Articles by Andrew Woodman
Japan's Livesense buys VC-backed e-commerce start-up
Livesense - a Japanese internet company known for its flagship career search site Jobsense - has acquired a 71.7% stake in VC-backed e-commerce start-up Waja for JPY400 million ($3.3 million).
Portfolio: CHAMP Private Equity and Accolade
For a long time the UK and Australia operations of US wine giant Constellation Brands had been a drain on the parent company. Nevertheless, CHAMP Private Equity saw the potential for a category leader
VC-backed Gunosy files for Tokyo IPO
Gunosy - a Japanese news app developer backed by the venture capital firm Jafco, telecoms company KDDI Corp. and B Dash Ventures - has filed for a Tokyo IPO.
INCJ consortium invests $21m in Japan stem cell start-up
Megakaryon, a Japan-based stem cell technology developer, has raised JPY2.54 billion ($21.2 million) from a consortium of investors including existing backers Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, SMBC Venture Capital...
Malaysia's Ekuinas buys mobile payments firm, school chain
Ekuinas, the Malaysian government-backed private equity investor, has acquired two companies - mobile payment platform Tranglo and private school chain Tenby Educare - for a total MYR124 million($33.8 million).
Weil recruits HK PE partner from Latham
Law firm Weil has hired Tim Gardner, formerly a private equity partner at Latham & Watkins, to join its Hong Kong office.
Bain to acquire Japan Wind Development for $80 million
Bain Capital Partners is set to acquire Japan Wind Development (JWD) - a leading Japanese wind farm developer - in a JPY9.7 billion ($80 million) take-private transaction.
PE investors commit $96m to Indian microfinance player
A consortium of private equity firms, including CX Partners, CDC Group, NewQuest Capital Partners and Bajaj Holdings, have invested INR6 billion ($96.2 million) in Indian microfinance institution (MFI) Ujjivan Financial Services.
India's Trifecta secures RBL as anchor, raises target to $64m
Trifecta Capital, the venture debt firm set up former Canaan Partners Managing Director Rahul Khanna, has secured a INR500 million ($8 million) anchor investment from RBL Bank for its debut fund, and set a new target of INR4 billion.
ChrysCapital invests $8.4m in South Indian Bank
ChrysCapital Partners has paid INR527.8 million (about $8.4 million) for a stake in listed lender South Indian Bank (SIB).
INCJ invests in Japan laser manufacturer Spectronix
The government-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has agreed to invest up to JPY500 million ($4.2 million) in laser manufacturer Spectronix.
VC-backed Snapdeal buys stake in logistics platform
Jasper Infotech, the VC-backed enterprise behind Indian online marketplace Snapdeal, has bought a 20% stake in QuickDel Logistics, operator of e-commerce logistics platform Gojavas.
Kedaara invests $32m in Indian packaging firm
Kedaara Capital has invested INR2 billion ($31.8 million) in India's Parkson Packaging - a maker of printing and laminated packaging cartons backed by ChrysCapital - in return for an undisclosed stake.
Australia's VentureCrowd partners with Sydney Angels
VentureCrowd - an Australian equity crowdfunding platform - has formed a partnership with angel investor group Sydney Angels in order to allow start-ups to tap new sources of capital.
Indonesia start-ups: Growth inflection
Indonesia has relatively incubators, angels and entrepreneurs with businesses of investible quality. Does the recent large investment in Tokopedia suggest the start-up ecosystem is now coming of age?
India Value Fund commits $50m to taxi firm Meru
India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA) has injected a fresh $50 million in radio taxi service Meru Cab, and is understood to be in talks to invest an additional $100 million in the next two months.
Carlyle India executive quits to raise mid-market fund - report
Mahesh Parasuraman, managing director with the Carlyle Group in India, is said to be leaving the firm to launch a fund with Sunil Vasudevan, a former partner with India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA).
Mizuho Capital raises $170m for third mezzanine fund
Mizuho Capital Partners has launched its third fund focused on small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with initial commitments of JPY20.6 billion ($170 million).
Japanese restaurant app Retty raises $8.2m
Fidelity Growth Partners Japan has led a JPY1 billion ($8.24 million) Series C investment in Retty, a Japanese social restaurant guide. Existing investors also took part.
Japan's Rakuten leads $530m Series E round for Lyft
Japanese e-commerce player Rakuten has led a $530 million Series E round of funding for US ride sharing app Lyft - valuing the business at $2.5 billion. Fortress Investment Group also participated.
CNEI commits $8.5m to China waste treatment firm
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has invested $8.5 million in Chenzhou Yangtao Chemical, a Chinese mining waste treatment firm.
South Korea's Memebox raises $17.5m from VCs
Beauty-focused e-commerce start-up Memebox has raised a $17.5 million Series B round of funding from a consortium of VC backers.
Indonesia's IndoTrading receives $1.5m in Series A funding
Indonesian e-commerce portal IndoTrading has raised $1.5 million in a Series A round of funding led by OPT SEA, the Southeast Asian investment arm of Japanese e-marketing firm OPT.
Bain Capital targets $2.5b for third Asia fund
Bain Capital is preparing to launch its third Asian fund with a target of $2.5 billion and a hard cap of $3 billion.