Articles by Maya Ando
Skylark exit helps consign buyout boom to history
With Skylark sold and Yayoi likely to follow it, Japan’s megadeals of 2006-2008 are finally being dismantled and the – relatively meager – profits returned to investors
Japan's secondary funds look to consolidate
The cross-ownership of Japanese companies creates rich pickings for secondaries players looking to gather up and exit
SBI makes first foray into Cambodia
Japanese Financial Group SBI Holdings has entered Cambodia through the creation of a private equity fund in partnership with Royal Group, the country’s largest conglomerate. It is SBI’s second overseas joint venture vehicle this year, following the formation...
Hisense unit makes two for Advantage in China
Japanese buyout firm Advantage Partners has made its second investment in a Chinese company, injecting approximately JPY1.5 billion ($19.7 million) into Hisense Broadband Multimedia Technologies (HBMT).
Whitehaven's PE backers make partial exit
Three months after Australian miner Whitehaven Coal called off its auction process, the company’s two largest shareholders cut back their interest. First Reserve Corp. and AMCI International on August 31 sold 65 million shares for A$390 million ($416...
CVC resumes efforts to sell Japanese shoe repair chain
CVC Asia Pacific has hired Mizuho Securities to advise on the sale of shoe repair chain Minit Asia Pacific and invitations have been sent for first-round bids, according to Reuters.
Chinese online game developer to launch VC fund
Perfect World, the NASDAQ-listed online game developer, will launch a venture capital fund focusing on the technology, media and telecommunications sectors.
Hony makes first QFLP investment
Hony Capital has made the first investment under Shanghai's Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) program. The firm has reportedly agreed to invest in Shijiazhuang Hongray Group, a disposable gloves manufacturer. Financial details were not given.
Indiareit Fund invests in luxury residential project in Mumbai
Indiareit Fund Advisors, a private equity real estate fund backed by Indian entrepreneur Ajay Piramal, has reportedly invested INR2 billion ($43.8 million) in a luxury residential project in Mumbai, which has been developed by Omkar Realtors and Developers....
Barclays Capital hires Morgan Stanley's Andrew Richards to head Asia PE
Barclays Capital had reportedly headhunted Europe-based Morgan Stanley managing director Andrew Richards to head its private equity unit in Asia Pacific.
Korea Teachers Pension Fund to invest $50m in local PE, VC
The Korea Teachers Pension Fund (KTPF) reportedly plans to invest KRW54 billion ($50.7 million) in 3-5 domestic venture capital and private equity firms in September.
Actis hires new director to manage portfolio companies
Emerging-market investor Actis has appointed Vincent Low, previously a general manager at Momentive Performance, as director of its value creation group.
Japan's airlines explore budget options
The next 18 months will see Japan finally fall in with what has become an established trend regional and global aviation and roll-out low cost carriers (LCCs). Private equity has featured in the development of these airlines in Asia, notably Malaysia-based...
ETIC becomes largest shareholder in Japanese engineering firm
Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp of Japan (ETIC) has underwritten 150 million of common shares issued by ARRK, a listed company engaged in die and mold engineering, worth JPY9 billion ($117 million).
Bendigo-led consortium invests in Akatsuki Financial
A consortium led by Bendigo Partners has made a strategic investment in Akatsuki Financial Group, a Japan based mid-sized financial services firm, specializing in retail brokerage and asset management. Financial details were not announced.
Indian ethnic fashion retailer seeks private equity investment
Wolfensohn Capital Partners is going to sell its 8% stake in ethnic fashion retailer Fabindia. The exit comes as Fabindia looks to raise around INR2 billion from new investors.
ANZ linked to potential acquisitions of Tokyo Star Bank, Aozora Bank
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) is reportedly looking to acquire Lone Star-controlled Tokyo Star Bank or Cerberus-owned Aozora Bank.
China, India lead global emerging markets for PE activity
India and China accounted for 54% of private equity transactions completed in emerging countries in the first half of 2011, according to a report by the Emerging Market Private Equity Association.
Infinity establishes RMB and USD funds in Chongqing
Infinity Group, an Israel-based privat equity firm created by China Development Bank and Israeli conglomerate IDB Group, has announced the establishment of the Chongqing arm in cooperation with the government of Chongqing's Banan district.
Sequoia, Nexus invests $12 in Druva
Nexus Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital has jointly invested $12 million in a Series B round of funding in Druva, a global data protection solutions firm.
PE firms clean China's water
The availability of water to feed China’s citizens and its growing industries has become a top priority for the government in recent years. It is now well known that the country’s per capita water resources are one quarter of the global average. Greenpeace...
Vector, with CITIC Capital, acquires US-based graphic manufacturing group
Tech-focused PE firm Vector Capital has acquired a majority stake in Gerber Scientific, an international supplier of automated manufacturing systems used in signs, specialty graphics, apparel and the industrial sector. Chinese firm CITIC Capital Partners...
Singapore's Asian Agri Capital to raise $100m for palm oil investment
Asian Agri Capital, a Singapore-based early-stage plantation investor, is looking to raise $100 million to invest in palm oil and other tropical commodities in Southeast Asia and Latin America, Bloomberg reported.
PE invests $100m in India's food industry in H1
Private equity has invested more than $100 million in India’s food service industry in the first half of 2011, the Franchise India and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced.