Articles by Susannah Birkwood
OPIC commits $135m to two Indian funds
Two Indian private equity funds - IndoSpace Logistics Parks II and BanyanTree Growth Capital II – have received an overall commitment of $135 million from Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).
Actis backs Chinese casual dining chain
Emerging markets private equity firm Actis has announced an investment in Chinese casual dining chain Bellagio.
Carlyle Japan in Walbro Engine Management SBO
The Carlyle Group has wholly acquired Walbro Engine Management, a US-based small engine parts manufacturer, from global investment firm Sun Capital Partners via a secondary buyout. The deal was structured through Carlyle Japan Partners II.
Indian realty GPs show their distress
India’s real estate industry is facing tough times amid rising debt costs and tighter credit access. But why are the private equity owners more distressed than the assets themselves?
Australian Super CEO hits out at PE fees
The chief executive of Australia’s largest industry superannuation fund has criticized the level of fees charged by private equity fund managers and argues that their compensation model needs to change.
Navis acquires Malaysia's BIG Cinemas
Navis Capital Partners has acquired a 100% stake in Malaysian exhibition business BIG Cinemas from film and entertainment services company Reliance MediaWorks (RMW).
LeapFrog buys 15% of India's Mahindra Insurance for $15m
LeapFrog Investments, a firm focusing on microinsurance for the world's poor, has bought a 15% stake in India’s Mahindra Insurance Brokers (MIBL), for INR804.1 million (nearly $15 million).
INCJ-led consortium may thwart KKR's Renesas pledge
Japanese state-sponsored fund Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ) has formed a consortium with several local companies, which is said to be mulling making an offer of more than JPY100 billion ($1.3 billion) for the unprofitable Tokyo-listed chipmaker,...
Australian PE firm participates in $1b Dubai oil driller deal
Australian GP CHAMP Private Equity has teamed up with its US affiliate Castle Harlan and Lime Rock Partners to invest around $1.05 billion in Dubai-based shallow water drilling services company Shelf Drilling.
Indian Angel Network backs Mexican restaurant
Indian Angel Network (IAN), Asia’s largest business angel investor network, has invested in Poncho, a Mumbai-based Mexican quick service restaurant.
MGPA acquires Australian property for $110m
MGPA, a private equity real estate investment firm, has acquired a property of retail and office spaces located in Sydney, Australia, for A$105.1 million ($110 million).
Blackpeak adds PE guru to board
Risk advisory firm Blackpeak Group has appointed private equity investor and advisor Göran L. Seifert to its board. Seifert previously served as a member of British PE firm 3i Group's non-executive director program in Asia.
Warburg Pincus sells extra 4.2% of Moser Baer
Warburg Pincus has offloaded almost half of its remaining shares in listed optical media products maker Moser Baer India through open market transactions, reportedly at a substantial loss.
NBC Capital reaps 20% IRR from Fenix Fitness
When it comes to assisting the growth of their portfolio companies, some PE firms are more hands-on than others. At the more pro-active end of the scale sit the likes of NBC Capital, which during its four-and-a-half-year ownership of local health club...
MGPA reaches first close on real estate fund
The latest fund being raised by MGPA marks a departure from the investment firm’s previous real estate vehicles. MGPA Asien Spezialfonds, which announced a first close on EUR85 million ($111 million) last week, represents the firm’s first so-called yield-focused...
Affinity launches $3.5b pan-Asia fund - report
Affinity Equity Partners is reportedly looking to raise up to $3.5 million for a new pan-regional vehicle. The firm – which was founded by former UBS Asia chairman KY Tang – has given MVision the mandate as placement agent.
Motilal Oswal PE invests in Indian realty project
Motilal Oswal Private Equity Advisors has teamed up with two real estate firms - Supreme Universal and the Mirchandani Group – to invest INR600 million ($11 million) in an Indian realty project.
Blackstone ups Financial Technologies stake to 6%
The Blackstone Group has increased its stake in financial services company Financial Technologies India to more than 6% through open market transactions.
Quay poaches Reed from Pantheon for US
Australian private equity fund-of-funds and advisory firm Quay Partners has hired Jeffrey Reed from Pantheon Ventures, the UK fund-of-funds, to help manage its US operations in San Francisco.
NBC Capital sells Fenix Fitness Clubs for $64m
NBC Capital has sold its Australian health club chain Fenix Fitness Clubs to Ardent Leisure Group for A$60.9 million ($64 million).
Goldman, Temasek to part-exit Bharti Infratel via $1b IPO
Goldman Sachs, Temasek and Nomura are among the investors planning to offload part of their shareholdings in the mobile phone tower unit of Bharti Infratel, the Indian telecoms infrastructure subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, which has filed for an IPO.
Star potential: Celebrities turn to VC
Chinese basketball star Yao Ming recently upped his involvement in private equity, prompting speculation that other Asian celebrities will follow suit. Can they be successful?
RRJ Capital invests $50m in Chinese biotech firm - source
RRJ Capital is said to have injected $50 million in Chinese biotech company Triplex Biosciences, taking an 11-19% stake in the company.
Jia Yuan Law Offices opens in Hong Kong
Chinese law firm Jia Yuan Law Offices has established an office in Hong Kong, where it has installed four lawyers, including partners Xu Ying and Sun Tao.