Articles by Mirzaan Jamwal
India Awards: Venture Capital Deal of the Year – Snapdeal
Having brought in eBay as a financial and a strategic partner for its Series C round, online marketplace Snapdeal continues to invest in its technology with one eye on profitability and ultimately a US IPO
India Awards: Fundraising of the Year – Kedaara Capital
In India's challenging fundraising environment, GPs – especially first-time fund managers – should expect the marketing process to be difficult and protracted. In 2013, LPs committed just $2.2 billion to domestic managers, down from $2.4 billion the previous...
Facebook buys VC-backed Little Eye Labs
Within 19 months of starting-up, Bangalore-based Little Eye Labs was snapped up by Facebook to take the social network’s mobile development to the next level. Little Eye Labs was also in talks with Twitter, but Facebook ended up offering a better deal....
Toshiba partners with IVFA-owned UEM Group
After expanding its water supply and treatment business into markets such as China and Indonesia, Toshiba Corporation went looking for a strategic partner in India. It zeroed in on UEM Group, one of the top three domestic players in the sector. UEM needed...
Canara Bank targets $81m for sixth India VC fund
Canbank Venture, a subsidiary of India’s Canara Bank, plans to start fundraising in April for its sixth VC fund, with a target of INR5 billion ($81.6 million).
Creador takes minority stake in India's Somany Ceramics
India and Southeast Asia-focused GP Creador will buy about 11% of listed tile and sanitary ware maker Somany Ceramics for INR499.9 million ($8.1 million).
KKR backs FIWA acquisition of CHAMP-owned Centric Wealth
KKR’s credit unit, KKR Asset Management, is partnering with Australia’s Financial Index Wealth Accountants (FIWA) in its takeover bid for CHAMP Private Equity-owned high net worth financial advisory Centric Wealth. KKR will provide acquisition funding...
Accel, Cisco invest $2m in MobStac Series B round
Bangalore-based start-up MobStac has raised $2 million in Series B funding from Cisco and existing investor Accel Partners.
KKR reaches $2b final close on special situations fund
KKR has reached a final close of $2 billion on its KKR Special Situations Fund (KSSF), double its original target of $1 billion. It will make distressed and event-driven investments in Europe, Asia and North America.
Indiareit raises $160m domestic property fund
Piramal Enterprises’ Indiareit Fund Advisors has reached a final close of INR10 billion ($160.5 million) on its fifth domestic fund.
Facebook buys VC-backed Indian start-up Little Eye Labs
Facebook has acquired Ventureast and GSF Superangels-backed start-up Little Eye Labs, reportedly paying around $15 million for the Android app optimizer.
Carlyle exits India's Tirumala Milk Products to trade buyer
French dairy group Groupe Lactalis has acquired Tirumala Milk Products for a reported sum of $250–300 million, allowing The Carlyle Group to exit its 26.38% holding in the South Indian dairy producer.
Blackstone passes $3b mark on Asia real estate fund
The Blackstone Group has received more than $3 billion in capital commitments for its first Asia real estate fund, which is targeting $4 billion.
Intel connects to car tech with SanJet
"The way things are evolving, there is more and more technology getting into the car - the functionality and electronics components are increasing," says Sudheer Kuppam, Intel Capital's managing director for Asia Pacific.
Aspada invests in Indian supply chain services firm
Aspada Investment invested INR100 million ($1.6 million) in ThinkLink Supply Chain Services, which provides skill development and staffing services as well as turnkey project management to companies in India’s logistics sector.
Top IDFC Securities analyst quits to launch India VC fund
Nikhil Vora, IDFC Securities' managing director, has quit the firm to launch an early-stage venture capital fund focused on the consumer sector.
Digital Garage leads Series A for Indonesia babycare site
Indonesian online babycare retailer Bilna.com has raised a new round of funding led by Digital Garage Incubation, with participation from Golden Gate Ventures, Japanese animation studios TMS Entertainment and existing investors Cyber Agent Ventures and...
Future Ventures fashion spin-out buys 27.50% stake in Desi Belle
Future Lifestyle Fashions (FLF), the listed fashion retail unit that spun out of India’s Future Ventures, has acquired a 27.50% stake in the company behind the Desi Belle womenswear label.
Multiples takes minority stake in India denim maker Arvind
Multiples Alternative Asset Management has taken around 3.8% stake in listed textile manufacturer Arvind for INR1.48 billion ($24 million), buying 9.95 million shares through bulk deals on the open market.
Australia's Anacacia backs Yumi's Quality Foods
Anacacia Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in Australian snacks company Yumi's Quality Foods.
Cargill's Black River ups stake in Philippines' AgriNurture
Black River Asset Management, the private equity unit of US agribusiness giant Cargill, has increased its stake in listed food processing and export company AgriNurture (ANI).
MGPA exits Westin Singapore hotel for $369m
BlackRock-owned real estate investor MGPA has sold its stake in The Westin Singapore hotel to Japan’s Daisho Group for a reported S$468 million ($369 million).
Quadria-led consortium buys majority stake in Indian hospital chain
Quadria Capital, German development finance institution DEG and Swedfund have acquired a majority stake in Medica Synergie from ICICI Venture.
Blackstone exits Emcure Pharma to Bain
The Blackstone Group will exit its 2006 investment in India’s Emcure Pharmaceuticals to Bain Capital. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but it is reportedly worth INR7 billion ($112.8 million)