs that are able to take stakes...
Warburg Pincus forms JV with portfolio company
New Delhi based hospitality firm, Lemon Tree Hotels, has formed INR1,400 crore ($315.4 million) joint venture, Oceanus Real Estate Pvt Ltd , with Warburg Pincus that will focus on housing project in India. Lemon Tree will own 51% of the JV with the private...
SAIF India invests in Firstcry.com
Perhaps better known for their China operations, SAIF Partners India, has made another bet in India’s fast growing e-commerce segment, investing $4 million in online kids and baby care products retailer, FirstCry.com.
CapAsia Invests in Kazakhstan Electricity Utility
Singapore-based private equity infrastructure investor CapAsia will invest $50 million in equity capital into Central Asian Power and Energy Company (CAPEC), a power company in Kazakhstan.
Sequoia invests in Chinese online retailer
Sequoia Capital has invested an undisclosed amount into China-based retailer and wholesaler Milanoo.com. According to a press statement, the invested funds will be used to strengthen the company's product supply system, optimize the online shopping platform...
Matrix India invests in water company
Matrix Partners India has recently announced that it has invested INR60 crore ($13.5 million) as the sole investor in the first institutional round of funding of Chetas Control Systems Private Limited (Chetas).
Victoria stops investing in PE
Victoria Funds Management Corporation, which manages funds for the State of Victoria, Australia, has announced that it will stop investing into private equity and will, instead, focus on infrastructure investing. The once-prominent limited partner, which...
Rockley Group expands China team
The Rockley Group has announced that it has expanded its team in China with the appointment of Yanong Ning as investment director. Ning, a Phd holder, will take charge of the generation and management of transactions in China for Rockley’s China Fund,...
Announcing the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards China
2003 was probably one of the gloomiest years in recent memory for people in Asia. It was in that year that we launched our first annual AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards at the suggestion of Walden’s Lip Bu Tan, who rightly proposed injecting...
Providence invests in India's UFO Moviez
Providence Equity Partners has invested INR2.6 billion ($58.3 million) to become the largest shareholder in digital cinema company, UFO Moviez. UFO is the world's largest satellite-based digital cinema service with close to 2,500 installations across...
Cargill to raise Asian food fund says report
Cargill’s private equity arm, Black River Asset Management, is planning to raise a $400 million fund focused on the food in Asia, reports Reuters. According to the article, the proposed fund, called Black River Capital Partners (Food) Fund, has already...
Malaysia and the rest of ASEAN
I was recently in Malaysia last week and got a chance to catch up with a number of old friends in Kuala Lumpur about the local private equity industry, which has been getting a bit of ink from the press lately as a result of Affinity Equity Partners and...
Succession in private equity
Perhaps it is a sign of market maturity, or maybe it is a signal that the effects of the global financial crisis has passed, but the past few months have seen quite a few human resources changes within the Asian private equity industry. While changing...
Breaking out of the shell
Captive funds have becoming active in Asia but are they here for the long term?
IDG-Accel raise $1.3 billion
IDG-Accel has announced that it has raised $1.3 billion.
KKR and partner announce bid for Yageo
KKR Asia has teamed up with, Pierre Chen, chairman of Taiwan’s Yageo Corporation to launch takeover bid that will see Chen’s electronic-components manufacturer privatized. The deal values the target at $1.6 billion. The transaction will be conducted by...
ICICI Venture and Gaja Capital invest in TeamLease
ICICI Venture will join existing investor, Gaja Capital Partners, in injecting Rs. 100 Crore into TeamLease Services, a Bangalore-based composite staffing and education company.
Changing of the guard at HarbourVest Partners Asia
Global fund of funds HarbourVest Partners has announced a change in its management team in Asia, with founding Managing Director Philip Bilden (pictured) transitioning to the position of Senior Advisor in 2012. He will remain engaged with senior level...
Lakeshore launches Thai focused fund
Lakeshore, an investment firm led by Thai nationals, has announced the creation of Lakeshore Capital Asia Ltd, a $60 million growth capital fund manager focusing on Thailand. The fundraising is being assisted by London-based Chikusei Partners.
L Capital to invest Indian retailer
L Capital Asia, the $500 million private equity fund sponsored by luxury product giant LVMH Group is in discussions to buy stake in India fashion and lifestyle goods retailer Genesis Colors Pvt Ltd, according to a report by the Indian Times.
Commitment to markets
The commitment by private equity firms to a particular country market was the subject of a recent conversation with a prominent financial adviser. The Taiwan-based adviser claims that private equity firms are having problems making deals in Taiwan because...