Articles by Alvina Yuen
SBI commits $3m to Indian e-learning provider
SBI Holdings has invested more than $3 million in to India’s Liqvid, an online content provider that specializes in English language training. SBI Ven Capital Singapore's Brijesh Pande will join the Liqvid board.
NTT Investment Partners backs Philippines' Migo
NTT Investment Partners, the corporate venture capital arm of Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp, has committed $2 million to Migo Entertainment, a Philippines-based digital content distributor.
Oman India fund commits $13m to explosives maker
Oman India Joint Investment Fund (OIJIF), a PE vehicle owned by Oman’s sovereign wealth fund and India’s State Bank of India, has invested INR720 million ($13 million) in explosives manufacturer Solar Industries. The fund will pick up 4.28% of the Indian...
Polaris invests in Japan's Myland Real Estate
Polaris Capital Group has acquired a 30% voting stake in Myland Real Estate through its second country-focused fund. The investment is part of the Japanese property broker's wider strategy to expand its business in preparation for an IPO in the next couple...
China biotech: Elusive innovation?
PE and VC investors want to leverage China’s rapidly growing biotech industry, but few firms have a proven ability to commercialize their innovations in drug development. Change will come, gradually.
KBank to launch Thailand's first infrastructure fund
Kasikornbank, the financial adviser to Solar Power, a subsidiary of Thailand's biggest solar-farm developer SPCG, is in the process of raising the country's first infrastructure fund. It is targeting THB5 billion ($158 million).
Sequoia invests in India healthcare services start-up
Sequoia Capital India has invested INR250 million ($4.6 million) into Bangalore-based Practo Technologies, a cloud-based clinic management platform. The Series A round will support the company's global expansion plans.
China relaxes QFII rules to include private equity
Private equity firms will be allowed to apply for licenses under China's Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) program, offering greater freedom to invest in domestic debt and equities. The move is part of wider efforts to open up and liberalize...
WI Harper leads Series B round for AdMaster
W.I. Harper has led a Series B round of funding for AdMaster, a China-based digital marketing service provider. GSR Ventures, which invested in the company’s Series A round in late 2010, also participated.
Want Want China unsure about CNS purchase conditions
Want Want China, leader of a group seeking to buy Taiwan cable TV provider China Network Systems (CNS) from MBK Partners, said Thursday that the $2.4 billion sale remains uncertain because of conditions imposed by regulators.
Hony, GCS named preferred bidders for Dexia unit – report
Hony Capital has teamed up with GCS Capital, a PE firm founded by former investment banker Guocang Huan, to buy the asset management arm Dexia in a deal worth EUR500 million ($615 million). The Franco-Belgian financial group is one of the biggest victims...
TPG confirms acquisition of China's HCP
TPG Capital has acquired Chinese packaging company HCP Holdings from its family owners. Sources close to the development told AVCJ the deal is worth around $500 million.
China allows insurers to double private equity exposure
The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has allowed insurers to invest up to 10% of their total assets in private equity. Investment in the asset class was previously capped at 5%. The move is expected to see $50 billion of fresh capital injected...
India ATMs: Banking on convenience
Recognizing the need for more ATMs, a consortium of Indian banks has opened up the business to independent contractors. Numerous private equity-backed enterprises are waiting to swoop
Kerogen Capital raises $1b for debut energy fund
Kerogen Capital has reached a final close in excess of $1 billion for its debut energy-focused fund. Investors include North American foundations and endowments, family offices, fund-of-funds, an affiliate of a Middle East sovereign wealth fund, and investors...
A Capital bets on B&O's China growth story
Just three months ago, 87-year-old Danish electronics manufacturer Bang & Olufsen (B&O) announced worse-than-expected third quarter results: revenue was down 7% year-on-year while pre-tax profit fell by 37%. The company blamed poor sales in Europe and...
WinIT Software to raise $5m from PE
WinIT Software, an Indian mobile developer, is planning to raise INR275 million ($5 million) from private equity investors to scale up its operation outside India. A deal is expected to happen in the next 4-5 months.
China's PiYi Investment to fund US companies
PiYi Investment Management, a Chinese private equity manager for high-net worth investors, has teamed up with Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) in the US to invest $100 million in Wisconsin companies.
Chinese insurers to outsource investment management
The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) will allow insurance companies to outsource their investment management businesses to brokerages and fund houses as part of efforts to diversify investment channels.
Carlyle raises $738m in latest China Pacific sell-down
The Carlyle Group has sold $723 million of shares in China Pacific Insurance (CPIC) through a block trade, marking the private equity firm's fifth partial exit from the company since December 2010. Total returns are in excess of $4 billion, putting Carlyle...
CVC seeks investor for Nine - report
CVC is seeking an investor to purchase a significant equity stake in the debt-laden Nine Entertainment. The transaction would allow the private equity player to reduce its $2.9 billion in senior loans due for repayment in February 2013.
US-China start-up incubator launches accelerator program
InnoSpring, Silicon Valley’s first US-China technology start-up incubator, has launched a six-month accelerator program targeting companies in mobile internet, cleantech and healthcare IT industries.
Yinglan Tan joins Sequoia Capital India
Yinglan Tan, formerly head of projects at Singapore’s National Research Foundation, has joined Sequoia Capital India as a venture partner.
A Capital backs Bang & Olufsen for China growth
A Capital has teamed up with Chinese luxury goods distributor Sparkle Roll to pay $30 million for a 7.71% stake in Denmark's Bang & Olufsen (B&O). The electronics manufacturer is looking to increase sales in China to offset weak demand in Europe and the...