Articles by Holden Mann
Singapore’s Keppel to launch Australia retail investment fund
Keppel Capital, the asset management arm of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation, has partnered with Australia-listed property developer Vicinity Centres to launch an investment fund targeting assets in Australia’s retail sector.
PE-backed China Everbright Water files for HK IPO
China Everbright Water, a Singapore-listed water environmental solutions provider focused on China and backed by RRJ Capital and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has filed for a dual listing in Hong Kong.
VCs commit $22m to China laser developer
SDIC Fund Management, a GP under China’s State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC), along with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Suzhou Chengxin Venture Capital, has invested RMB150 million ($22 million) in Everbright Photonics, a maker...
Sailing, Sanpower-owned Brookstone files for bankruptcy
US specialty retailer Brookstone, which was acquired in 2014 by Sailing Capital and Chinese retail conglomerate Sanpower Group, has filed for bankruptcy again and will close its 102 retail stores located in shopping malls.
CVC invests $255m in China toll road operator
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to invest HK$2 billion ($255 million) in RKE International Holdings, a Chinese toll road operator and subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed property development and infrastructure conglomerate Road King Infrastructure (RKI).
Actis confirms $150m exit from China diagnostics business
Actis has confirmed that it made a full exit from Chinese in vitro diagnostics (IVD) business Beijing Chemclin Biotech, also known as Kemei Biotechnology, for $150 million.
BGH hires Blackstone Australia executive
BGH, the Australia and New Zealand-focused private equity firm set up by former TPG Capital Asia co-head Ben Gray, has hired Jonathan Chamberlain, a managing director at The Blackstone Group, as a partner.
India's PE-backed Muthoot files for IPO
Indian microfinance services provider Muthoot Microfin, part of the Muthoot Pappachan Group, has filed for an IPO that will provide a partial exit for several investors, including US private equity firm Creation Investments.
SE Asia's Grab raises $2b in Toyota-led funding round
Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing business Grab has raised $2 billion in its latest round of funding led by Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation and involving a number of other global investors.
Tech investment case study: True North and Seedworks
True North aimed to set Indian seed maker Seedworks apart from its competitors by leveraging digital technology. Two years into its investment the private equity firm is seeing its initiatives pay off
TPG leads $100m round for India's Five Star
TPG Capital has led a $100 million funding round for Five Star Business Finance, a non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in south India.
Accel, Sequoia lead $100m round for US, India-based Freshworks
Freshworks, a cloud business software developer based in India and the US, has raised a $100 million funding round led by Accel Partners and Sequoia Capital.
IDG, Accel, Kalaari lead $120m round for India's CureFit
IDG Ventures, Accel Partners, and Kalaari Capital have led a $120 million Series C round for CureFit, a health and fitness app developer based in India.
L Catterton's Sanjay Gujral rejoins Everstone as COO
Sanjay Gujral, a former executive director at Everstone Capital who left the firm to join the management team at L Catterton Asia, has returned to the GP to serve as COO.
TPG to buy Healthscope's Asia pathology assets for $206m
TPG Capital has agreed to acquire the Asia pathology assets of Australian hospital operator Healthscope for A$279 million ($206 million), giving it control of 39 pathology laboratories across Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Gaja invests $25m in India's Educational Initiatives
Gaja Capital has made a commitment of $25 million to Educational Initiatives (EI), an India-based developer of educational technology and assessment tools.
Singapore VC-backed hotel chain gains $15m strategic investment
Zen Rooms, a budget hotel operator and online booking platform based in Singapore, has raised a $15 million from Korean online-to-offline (O2O) local services platform Yanolja.
WeWork raises $500m for China unit
Trustbridge Partners, Temasek Holdings, SoftBank Group and the SoftBank Vision Fund, and Hony Capital have led a $500 million Series B round for the China branch of US-based co-working space operator WeWork.
Keppel Capital launches $147m Asia education sector fund
Keppel Capital, the asset management arm of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation, will launch an investment fund focused on education assets alongside Singapore-based preschool operator MindChamps.
Australia's Blue Sky confirms talks with Oaktree
Blue Sky Alternative Investments has confirmed it is in talks with special situations investor Oaktree Capital Management over a possible investment, as the Australian PE firm seeks to mollify investor concerns regarding possible liquidity issues.
TPG invests in India's Sai, Tata Capital exits
TPG Capital has acquired a significant minority stake in Indian drug developer and manufacturer Sai Life Sciences, providing a full exit for Tata Capital Growth Fund.
Square Peg leads $30m Series B for Indonesia's FinAccel
Square Peg Capital has led a $30 million Series B round for Indonesian financial technology start-up FinAccel to support its national and regional expansion.
China AI start-up DeePhi Tech sold to Xilinx
DeePhi Tech, a Beijing-based start-up focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with backing from several VC investors, has been acquired by US-based computer processor developer Xilinx.
Beyond named as partner for Hong Kong venture fund
Beyond Ventures has been named as a co-investment partner for the Innovation & Technology Venture Fund (ITVF), a vehicle launched by the Hong Kong government to encourage private investment in local technology start-ups.