Articles by Andrew Woodman
VC firm launches $13.6m Anglo-Japanese agri fund
Japanese venture capital firm Tsukuba Technology Seed (TTS) has teamed up with the UK's Adapt Low Carbon Group to launch an Anglo-Japanese VC fund focusing on agricultural innovation.
Norwest backs Capillary retail solution
Buy anything online today and there is a good chance the seller not only knows what you bought, but who you are, where you are and what you like. E-commerce firms can now mine a wealth of information on their customers; traditional brick-and-mortar retailers,...
India's budget: Roadmap to recovery?
India’s recent Union Budget represents the opening salvo from a government that many in the business community hope will get the country moving again. The private equity industry is watching closely
India's ASK Pravi PE carves out Educomp test prep unit
ASK Pravi Capital Adivsors will acquire a 55.41% stake in engineering test preparation business Gateforum Education Services from Education company Educomp Solutions.
Ventureast invests $3.6m in India's Polygenta
Ventureast Fund Advisors has invested INR220 million ($3.6 million) in Indian polyester yarn maker Polygenta.
Coller's Mizuno joins GPIF investment committee
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has appointed Hiromichi Mizuno, a partner at secondaries specialist Coller Capital, to its investment committee.
Japan fish app start-up raises $4.5m
Hachimenroppi, a Japanese start-up that operates an IT-enabled fresh fish distribution platform, has secured JPY450 million ($4.4 million) in funding from Recruit Holdings, YJ Capital, DeNA, and Monex Ventures.
Orix-led consortium to buy Hyundai logistics unit
A consortium led by Japanese financial group Orix Corp. has agreed to acquire a majority stake in South Korea's Hyundai Logisitics.
Carlyle exits India's Repco Home Finance
The Carlyle Group has fully exited its stake in India's Repco Home Finance (RHF) for INR4.72 billion ($78.4 million) via an open market transaction.
Zoyi invests in Taiwan's Quaser Machine Tools
Greater China-focused mid-cap investor Zoyi Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in Quaser Machine Tools, a Taiwan-based machine tool manufacturer.
Tata fund invests $80m in Shriram Properties
Tata Opportunities Fund (TOF), the flagship vehicle of Tata Capital, has invested INR4.68 billion ($80 million) in South Indian real estate developer Shriram Properites.
Sequoia, Norwest commit $14m to India's Capillary Technologies
Existing backers Sequoia Capital and Norwest Venture Partners have contributed $14 million in Series B to Capillary Technologies, an Indian cloud-based retail customer relationship management (CRM) platform.
Distress fundraising: In credit?
Whether disillusioned by the returns from conventional private equity or seeking to diversify their exposure, LPs are more open to Asia credit strategies. The returns are there, provided you pick the right strategy.
WiL aims high with Japan's 'next Nintendo'
From Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. all the way through to Sony PlayStation’s Final Fantasy, there was a time when Japan ruled the gaming industry. Microsoft’s Xbox and recent Western successes such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto have dented this...
Tiger Global, Nirvana lead $5m Series B round for India's Zopper
Tiger Global Management and Nirvana Venture Advisors have led a $5 million Series B round of investment for Delhi-based Solvy Tech Solutions, which operates products review portal Zooper.com.
Global secondaries deal flow set to break record - Cogent
Global secondary transaction volume for 2014 is on course to break $30 billion for the first time after reaching $16 billion in the six months of 2014, according to secondary market-focused investment bank Cogent Partners.
Samara set for partial exit as Monte Carlo files for IPO
Monte Carlo Fashions - an Indian apparel brand backed by Samara Capital and promoted by the Nahar Group - has filed for a domestic IPO.
IFC targets up to $1b for emerging markets fund-of-funds
International Finance Corporation (IFC) wants to raise a $750 million to $1 billion for an emerging markets-focused fund-of-funds with a final close pegged for the end of this year or early 2015.
KDDI joins corporates to launch incubator
Japanese telecoms giant KDDI will partner with 13 other corporates to create a start-up incubator targeting internet-related businesses.
PE firms circle CHAMP-backed Lorna Jane - report
Bain Capital and Advent international are said to be among the potential buyers for Lorna Jane, an Australian women's fitness and leisure apparel company backed by CHAMP Ventures.
India announces $1.6b fund to support start-ups
The Indian government has pledged to support local start-ups by launching a INR100 billion ($1.6 billion) fund-of-funds.
PE-backed Universal Studios Japan targets IPO - report
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) - a theme park operator backed by Goldman Sachs, PAG, MBK Partners and US hedge fund Owl Creek - is looking to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
India's YourNest compiles start-up wish list ahead of budget
Indian angel fund Your Nest has put together a list of recommendations on how the government can support start-ups ahead of the 2014-2015 budget statement.
Everstone, Fidelity exit Transpole to Japan's SBS
Everstone Capital and Fidelity Growth Partners will exit Transpole Logisitcs as Japan's SBS Group agreed to acquire a majority stake in the Indian company for an undisclosed amount.