Articles by Andrew Woodman
South Korea's NPS commits $375m to Hamilton Lane co-invest fund
South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS) is committing KRW400 billion ($375 million) to Hamilton Lane's latest co-investment fund - Hamilton Lane Co-Investment Fund III.
KKR-backed Rundong Auto IPO prices at bottom of range
Rundong Auto Group, a Chinese car dealership chain backed by KKR, has raised $124 million in its Hong Kong IPO, after pricing the offering at the bottom end of the indicative range.
China Life to buy $250m TPG stake - report
China Life - the world's third largest insurer - is to acquire a stake in TPG Capital for $250 million.
India's Skymet raises $4.5m Series B round
Skymet Weather Services, an Indian provider of weather forecast solutions for the agricultural sector, has raised $4.5 million Series B round of funding led by dmg::information Asia Pacific, a unit of UK media group Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT)....
Xander Group invests $65m in India realty firm Supertech
The Xander Group has invested INR4 billion ($65 million) in India realty firm Supertech to finance township and housing projects in Gurgaon in North India.
Natixis Global forms private equity division
Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM) - a unit of the French investment bank Natixis - has established a private equity division to offer its investors a single point of access to six of its affiliate GPs.
DRC Capital launches Fund III, holds $25m first close
Japanese mid-market buyout shop DRC Capital has launched its third buyout fund - Japanese Limited Partnership DRC III - quickly followed by an initial close of JPY2.5 billion ($25 million).
CVC to sell down another stake in Indonesia's Matahari - report
CVC Capital Partners is expected to raise as much as $300m as it further cuts its stake in Indonesian retailer Matahari Department Store.
SingTel Innov8 leads $25m Series B round for Bitglass
SingTel Innov8, the corporate venture arm of Singapore telecoms giant SingTel, has led a $25 million Series B round of investment for US-based Bitglass, a provider of mobile cloud security solutions. Norwest Venture Partners and New Enterprise Associates...
Cooley adds fund formation lawyer to Shanghai office
Pang Lee has joined law firm Cooley as a partner in its Shanghai office. He previously was counsel in the asset management group of Shearman & Sterling's Hong Kong office.
China pork giant WH Group gains 10.6% on HK debut
Shares in WH Group, the Chinese pork producer backed by investors such as CDH Investments and Goldman Sachs, gained as much as 10.6% on its first day trading today after the company raised HK$15.3 billion ($2 billion) on its second attempted IPO.
ADB, Orix, Robeco form $400m Asia climate-change fund
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan's ORIX Corp. and Netherland-based Robeco Institutional Asset Management have together formed a private equity fund that will focus on investments in climate-friendly industries such as cleantech and renewable energy....
Partners Group acquires 12% of Venator's China RE fund
Partners Group has acquired a 12% stake in Trophy Property Development (TPD), a $1 billion China-focused property development fund managed by Venator Real Estate Capital. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Singapore's GIC sees increase in PE exposure in 2014
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private has upped its exposure to private equity alongside bonds and emerging market equities for the year ended March, 2014, according its annual report.
Thai fashion e-commerce site raises $1.5m Series A round
Digital Media Partners has led a $1.5 million Series A of investment for Thai fashion e-commerce start-up WearYouWant. IMG Investment Partners and Japanese e-marketing firm OPT SEA also took part in the round.
KKR, Rhône make renewed $3.15b offer for Australia wine-maker
KKR, together with Rhône Capital, has made a revised A$3.37 billion ($3.15 billion) offer to acquire Australia Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed Treasury Wine Estates.
IDG leads $100m Series B round for China online grocery
IDG Capital has led a $100 million Series B round of investment for Chinese online grocery store Womai.com. Existing investor SAIF Partners also participated.
Japan's REVIC invests $10m in restaurant chain
The Regional Vitalization Corporation of Japan (REVIC) has invested JPY1 billion ($10 million) in Tokyo-listed restaurant chain Friendly.
Hong Kong's 8 Securities raises $9m Series B
Hong Kong-based stock trading and financial management platform 8 Securities has raised a $9 million Series B round of funding. The round included unnamed US and Chinese investors and existing backers Velocity Capital and Leitmotiv Private Equity.
Japan VCs invest $3m in Tokyo tech boot camp
Life is Tech, a Tokyo-based IT boot camp program for elementary and junior high school students, has raised JPY310 million (about $3 million) from Japanese investors Jafco, Mistletoe, KCJ Group, DeNA and Recruit Holdings.
China's Le Gaga agrees Sequoia-backed take-private
Chinese greenhouse vegetable producer Le Gaga has agreed to be taken private by a consortium including Sequoia Capital, hedge fund Yiheng Capital and the NASDAQ-listed company's chairman and CEO. The deal values the company at around $185 million.
INCJ to form LED business with Japan Display, corporates
The government-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) is forming a new company with Japan Display, Sony Corp. and Panasonic. The new company will be engaged in the development and commercialization of organic light-emitting diode (OLED)...
US game firm Kabam attracts $120m from Alibaba
China e-commrce giant Alibaba Group is investing $120 million in US venture capital-backed gaming company Kabam. The investment is understood to value the company at over $1 billion.
Qualcomm backs India's Portea Medical
Qualcomm Ventures, the venture investment unit of US chip-maker Qualcomm, has invested in India's Portea Medical, a provider of in-home healthcare services. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.