Articles by Maya Ando
Chongqing fund hits hot sector in China – education
Chinese investment firm Huiou (Chongqing) Equity Investment Co. has launched the Education Equity Investment Fund, claimed to be China’s first education-focused fund, aiming to raise RMB5 billion ($735 million) for pre-IPO investments in the sector.
Ant seeks foreign LPS
Japanese private equity firm Ant Capital Partners is aiming to raise ￥20 billion ($219 million) for its new buyout fund Catalyzer series No.4, from overseas as well as local LPs.
Lunar Capital triples up
Shanghai-headquartered private equity firm Lunar Capital Management has raised $150 million for its third fund, Lunar Capital Partners III, after fundraising started last autumn.
Korean government backs local venture
Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC), a South Korean government-backed fund of funds, and Korea’s Small & Medium Business Administration, have jointly raised KRW200 billion ($178 million) for their new vehicle, first launched a year ago.
ARC partners with Westly for RMB cleantech
California-based venture firm Westly Group is partnering with ARC China Holdings, a Hong Kong-based fund manager, to launch an RMB-denominated private equity fund, in the continuing trend to create RMB partnerships between Greater China funds and foreign...
KDB digs into Kumho
South Korea’s state-owned Korean Development Bank (KDB), will take a 50 % plus 1 share stake in Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., for KRW2.9 trillion ($2.5 billion) through its private equity fund, under the workout program for the distressed...
No foreign money needed, says JAL
Neither the consortium of TPG Capital and American Airlines, nor rival Delta Airlines, seem to be immediately likely to pick up stakes in Airlines (JAL), the largest airline company in Asia, following the latest development initiated by the Enterprise...
Leverage India Fund got 2.1x from JBF
Leverage India Fund (LIF), a $153.5 million private equity fund managed by IL&FS Investment Managers Limited, has fully exited its holdings in JBF Industries Ltd, which claims to be India’s leading manufacture of polyester-based yarns and related materials....
CDH fund oversubscription reports denied
Leading PRC alternative assets fund manager CDH Investments, according to media reports, was said to be collecting up to $1.6 billion for its CDH China Fund IV, well above the putative c.$1.4 billion target.
Sequoia stimulates Chinese men's fashion interest
Leading VC Sequoia Capital China Fund has reportedly made another Chinese e-commerce investment following OkayBuy.com, this time in high-end online menswear retail brand Masa Maso.
Orix to resume China investments
Orix Corp., one of the largest Japanese leasing companies, plans to invest ￥300 billion ($3.2 billion) in promising Chinese companies over the next three years.
PEP, Unitas staying in Independent Liquor
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital-controlled Independent Liquor, New Zealand’s manufacturer/distributor of alcohol beverages, moved to deny reports that it was likely to be acquired by Australia’s largest supermarket chain operator, Woolworths....
NPS goes shopping in Sydney
South Korea’s National Pension Service has completed its bid for Aurora Place a 44-story office building known as one of the landmarks in Sydney’s central business district, for KRW750 billion ($660 million).
Goldman sees China NYSE realty IPO
Goldman Sachs investee Century 21 China Real Estate, a franchised division of US real estate group Century 21, is planning to go IPO on the NYSE, aiming to raise $150 million by the end of January.
Walden exits Photop in China
Global venture capital firm Walden International has exited its investee Photop Technologies Inc., a Chinese manufacturer of photonics products based in Fuzhou.
JAIC takes over elderly care business
Japan Asia Investment Co. (JAIC), the Tokyo-based venture firm, has acquired all the shares of Healthy Service Co., an elderly care and nursing services provider in central Japan.
IIP hires Cornell for India
India Investment Partners (IIP), an India-focused fund manager, has invited David Cornell, who formerly worked with asset management firm Henderson New Star, to join its team in London.
DAR goes to Bollywood
DAR Capital Group, a London-based investment firm, is expecting to launch a fund dedicated to Indian film projects in the first half of 2010.
Uncertainty over Shinsei/Aozora merger
Buyout fund-controlled Japanese lenders Shinsei Bank and Aozora Bank may reportedly delay their planned merger, due to numerous problems, such as difficulty integrating systems and differentiation of their separate operations.
StanChart gets solar with Sangle
Standard Chartered Private Equity Ltd. (SCPEL), the Singapore-based investment subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank, has made a $22.3 million investment in Sangle Solar Energy Co. Ltd., a Chinese maker of branded solar water heaters based in Shandong...
No luck for TPG/AA JAL offer?
Japan Airlines Corp. (JAL) and Japan’s Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation (ETIC) reportedly decided to pick Delta Air Lines Inc. as the capital alliance partner for the struggling airline, rejecting a $1.1 billion support proposal from American...
Bain sets recent Japan record with Bellsystem24 buyout
Bain Capital Partners, the Boston-headquartered buyout firm, has announced the completion of its acquisition of Japanese call center operator Bellsystem24, Inc.
Japan's niche businesses for changing times
Japan's more unusual businesses offer interesting investment possibilities.
MGPA buys Clerical Medical portfolio
Macquarie-backed private equity real estate investment advisory firm MGPA has paid £52.5 ($85 million) to buy Lands Improvement Holdings plc (LIH) in the UK, from Clerical Medial Investment Group, part of the Lloyds Banking Group.