Articles by Andrew Woodman
Wakabayashi Fund invests in MIT Holding
Wakabayashi Fund, a private equity firm based in Tokyo and New York, has invested in US healthcare firm MIT Holdings. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Canaan leads $5.6m round for India's SureWaves
Canaan Partners has led a INR350 million ($5.6 million) round of funding for SureWaves MediaTech, an Indian TV advertising platform operating out of Bangalore. Existing backers Accel Partners India and India Innovation Fund (IIF) also participated.
PE investors rue lost Japan carve-out opportunities
The lack of corporate carve-outs relative to the size of the opportunity in the space has been among the biggest disappointments for Japanese private equity, investors say.
Contrarians bullish on India investment opportunities
Private equity players are upbeat on investment prospects in India, arguing that those looking to commit capital now will benefit when the country's weak economy eventually rebounds.
Big brother: Japan's government LPs
The government is becoming an increasingly significant LP in Japanese private equity funds. Smaller GPs can’t live without it but there are wider concerns about sustainability and long-term economic impact
Sequoia leads $13m investment in India's BankBazaar.com
Sequoia Capital has led a $13 million round of investment in Indian financial services portal BankBazaar.com. Walden International, which invested $6 million in the company in 2011, also participated in the round.
Cloud billing platform ChargeBee gets Series A backing from Accel
Accel Partners has led an $800,000 Series A round of investment in ChargeBee, an Indian start-up that helps companies manage their subscription billings.
Japan and India to launch joint investment fund
Japan and India are to launch a joint investment fund to help finance Japanese companies operating in India.
Platinum buys Australia directories business Sensis
US private equity firm Platinum Equity has reached an agreement with Telstra Corporation, Australia's biggest phone company, to acquire a 70% stake in its directories business Sensis for A$454 million ($407.17 million).
Fosun pays $1.36b to buy Portugese insurer Caixa
China's Fosun International has acquired an 80% stake in Caixa Seguros e Saúde (CSS), the insurance unit of Portugese state bank Caixa Geral de Depositos SA for EUR1 billion ($1.36 billion), beating out Apollo Management International.
Apollo holds $18.4b final close on global Fund VIII
Apollo Global Management has held a final close on its flagship global fund - Apollo Investment Fund VIII - at $18.4 billion, the largest of its kind since the global financial crisis.
Adveq appoints new Asia head
Swiss fund-of-funds Adveq has promoted Viswanathan Parameswar to executive director and chosen him to head the firm's Asia program.
India's Milestone Capital gets new real estate CEO
India's Milestone Capital Advisors has named Alok Aggarwal as managing partner and chief executive officer of its real estate business.
Asian Healthcare Fund leads Series B for Forus Health
Asian Healthcare Fund (AHF) has led a INR500 million ($8 million) Series B round of investment in Forus Health, a Bangalore-based firm that develops affordable medical technology for eye treatment.
JAIC spin out WM Partners reaches first close on maiden secondaries fund
WM Partners, a venture capital secondaries fund launched last year by former JAIC CEO Moriyoshi Matsumoto, has reached a first close on its JPY5.25 billion ($50.1 million) first fund.
BVCF leads $7.5m Series A for Quark Pharma China JV
China-focused life sciences and healthcare investor BVCF has led a RMB45 million ($7.5 million) Series A round of funding for Kunshan RiboQuark Pharmaceutical Technology, a joint venture established by Quark Pharmaceuticals and Suzhou Ribo Life Science....
Japan IPOs: Rising sun
On the back of a cautious economic recovery Japan witnessed a boom in IPOs in 2013 as a host of venture capital-backed companies went public. How long will the good times last?
IVFA to exit UEM India as Toshiba buys 26% stake - report
Japanese electronics giant Toshiba Corp. is looking acquire a 26% stake in Indian water treatment specialist UEM Group from existing shareholders, including private equity investor India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA).
Vietnam restaurant chain receives $3.5m in funding
Huy Vietnam Group, Vietnam’s largest restaurant chain, has secured another $3.3 million in funding from institutional and high net worth investors from China and Singapore.
South Korea orders KT Corp to buy back satellite from Permira-owned ABS
The South Korean government has ordered telecom operator KT Corp. to buy back a satellite it sold to Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS), a Hong Kong-based company owned by Permira.
AIG to sell India real estate business to Brookfield - report
AIG Global Real Estate has reportedly agreed to sell its India asset management business to Canada's Brookfield Asset Management. The financial terms of the transaction, which is likely to be completed by the end of this month, are not known.
INCJ joins Japanese companies to form $300m start-up fund
The Innovation Corporation Network of Japan (INCJ) has joined a consortium of 10 Japanese companies to set up a $300 million start-up fund to be managed by Silicon Valley-based venture firm WiL.
Nissay, SMBC, Incubate invest $1m Japan budget app
Nissay Capital, SMBC Venture Capital and Incubate Fund have together invested JPY100 million ($955,000) in BearTail, the Japanese start-up behind the cloud-based household accounting app Dr. Wallet.
Dream Incubator leads $2m round for Japan mobile video network
Dream Incubator has led a $2 million round of investment for Breaker, a Japanese start-up that distributes mobile video content. Seimer Ventures also took part in the round alongside an number of undisclosed investors.