Articles by Maya Ando
J-Will may buy the Incubator Bank of Japan
J-Will Partners, a leading private equity firm based in Tokyo, has emerged as one of the potential bidders to take over the failed Incubator Bank of Japan, joining local lenders Aeon Bank and Kyoto Credit Cooperative to vie for the asset.
BOC, Guangdong government launch PE firm
Guangdong-based Yuecai Investment Holdings and BOC Group Investments, operated by the Bank of China, have jointly launched a new private equity firm, BOC Yuecai Private Equity.
Indian infra sees international activity
In the last week, both foreign and domestic firms have made significant moves dedicated to the Indian infrastructure space. UK headquartered private 3i has participated in the build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) road projects operated by KMC Constructions,...
Japan regulators offer flexibility for stability
To date, the Japanese government has estimated that damage from the interconnected natural disasters is likely to reach at least $198 billion, and it has pegged the possible economic loss at between JPY16 trillion ($196 billion) and JPY25 trillion ($306...
A view from the top
The upcoming 2011 AVCJ Private Equity and Venture Capital Review highlights the growing importance of Asia-Pacific to the global PE community. It also raises the question: Just where is all this money going?
Lombard exits Thai paper group
The private equity firm Lombard Investments, Inc. has announced that it has sold its 23% holding in S.Pack & Print Public Company Limited, a Thai paper packaging manufacturer, to Oji Paper Company Limited, one of the largest paper production and packaging...
Lone Star exits realty portfolio to Mitsubishi Estate
US private equity firm Lone Star has exited an office building and other properties in the Akasaka area in Tokyo to Mitsubishi Estate Co, one of the leading real estate companies in Japan owned by conglomerate Mitsubishi Group. The deal is worth around...
3i invests in Indian construction major
UK-headquartered private equity firm 3i will invest INR500 crore ($115 million) into KMC Constructions, a build-operate-transfer (BOT) construction firm based in Hyderabad that focuses on India’s road projects.
Longreach makes first close on Japan-focused fund
The Longreach Group has completed the first close of its Japan-focused, Longreach Capital Partners 2, L.P., with initial commitments of $125 million made from the PE firm’s existing investors from its first fund as well as US foundations and endowments....
Aditya Birla makes hires
Aditya Birla Financial Services Group (ABFSG) has strengthen its private equity team by inviting Amitvikram Sharma, ex-partner of Milestone Religare, as an additional investment director in addition to P. H. Ravikumar and Shailesh Haribhakti who were...
Kai-Fu Lee's projects get round of funding
Former Google China President Kai-Fu Lee’s incubation firm Innovation Works has received several million dollars worth of first round financing for its Tapas from GSR Ventures projects.
JAIC ceases to be the majority holder in Japanese auto parts maker
Japan Asia Investment Co. (JAIC)., a Tokyo-based venture capital firm, has sold a 25.54% stake in listed Japanese auto part manufacturer Ikuyo Co. to Nittoh Co., a Tokyo-based plate and molding company, for undisclosed sum.
KKR-backed Far Eastern Horizon nears IPO
Private equity-backed Far East Horizon Ltd., a division of government-owned Chinese trading conglomerate Sinochem Group, has reportedly targeted $600 million ahead of its official IPO process in Hong Kong next week, according to Bloomberg.
HSBC, Tesco take three assets in China
HSBC Specialist Investments, a division of HSBC Group targeting infrastructure and real estate investments, has teamed with mega supermarket chain Tesco and Singapore-listed Metro Holdings to acquire three shopping malls in China.
An industry still standing
Just one month before the annual event of the cherry blossoms would make Japan one of the most beautiful countries in the world, a 9.0 earthquake hit east of Honshu on March 11, giving rise to a tsunami estimated about 14 meters height and further leading...
CITIC closes second Japan fund
CITIC Capital Partners, the private equity arm of CITIC Capital Holdings Limited, has closed its second buyout fund dedicated to Japan with commitments of over JPY 18 billion ($217 million) – a similar size to its first fund.
Malaysian funds swap Apollo Hospital stakes
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd has invested INR470 crore ($104 million) in leading Indian healthcare chain Apollo Hospitals, taking a 8.82 % stake from Bisikan Bayu Investments, another Malaysian government fund.
CVC invests $269 million in Indonesian media group
European private equity firm CVC Capital Partners will invest 2.35 trillion rupiah ($269 million) in the cable TV and internet units of Jakarta-based media group PT First Media, taking a strategic partnership position, the company announced.
Walden International invests in Indian loan portal
VC firm Walden International has reportedly invested $6 million in A&A Dukaan Financial Services Pvt Ltd., the parent of Indian loan and insurance quotation website BankBazaar.com, as part of a second round of funding.
Measures taken to minimize damage on Japanese indexes
As a rare measure of flexibility, Japan’s Financial Services Agency and the Tokyo Stock Exchange have exempted companies that have been upended by last week’s earthquake from meeting earnings announcement deadlines, according to the Nikkei.
RaQualia Pharma postpones Japan IPO
Private equity-backed RaQualia Pharma Inc., an Aichi-based specialized marketing and intellectual property firm servicing the pharmaceutical industry, has announced the postponement of its IPO onto the Osaka Stock Exchange JASDAQ Growth Market due to...
Mizuho Financial Group consolidates its affiliates
Mizuho Financial Group (MHFG), Japan’s second largest financial group, is to acquire the remaining shares it does not own in each of its affiliate companies - including Mizuho Trust Banking Co., Mizuho Securities Co., Mizuho Invester Securities Co., Mizuho...
PE to buy Japanese restaurant chain
US private equity firm Bain Capital has emerged as a potential buyer for Skylark Co, a restaurant chain operator in Japan, which is being sold by Nomura Principal Finance, the investment arm of Japanese securities group Nomura Holdings, which currently...
Marunouchi buys Japanese supermarkets
Tokyo-based Marunouchi Capital, a joint venture equally owned by Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, has announced it will take over the entire share capital of Seijo Ishii Co., a high-end supermarket operator in Tokyo...