Articles by Susannah Birkwood
CVCI backs Cox & Kings unit with $137m
Citigroup Venture Capital International (CVCI), the private equity arm of Citigroup, has channeled $137.75 million into the UK subsidiary of Indian travel operator Cox & Kings.
Walkers hires Thomas Granger to Singapore team
Offshore law firm Walkers is relocating Hong Kong-based partner Thomas Granger to its Singapore office. Granger has more than 10 years’ experience in corporate work, particularly investment funds and private equity.
KKR says it has no plans for India credit fund
KKR has talked down reports that it is preparing to raise an India-focused debt fund. While interested in pursuing India credit opportunities, the private equity firm currently has no plans to launch a specific vehicle in this space.
SCPE pumps $45m into Indian cryogenics firm
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has paid INR2.5 billion ($45 million) for a minority stake in Inox India, a major global manufacturer of cryogenic storage and transportation equipment.
Mekong exits toy maker Nam Hoa
Mekong Capital has completed the sale of its holding in Nam Hoa Production & Trading Corporation, a Vietnamese manufacturer of wooden toys for preschool children.
CIC, GIC boost RRJ-backed Cheniere's LNG plant with $1b
China Investment Corporation (CIC) and Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) are each said to have invested around $500 million in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant of US-based Cheniere Energy. This comes after Asia-focused private equity...
PE firms hedge their bets
Numerous private equity and hedge funds are pursuing alliances with one another in Asia. Could a multi-strategy approach be the golden strategy for the region’s investment environment?
KKR invests $30m in China apparel retailer Novo
KKR has invested $30 million in Novo, a fashion apparel retailer focused on the urban youth demographic in China.
Mercury Capital poaches Crescent investment director
Australian mid-market private equity firm Mercury Capital has reportedly hired Christopher Criddle, partner and investment director at rival firm Crescent Capital Partners.
Australia's QIC to pick up Swedish PE interests - report
Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) is reportedly set to buy almost 10% of a EUR1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) portfolio of private equity interests being sold by Swedish insurance group Länsförsäkringar.
KKR fund among AIFs to operate in India under new route
KKR’s India Alternate Credit Opportunities Fund is among seven alternative investment funds (AIFs) that have been approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Middletons and K&L Gates mull merger
Australian law firm Middletons is in discussions with global player K&L Gates about a potential merger. It would create a firm of more than 2,000 lawyers in 45 offices throughout Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, the Americas and Europe.
STIC-led group preferred bidder for Korean weapons manufacturer
A consortium formed by South Korean private equity firm STIC Investments and brokerage Hana Daetoo Securities has been selected as the preferred bidder for a stake in South Korea's LIG Nex1. The weapons manufacturer is offloading a 49% interest worth...
Adveq establishes third Asia office
Adveq has opened an office in Hong Kong, its third in the region. The move comes after the asset manager announced plans in January to increase its investment in China to RMB3.5 billion ($554 million) over the next two years.
Lok Capital ups stake in Ujjivan MFI, Bellwether exits
Lok Capital has reportedly upped its stake in India’s Ujjivan Microfinance by acquiring the 7% held by microfinance investor Bellwether. Another shareholder is set to exit its stake by the end of August.
Goldman sells Japanese contractor for $636m
Goldman Sachs has sold Japanese contractor Fujita Corp to local home builder Daiwa House Industry for JPY50 billion ($636 million), representing an exit from one of its longest investments in the country.
Quadrant and Ironbridge complete Australian retail buyout
Australian private equity groups Quadrant Private Equity and Ironbridge Capital have realized a buyout of specialized retail businesses Super A-Mart and Barbeques Galore.
Carlyle picks up 14% of Meinian Onehealth
Global private equity major The Carlyle Group has acquired a 13.5% stake in Meinian Onehealth Healthcare, the largest private provider of preventive healthcare check-up services in China.
Blackstone offers Chinese version of website
Visitors to global buyout giant The Blackstone Group’s website will now be able to access content in Chinese, as well as in English and Japanese.
SBI, Macquarie pump $150m into Ashoka Buildcon unit
Two private equity funds managed jointly by State Bank of India and Macquarie Bank of Australia have agreed to invest $150 million in the road construction division of Indian roads and bridges operator Ashoka Buildcon.
Oz law firm appoints PE expert
Australian law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth has hired private equity lawyer Philip Kapp to be a senior partner. Kapp claims to have been involved in almost every major Australian PE deal since 2000.
Shareholder revolt at Actis-backed Halonix - report
Shareholders at halogen bulb and lamp manufacturer Halonix have reportedly complained to India’s market regulators that the company has violated the country’s Foreign Exchange Management Act.
Armstrong announces first close of cleantech fund on $65m
Singapore-based clean energy investor Armstrong Asset Management has announced a first close on $65 million for its maiden fund, which will focus on clean energy projects across Southeast Asia.
PE-backed hiSoft merges with VanceInfo
hiSoft Technology International, a major China-based company backed by investors including Wellington Management, Crosslink Capital and HarbourVest Partners has merged with VanceInfo Technologies.