Articles by Andrew Woodman
Fidelity, Somerset back India's Cygnus Medicare
Fidelity Growth Partners and existing backer Somerset Indus CapitalFund have invested INR600 million ($9.7 million) in Cygnus Medicare, an Indian operator of specialty hospitals in Delhi and Haryana.
Warburg Pincus gets approval for $191m India jeweler deal – update
Warburg Pincus has won approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to purchase of a 24% stake in Kaylan Jewellers for $191 million.
Telstra, Global Brain lead $19m round for India's Adnear
India location-based mobile advertising platform Adnear has raised a $19 million Series B round of funding from Telstra Ventures, the Australian telecom giant's corporate venture capital arm, and Japanese VC Global Brain.
Reliance PE becomes Fairwinds, targets $300m fund
Reliance Equity Advisors, which spun out from its parent Reliance ADAG in July, has re-branded as Fairwinds Private Equity and launched a new $300 million fund.
JFDI.Asia launches fifth start-up batch
Singapore-based start-up accelerator JFDI.Asia has launched the fifth batch of its program which will include 12 new companies.
Navis agrees $220m sale of engineering business Trio
Southeast Asian GP Navis Capital Partners has exited Trio Engineered Products, a Chinese-American maker of industrial processing equipment to UK-listed engineering firm Weir Group for $220 million.
India's Snapdeal set for $650m funding round – report
Indian e-commerce business Snapdeal is expected to raise up to $650 million in a new round of funding lead by Japan's SoftBank Corporation with existing investors also participating.
India's Lightbox reaches $100m close on Fund II
Indian venture capital firm Lightbox Management has reached a INR6.1 billion ($100 million) close on its second fund.
Former Carlyle, TPG executives plan $500m India fund
Rajeev Gupta, formerly of The Carlyle Group, and Amol Jain, previously of TPG Capital, are launching a new PE fund that will focus on mid-market buyout opportunities in India.
CyberAgent, Mizuho back Japan venue rental marketplace
CyberAgent Ventures and Mizuho Capital have together invested JPY100 million (about $1 million) in SpaceMarket, a Japanese online platform that lists vacant spaces that users can rent for corporate events such as meetings and training courses.
Navis makes Modern Star education play
Just over a year ago, Navis Capital Partners bought Australian childcare services provider Guardian Early Learning from fellow PE investor Wolseley Private Equity for A$120 million ($110 million). The idea then was to anticipate the rise in the demand...
Bain serves up Skylark in Tokyo IPO
When Bain Capital bought Skylark in 2011, the restaurant operator was going through one the rougher patches of its 40-year history. A dysentery outbreak had forced the closure of 120 outlets, further delaying a transaction that had already been on hold...
Baring Asia reaches $3.2b first close on Fund VI
Baring Private Equity Asia has reached a $3.2 billion first close on its sixth pan-regional fund, exceeding its original target of $3 billion for the entire vehicle.
PayU acquires VC-backed Indian payments start-up
Online payment solutions provider PayU India has acquired Cobboc, the VC-backed start-up behind mobile payments app Eashmart.
Warburg Pincus leads $30m round for India's CarTrade
Warburg Pincus has led a INR1.85 million ($30 million) investment in Indian auto classifieds site CarTrade. Existing investors Canaan Partners and Tiger Global also took part.
India payments firm FSS raises $57m from Premji Invest
Premji invest - the family office of Wipro Enterprises chairman Azim Premji - has invested INR3.5 billion ($57 million) India payments firm FSS.
J-Star to exit healthcare firm HCM to Alshok Group
Japanese security firm Alshok Group has agreed to acquire Tokyo-based healthcare service provider HCM Corporation, paving an exit for mid-market GP J-Star.
Gree Ventures backs Japan marketing start-up
Japanese online marketing firm Somewrite has raised JPY100 million (about $1 million) from corporate venture capital arm Gree Ventures and other undisclosed investors.
Gaja reaches $130m first close on second India fund
Indian mid-market GP Gaja Capital has reached a $130 million first close on its second fund - Gaja Capital Fund II.
Japan's BrainWars app raises $2.8m in VC funding
East Ventures, Skyland Ventures, Genuine Startups and Line Ventures, the VC unit of messaging app firm Line Corp, have together invested JPY300 million ($2.8 million) in TransLimit, the Tokyo-based start-up behind social quiz app BrainWars.
India solar developer gets $33m from Kotak Mahindra, EIB funds
Kotak Mahindra Group and European Investment Bank Group (EIB) have together committed INR2 billion ($32.7 million) to India Solar Energy Firm SolarArise India Projects.
SAIF Partners invest $13m in Indian jewelry chain
SAIF Partners has invested INR800 million ($13 million) in Senco Gold, an Indian jewelry retail chain.
Shares in Bain-backed Skylark fall on Tokyo debut
Shares in Skylark, the Japanese restaurant operator backed by Bain Capital, fell by nearly 4.8% on the first day of trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) following a JPY75.1 billion ($686.2 million) IPO.
Navis acquires Australian early education business
Navis Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Modern Star, an Australian B2B distributor of education resources to early childhood centres and schools, for an undisclosed amount.