Articles by Maya Ando
Carlyle, CVC, Unison bidding for Q'sai?
The Carlyle Group, CVC Asia Pacific and Unison Capital Inc. have emerged as among the probable bidders for Japanese vegetable juice maker Q'sai Co., in what might become the largest buyout deal so far this year.
Infinity I-China will expand in China with CDB
Infinity I-China, the Israeli venture capital fund, has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Development Bank to expand the fund's investment activities in Chinese companies through its six RMB-denominated funds, formed in partnership with...
Daiwa SMBC sells Q'sai for over $1 billion
Daiwa SMBC Capital, the private equity arm of Daiwa Securities Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, is reportedly selling investee Japanese juice maker Q'sai Co., in what could become the largest exit so far this year in Japan.
Real estate: blossoming in Japan?
Japan is now entering this year’s cherry blossom season, and people are feeling the lift after the long cold winter.
Mid-cap vs buyouts: may the best financing win
The year following the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the onset of the global financial crisis was not a good one for Japan.
CIC halves funds application
China Investment Corp (CIC), the PRC's $300 billion sovereign wealth fund, was denied central government approval to raise $200 billion in additional funding, and in response has lowered its application to $100 billion.
SBI share boost precedes planned Hong Kong debut
SBI Holdings Inc., the Tokyo-based venture capital and financial services company, boosted its share price to a six-month high after it announced that it is seeking to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Prax puts $15 million in agroscience
Prax Capital Management, a Greater China-focused private equity firm, has made a $15 million investment in Rotam Global AgroSciences Ltd., a leading crop protection company headquartered in Hong Kong.
RREEF loses Fogle in Asia
Mark Fogle, managing director and chief investment officer for real estate at RREEF Asia Pacific, the alternative investment group of Deutsche Bank AG's asset management division, is leaving the firm after three years of service.
Japan's INCJ backs Alps Electric
State-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan(INCJ) has decided to inject JPY3 billion ($3.2 million) into a new company spun off from Alps Electric Co, a Japanese electrical parts producer, in its first round of investment.
No support at Sapporo for Steel Partners proposal
US fund Steel Partners has had its new proposal to replace most of the board of Sapporo Holdings, where it holds an 18% stake, rejected by the company's shareholders.
VC-backed PRC hotel chain rises on NASDAQ debut
China Lodging Group Ltd, an economy hotel chain operator in China, has debuted on NASDAQ with a 27% rise on its first day's trading.
Real estate: China boom or bubble?
The role of subprime real estate assets in the collapse of Lehman Brothers in the US and the snowball effect of the GFC may have implicated real estate and all its derivates as largely to blame; but in Asia, and especially China, property seems to have...
ADIA MD missing
Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al-Nahayan, managing director of leading SWF the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), is missing after a glider crash in Morocco, according to local news agency reports.
Japan's ETIC helps Senoh restructure
The Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan (ETIC), the Japanese state-backed turnaround body, has decided to support Senoh Corp, a local sports equipment maker, in the third deal for ETIC to help a failing local company after its support...
Japan's SBI and Brunei government form fund
Japanese financial group SBI Holdings Inc., has agreed to launch an Islamic investment fund of unconfirmed size with the Ministry of Finance of Brunei Darussalam, with investments to be made from Brunei Global Islamic Investments, operated by a new fund...
CHAMP Ventures invests Oz woman's fitness wear
CHAMP Ventures Pty. Ltd.,the venture capital affiliate of Australian private equity firm CHAMP Private Equity, has taken a significant minority stake, apparently not far under 50%, in Brisbane-based women's fitness wear retailer Lorna Jane.
Daiwa SMBC Principal plans to exit HMV
Daiwa Securities SMBC Principal Investments, the private equity unit of the Japanese brokerage house, is in negotiations to sell its portfolio company HMV Japan to Culture Convenience Club, operator of the Tsutaya DVD and CD rental chain.
Silver Lake debuts in PRC with Spreadtrum
In its first PRC deal, technology-focused Silicon Valley private equity firm Silver Lake has acquired a minority stake in Spreadtrum Communications Inc., the NASDAQ-listed fabless wireless semiconductor company in Shanghai.
Ex Taiwanese minister launches PRC RMB fund
Yang Shih-chien, a former deputy economics minister in Taiwan, has reported launched his own RMB-denominated private equity fund.
JAFCO invests Japan headhunter
JAFCO, one of the largest venture capital firms in Japan, invested JPY217 million ($2.4 million) in Biz Reach Inc., a Japanese recruitment site operator, through its JAFCO Super V3 Kyoyu Fund.
Citi appoints Banfield head of Asian M&A
Citigroup has appointed Colin Banfield, a current joint head of investment banking Asia ex-Japan for Nomura, as a managing director and head of M&A for Citi in Asia Pacific and as joint head of Citi’s Global Cross-border M&A business.
Sequoia and ABC support Guangzhou Broad Vision
Investment firms including Sequoia Capital and Swiss fund of funds ABC Capital, as well as domestic investors, participated in the second round of financing for mobile telecoms services play Guangzhou Broad Vision Telecom Sci & Tech Co.
Carlyle sells stake in Japan's Kito to Finland
The Carlyle Group is reportedly to sell a 22% stake in its Japanese portfolio company Kito Co., a crane maker, to Finland's leading crane manufacturer Konecranes, in a deal estimated over JPY3 billion ($32.6 million).