Articles by Andrew Woodman
Japan's Mercari raises $22m Series C round
Mercari, the Japanese start-up behind the mobile flea market app of the same name, has raised JPY2.36 billion ($21.8 million) in Series C funding from World Innovation Lab (WiL) and existing investors Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, GMO Venture...
Singtel Innov8's Bao Bean joins SOS Ventures
William Bao Bean, formerly managing director with corporate venture unit Singtel Innov8, has joined SOS Ventures as its investment partner in China.
GIC leads $150m round for US e-commerce start-up Square - report
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private is said to have led a $150 million Series E round investment in US e-payments start-up Square.
Family ties: Asian family offices as LPs
As wealth in Asia has grown, so has the number of family offices. As these investors become more institutionalized, what can they do for private equity and what can private equity do for them?
Blackstone, Embassy to acquire Four Seasons Bangalore
The Blackstone Group and Indian developer Embassy Property Developments have acquired a 73% stake in Bangalore-based project comprising the Four Seasons Hotel and a luxury home development from Goldman Sachs.
Jafco commits $4.6m in Japan footwear site Locondo
Jafco has invested JPY500 million ($4.6 million) in Japanese footwear e-commerce start-up Locondo in a Series C round of funding.
Marunouchi exits Japan supermarket chain to Lawson for $501m
Marunouchi Capital - the private equity arm of Mitsubishi Corp - has exited Japanese high-end supermarket chain Seijo Ishii to convenience store operator Lawson for JPY55 billion ($501 million) including debt.
Vista Equity acquires Indian-owned TIBCO in $4.3b take-private
Tech-focused GP Vista Equity Partners has agreed to buy TIBCO Software, the US-listed business software provider founded by Indian entrepreneur Vivek Ranadivé, in a deal worth $4.3 billion including debt.
Tata Capital to buy minority stake in Standard Greases
India's Tata Capital is to acquire a 17.36% stake in Mumbai-based Standard Greases & Specialities for an undisclosed sum.
Canaan's Khanna to launch India venture debt fund
Canaan Partners Managing Director Rahul Khanna is to launch a INR3 billion ($49 million) debt fund aimed at supporting early-stage and established technology ventures in India.
Profile: Advantage Partners' Richard Folsom
For the past 30 years Advantage Partners co-founder Richard Folsom has enjoyed a front-row seat on the inner workings Japan's corporate world - here he shares his insights.
Morningside bets on social network
"We currently have a large position in Apple. We believe the company to be extremely undervalued. Spoke to Tim Cook today. More to come." This 24-word Tweet, comprising just 111 characters, managed to push up Apple's value by $12 billion in less than...
Blackstone pins down China's Xinrong
Driven by an aging population, increasing health awareness and a rising middle class, China's medical device market is growing at a rapid pace. A recent report by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association reveals that since 2000...
Blackstone in China orthopedics play
The Blackstone Group has picked up a significant stake in Chinese medical devices company Xinrong Best Medical Instrument. Financial details were not disclosed but the deal is understood to be worth around $100 million.
Matrix invests in India's Red Monster
Matrix Partners India has invested an undisclosed sum in mobile game developer Red Monster Games.
Altos Ventures reaches $60m close on South Korea fund
Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Altos Ventures has reached a final close on its debut South Korea-focused fund at a hard cap of $60 million after eight months in the market.
Global Environment Fund backs India's Shakti Pumps
Global Environment Fund (GEF) has agreed to invest INR450 million ($7.4 million) in Indian submersible water pump manufacturer Shakti Pumps.
Japan learning platform Mana.bo raises $3m Series A round
Nissay Capital and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital have joined Japanese education firm Benesse in investing JPY330 million ($3 million) in online learning platform Mana.bo.
India Value Fund picks 10% stake in Biocon research unit
India Vaue Fund Advisors (IVFA) has bought a 10% stake in Syngene International, the research unit of Indian bio-pharmaceuticals firm Biocon, for INR3.8 billion ($62 million).
New Zealand's Shuttlerock raises $2.35m Series A
Shuttlerock, a New Zealand-based visual marketing software company, has raised $2.35 million in a Series A round of funding.
India's Quikr gets $60m from Tiger Global
Tiger Global Management has led a $60 million round of funding for in Indian online classifieds platform Quikr.
UK's Amadeus Capital to open India office
Amadeus Capital Partners, the UK-based technology venture capital firm, will open an office in India as it looks to invest up to $10 million in local start-ups.
KKR agrees $164.2m financing package for India's GMR Infra
KKR has agreed to invest INR10 billion ($164 million) in ailing Indian infrastructure conglomerate GMR Holdings (GMR), the parent of GMR Infrastructure (GIL), via a structured credit facility.
Temasek wins approval to buy Intas stake from ChrysCapital
Temasek Holdings has received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire a stake in Intas Pharmaceuticals from ChrysCapital Partners.