Articles by Andrew Woodman
Club Med battle ends with Fosun consortium victory
Shareholders in French vacation resort operator Club Méditerranée (Club Med) have accepted a EUR939 million ($1.1 billion) takeover offer from a consortium led by China's Fosun International, bringing the longest takeover battle in French history to its...
Actis invests $230m in Indian renewables platform
Emerging markets-focused UK GP Actis is investing $230 million to create an Indian renewable energy platform - Ostro Energy.
YJ Capital invests $3.4m in Japanese online laundry service
WhitePlus - the Japanese start-up behind an online laundry service called Lenet - has managed to raise JPY408 million ($3.4 million) from Yahoo! Japan's corporate investment arm, YJ Capital.
Profile: Lunar Capital's Derek Sulger
In 1999, Derek Sulger turned his back on a career with Goldman Sachs to start a company in China. Fifteen years on, having founded mid-market consumer buyout firm Lunar Capital, he has no regrets.
Australian biotech start-up raises $20m Series B round
Vaxxas, an Australian biotechnology start-up developing a novel vaccination platform, has raised a A$25 million ($20 million) Series B round of funding from a group of new and existing investors led by OneVentures.
Creador invests $16.2 m in India's Ashiana Housing
Southeast Asia and India-focused GP Creador has paid INR1 billion ($16.2 million) for a minority stake in Ashiana Housing, a publicly-listed Indian property developer.
INCJ to invest up to $27m in Japan DNA research start-up
The government-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) will invest up to JPY3.3 billion ($27 million) in Quantum Biosystem (QB), a VC-backed Japanese start-up that develops instruments used to automate the DNA sequencing process.
UK's Amadeus picks Bhavani Rana to lead new India office
UK tech-focused VC firm Amadeus Capital Partners hired Intel Capital's Bhavanipratap (Bhavani) Rana as partner and head of India operations as it opens a new office in Bangalore.
Lightbox leads $20m round for India QSR chain
Lightbox Ventures has led a $20 million Series B round of funding for Faaso's Food Service, a tech-enabled quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain based in India.
Japan's GPIF appoints new head of investment strategy
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has named Atsushi Ikari as director general of its investment strategy department, replacing Tokihiko Shimizu.
Japanese mobile games developer MyNet raises $6.2m
MyNet, a Japanese mobile games developer, has raised JPY730 million ($6.2 million) from a slew of investors including B Dash Ventures, SMBC Venture Capital, Shinsei Corporate Investment, and Sumitomo Mitsui Bank.
Indian optician raises $6.4m from AHF, Ventureast
Asia Healthcare Fund (AHF) and early-stage player Ventureast have together invested INR400 million in Eye Gear Optics India, the start-up behind optical retail chain Ben Franklin.
Q&A: Denham Capital's Bert Koth
For resources-focused GP Denham Capital, the commodities downturn has thrown up some interesting opportunities. Bert Koth, the firm’s Perth-based managing director, explains why his eye is now on Asia
Carlyle makes $248m takeover bid for Hitachi metals unit
The Carlyle Group has made a tender offer to acquire Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Hitachi Metals Techno, a second-tier subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Hitachi, for JPY29.3 billion ($248 million).
India venture debt: Innovation capital
Led by SVB India, venture debt providers are beginning to take root in India. Can this nascent asset class replicated its success in developed markets and become a viable option for domestic start-ups?
AIF sells India's Famy Care to US-listed Myland for $750m
AIF Capital has sold its stake in Famy Care, an Indian maker of female oral contraceptives, to US-based pharmaceutical firm Mylan Laboratories for $750 million plus contingent payments of up to $50 million.
Australia's EMR Capital raises $450m for mining fund
Australian resources-focused private equity firm EMR Capital has reached a final close of $450 million on its specialist mining fund, beating the $400 million target.
India's IL&FS reaches $40m first close on growth fund
India's IL&FS Investment Managers (IIML) - the PE unit of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services - has made a first close on its latest growth fund at $40 million.
Valiant leads $26m Series D for India's FirstCry
Valiant Capital Partners has led a $26 million Series D round for Brainbees Solutions, the Indian start-up behind babies and children-focused retailer FirstCry.com.
L Capital Asia exits India's PVR Leisure via share buyback
L Capital Asia has exited its stake in PVR Leisure, a unit of India multiplex operator PVR, via a share buyback arrangement with the parent.
Gobi, ABC lead $6m Series A for China's AutoBot
Gobi Partners and ABC Capital have led a $6 million Series A round for Chinese start-up AutoBot, which makes diagnostic tools for cars.
Clearwater makes partial exit from India's Oricon
Special situations investor Clearwater Capital Partners has made a partial exit from Mumbai-listed diversified company Oricon Enterprises, selling a 2.9% stake via an open market trade.
Lakeshore Capital invests $4.5m in Thailand steakhouse chain
Thailand-focused GP Lakeshore Capital Partners has invested $4.5 million in KT Restaurant, the Bangkok-based operator of mid-market steakhouse chain Santa Fe.
Japan's Integral to refinance bankrupt airline
Japanese GP Integral Corp. has agreed to refinance ailing domestic airline Skymark which filed for bankruptcy protection this week.