Articles by Andrew Woodman
Crystal ball: Predictions for 2014
From fundraising and secondaries to deal flow and exit strategies, private equity professionals from across the region give their perspective on the year to come
Actis raises $1.15b for global energy fund
Actis has closed its third global energy fund - Actis Energy 3 - at $1.15 million, exceeding its original $750 million target by 50%.
Australian taxi app Ingogo gets new funding, eyes listing
Ingogo, the Australian start-up behind the mobile taxi-booking app of the same name, has raised a A$3.4 million ($3.1 million) from a group of PE investors ahead of a listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) next year.
Matrix Partners India backs TechMed
Matrix Partners India has invested in TechMed, a hospital lab management (HLM) pathology chain, picking up a significant minority stake. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Japan's VC-backed Oncolys Pharma raises $64m in Tokyo IPO
Oncolys Pharma, a VC-backed developer of drugs targeting cancer and serious infectious diseases, saw its stock open at JPY3,500 per share - a 34.6% premium on the offering price - on its first day of trading in Tokyo. This followed a JPY6.6 billion ($64.4...
Horizon Ventures leads $15.2m Series B for Misfit Wearables
Hong Kong-based Horizon Ventures has led a $15.2 million Series B round for Misfit Wearables, the US start-up behind the physical activity monitor Shine. Existing investors – which include Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, OATV,...
Tokio Marine to launch $294m mezz fund
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance is to launch a new mezzanine fund with a target of JPY 30 billion ($294 million).
Baring Asia adds leverage to Hexaware acquisition
HT Global IT Solutions Holdings, an affiliate of Baring Asia, has pledged its entire stake in Indian business processing outsourcing (BPO) firm Hexaware Technologies with Standard Chartered Bank to help pay for its acquisition.
BootstrapLabs launches Korea accelerator
Silicon Valley-based accelerator program BootstrapLabs, and Coolidge Corner Investment (CCVC), a Korean technology venture firm, have together formed BootstrapAccelerator Korea, a Seoul-based six-month accelerator program.
PE-backed Nine raises $577m in Australia IPO
Australia's Nine Entertainment - which was saved from receivership by US hedge fund backers Oaktree Capital Group and Apollo Global Management - has raised A$631 million ($576.45 million) after pricing its IPO at the bottom end of the indicative range....
Jafco Asia leads Series B round for US games developer
Japanese venture capital investor Jafco Asia has led a Series B round of funding for US games developer Playnery. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
Tokio Marine sells Barneys Japan stake to 7 Eleven parent
Tokio Marine Capital Partners has agreed to sell its 49.9% stake in luxury department store operator Barneys Japan to Seven & i Holdings, the parent of 7 Eleven convenience stores and department store operator Sogo & Seibu, for around JPY6 billion ($58...
Japan's Ride On Express raises $23m in Tokyo IPO
Ride On Express, a Japanese food delivery franchise operator backed by Jafco Ventures, saw its stock open at JPY3105 per share - a 55% premium on the offering price - on its first day of trading. The company earlier raised JPY2.3 billion ($22 million)...
SDCL launches $200m UK-China energy efficiency fund
UK-based Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) has teamed up with with Hong Kong private equity infrastructure firm First Eastern Investment Group to launch a $200 million fund that will invest in energy efficiency projects in the UK and China.
TVS adds to investment team, advisory board
TVS Capital has added to its senior management team by hiring Karthik Ranganathan, formerly of Baring Private Equity Partners India and ex-Ashmore Alchemy India investments director Rahul Deshpande. Both will join the firm's investment team as executive...
Kroll in tie-up with India's BMR
Global advisory firm Kroll has formed an alliance with India's BMR Advisors to offer investigative and due diligence services in the country.
Portfolio: EQT Partners and Japan Home Centre
In 2010 Japan Home Centre was already a successful domestic brand but to realize its IPO ambitions it needed the right partner to guide it through a period of rapid expansion – EQT Partners
The secondary network: Online platforms
Setter Capital’s Secondary Link is the latest online platform intended to fill the information void in the secondaries market. Industry participants have mixed feelings as to its utility
Advantage to exit Japan's Nissen for $22.8 million
Advantage Partners, the Japanese mid-market buyout firm, is to exit its stake in catalogue and web-based retailer Nissen Holdings to Seven & i Holdings, the Japanese parent of 7-Eleven and the Ito Yakado supermarket chain, for JPY2.36 billion ($22.8 million)....
Itochu, Mizuho back Japan restaurant finder app
Itochu Ventures and Mizuho Capital have led a JPY330 million ($3.2 million) Series B round of funding for Retty, the Japanese start-up behind the restaurant app of the same name.
PE firms bid for CVCI-owned BPO firm SourceHOV - report
Apax Partners, The Carlyle Group and Baring Private Equity Asia are said to be among bidders for SourceHOV, a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm jointly owned by Citigroup Venture Capital International (CVCI) and Mumbai-listed HOV Services.
L Capital acquire 40% of 2XU, Lazard sees 2x multiple
L Capital, the private equity firm backed by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, has acquired a 40% stake of 2XU, an Australian sports apparel brand, for a reported A$75 million ($68.3 million). The transaction represents a partial exit for previous backers...
Archer consortium scraps bid for NZ's Abano Healthcare
A consortium of investors including Archer Capital has scrapped its bid for New Zealand's Abano Healthcare Group. The group, which also featured Healthcare Industry Limited (HIL) and Steamboat Capital, cited a downgrade in the company's forecast profit...
IvyCap leads $5m round for India's Aujas Networks
IvyCap Ventures has led a INR310 million ($5 million) round of funding for Aujas Networks, an information risk management (IRM) service provider. Existing investor IDG Ventures India, along with new entrant Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund (RVCF), also...