Articles by Andrew Woodman
Polaris acquires Japan massage salon operator
Japan's Polaris Capital has acquired massage salon chain Factory Japan Group (FJG) for an undisclosed sum. The investment was made via Polaris Private Equity Fund III.
Nordic Capital backs Chinese maker of child car seats
European GP Nordic Capital has acquired Max-Inf, a Chinese manufacturer of children's car seats, to complement its existing portfolio investment in UK child safety products firm Britax.
Hong Kong's GoGovan gets $10m Series B round
Hong Kong app-enabled logistics start-up GoGoVan has raised $10 million in Series B round of funding. Investors in the round included Hu Zemin, the former CEO of Android app store 91 Wireless, and social media firm RenRen.
Malaysia unveils six equity crowdfunding platforms
The Securities Commission of Malaysia (SC) has announced six registered crowd equity platforms that will be allowed to raise capital for small businesses and start-ups.
MC-Seamax closes maiden shipping fund at $300m
MC-Seamax Managagement, the US-based GP backed by Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi, has reached a $300 million close on its maiden fund intended to take advantage of depressed prices in the global shipping industry.
Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui backs GMO Payment
Japan's GMO Internet - which runs its own early-stage investment unit, GMO Venture Partners - has raised JPY8 billion ($65 million) from Sumitomo Mitsui to develop e-commerce payment solution GMO Payment Gateway (GPG).
Quadria closes maiden healthcare fund at $304m
Quadria Capital, the Singapore and India-based private equity firm, has reached a final close on its maiden healthcare fund at $304 million.
Japan ministries approve $80m for Osaka University VC fund
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI), and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology (MEXT) have approved a JPY10 billion ($80 million) investment by Osaka University into its recently launched venture capital arm....
Deal focus: Aspada backs India's agri-tech 'Uber'
Indian agriculture is woefully inefficient. This is in part due to the extreme fragmentation of land ownership; the UN estimates the average farm holding is 1.6 hectares, or just larger than two football pitches. As a result, the nation’s food producers...
Deal focus: Advantage rings up TeleGuam return
Ties between Japan and the US territory of Guam go back a long way. Much of this is do with their relatively proximity, and the fact Japan held the island during the Second World War. But visitors coming from Japan are much more welcome today. Guam is...
Australia's Future Fund leads $40m round for India solar firm
Australia's Future Fund has led a $40 million investment in Indian Solar power company Applied Solar Technologies (AST). Existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), Capricorn Investment Group and the International Finance Corp. (IFC) also participated....
Hong Kong's Nest forms accelerator with Nissan
Infiniti, the luxury car unit of Japanese automaker Nissan, has teamed up with Hong Kong-based incubator Nest to launch a platform that will support start-ups developing smart city solutions.
China bus Wi-Fi network raises $11.5 Series A round
Baidu has led a $11.5 million Series A round investment in Qianhai Mobile, a unit of digital outdoor advertising firm Vision China Media, which operates Wi-Fi networks for bus routes.
Australian former mining boss to launch resources fund
Hugh Morgan, the former chief executive of Australia's Western Mining Corporation, is looking to launch a new resources-focused fund.
L Capital-owned Ku De Ta to re-brand as Ce La Vi
Ku Dé Ta Group, the Singapore luxury restaurant and club chain controlled by L Capital Asia, has has re-branded as Ce La Vi after losing a legal battle over naming rights.
Fidelity leads round for India healthcare start-up Medwell
Fidelity Growth Partners India (FGPI) and affiliated US fund Fidelity Biosciences have invested $10 million in Medwell Ventures, operator of Nightingales specialty home healthcare services.
Tembusu backs Singapore energy efficiency business
Singapore-based GP Tembusu Partners has invested in local energy efficiency services start-up Barghest Building Performance (BBP), providing a "seven-figure" mezzanine commitment.
J-Star backs Japan medical insurer
Japanese mid-market GP J-Star has invested an undisclosed sum in Nihon Hoken Service (NHS), a Tokyo-based insurance agency and insurance solicitation business.
Corporate VC: Pleasing the parent
Companies want to keep tabs on technological innovation in order to stay relevant in their industries by nurturing Asia’s tech start-ups. However, there is no uniform approach to corporate venture capital
India's Veeba Foods raises $6m from Saama Capital
Saama Capital has led a $6 million round for Indian specialty food ingredients maker Veeba Food Services. Existing investor DSG Consumer Partners also took part.
Aspada commits $3.3m to India agri-tech business
Asapada Investment - an India-based investor backed by the Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF) - has injected INR200 million ($3.3 million) into Dehli-based EM3 AgriServices.
Advantage exits GTA TeleGuam to Indonesian trade buyer
Japan's Advantage Partners has exited GTA TeleGuam - the former state-owned telephone company based on the island of Guam - to Telkom Indonesia. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.
CyberAgent Ventures launches $50m Southeast Asia fund
Japan's CyberAgent Ventures (CAV) - the corporate venture arm of the eponymous Japanese internet firm - has launched a $50 million fund focusing on Southeast Asia start-ups.
China luxury e-commerce site gets $30m Series C round
Pacific Venture Partners has led a $30 million Series C round of funding for Xiu.com, a China-based luxury brand e-commerce platform.