Articles by Andrew Woodman
Intel Capital commits $16m to Asia e-commerce
Intel Capital, the VC arm of Intel Corp, has invested a total of $16 million in Asia e-commerce, backing India's Snapdeal.com and Bright Lifecare, while upping its stake in Singapore's Reebonz.com. It did not disclose the size of individual commitments....
IFC to lend $70m for Everbright Chinese water project
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, will lend $70 million to China Everbright International to build three water plants in China.
Clearstone-backed Games2Win acquires Indian start-up
Games2Win, an Indian online gaming business backed by Clearstone Ventures, has acquired Backyard Game FactoRy (BGF) - a New Dehli-based game developer.
JAIC, CyberAgent-backed dating site in Taiwan IPO
Sunfun Info, an online dating platform backed by Japan Asia Investment (JAIC) and CyberAgent Ventures, has debuted on the Taiwan over-the-counter Gre Tai Securities Market.
Japan government begins shake up of pension investments
The Japanese government will begin its overhaul of public pension investment strategies, potentially paving a way for more commitments to the private equity. The review will cover investment strategies, risk management, and measures to increase returns...
TEL Venture Capital invests in MIOX Corporation
TEL Venture Capital, the investment arm of Japanese semiconductor maker Tokyo Electron, has invested in US water technology company MOIX Corp. The details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Shinsei Bank backs Series B for Japan's Smart Education
Shinsei Corporate Investment (SCI), a unit of Japan's Shinsei Bank, has committed JPY75.3 million ($748,000) to educational smartphone app developer Smart Education. This brings the start-up's Series B round to a total of JPY350 million.
KDDI, Yahoo, CyberAgent invest $3m in online language service
KDDI Open Innovation Fund, CyberAgent Ventures and YJ Capital - the investment arm of Yahoo Japan - have taken part in JPY330 million ($3.2 million) round of funding for RareJob, an English-language learning website.
AIFMD: Brussels flexes it muscles
Europe’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), which comes into effect in July, will change the way private equity funds are marketed to EU investors. What does it means for Asian GPs?
INCJ-backed Seajacks sets up Japan wind farm unit
Seajacks International, a UK-based offshore energy services provider owned by Japan's Marubeni Corp. and government-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), has launched its first Asian subsidiary - Seajacks Japan.
PE-backed TVS Logistics makes second bolt-on this year
TVS Logistics, an Indian supply chain manager backed by KKR and Goldman Sachs, has acquired US-based Wainwright Industries for INR500 million ($8.8 million).
Cerberus raises Seibu stake, falls short of target
Cerberus Capital Management has raised its stake in Japan's Seibu Holdings to 35.48%, giving it enough control to block resolutions by management. However, the New York-headquartered firm fell short of its goal of buying 44.7% of the Japanese rail and...
500 Startups to launch Southeast Asia fund
The founder of Silicon Valley early-stage investor 500 Startups, David McClure, is looking to launch a $10 million micro fund targeting Southeast Asia.
SE Asia VC Ardent gets backing from US, Japan partners
Southeast Asia-focused venture capital firm Ardent has received its first round of external funding from US-based Siemer Ventures and Japanese VCs Recruit Strategic Partners and GMO Venture Partners. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Temasek-backed healthcare firm HCG acquires majority stake in BACC
HealthCare Global Enterprises (HCG), an Indian cancer treatment specialist backed by Temasek Holdings, has acquired a majority stake in Bangalore Assisted Conception Centre (BACC), a leading provider of fertility care. Details of the transaction were...
SingTel Innov8 leads Series C round for TubeMogul
SingTel Innov8, the venture capital arm of Singapore Telecommunications, has led a $10 million Series C round of investment in TubeMogul, a global video marketing platform.
IFC ups stake in Mongolia's TenGer Financial Group
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has increased its stake in Mongolia's TenGer Financial Group (TFG) to 19% for an undisclosed amount.
Navis acquires Malaysia's HG Power
Navis Capital Partners has invested MYR25- 40 million ($8.1 million- $13 million) in Malaysian power company HG Power Transmission for a more than 50% stake.
Nissay, Nippon invest $1m in online translation service
Nissay Capital and Nippon Venture Capital Co. (NVCC) have led a JPY108 million ($1 million) round of investment in Japan's Yaraku, the company behind online cloud translation service WorldJumper. Individual investors are also said to have taken part in...
LP interview: Hermes GPE's Saki Georgiadis
Two years since opening an office in Singapore, Saki Georgiadis, head of Asia for Hermes GPE, reflects on the benefits of having an on-the-ground presence in Asia
MGPA deal expands BlackRock's Asia footprint
Asia Square, a twin tower complex in Singapore's Marina Bay, is set to be city state’s most environmentally friendly building. Designed by architects Denton Corker Marshall, it will house the world’s largest solar panel roof installation and the first...
Globis upbeat on Fund IV first close
When Japanese tech-focused VC Globis Capital Partners raised its third fund in 2006, it was against a very different backdrop. The process took just four months and the vehicle closed at JPY18 billion, JPY3 billion over target.
JBIC, Mizuho partner with Singapore government to promote SMEs
Mizuho Corporate Bank (MHCB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed an agreement with SPRING Singapore, an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, to encourage collaboration between small businesses in Japan and Singapore....
VC-backed companies lead the way in Australia R&D - study
Venture capital-backed companies in Australia spend an average 200 times more on R&D per employee than other businesses, according to a report by the Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (AVCAL).