Articles by Andrew Woodman
Panasonic's healthcare business to attract 10 PE bidders - report
Around 10 private equity firms and a handful of strategic investors are expected to enter first-round bids for Panasonic's healthcare unit.
Orix invests $24m in Mongolian financial services group
Japanese financial services group Orix Corp. has agreed to buy a 16% stake in Mongolia financial group TenGer Financial Group (TFG) for approximately $24 million
East Ventures leads seed funding round in Japan's TwitCasting
East Ventures has led a JPY64.8 million ($633,000) round of seed funding in Moi Corp., the Japanese company behind social video application TwitCasting.
Japan's NTT Docomo acquires Guam cable operator from Seaport Capital
Japanese wireless operator NTT Docomo has acquired Guam cable operator MCV Broadband from New York private equity firm Seaport Capital for an enterprise value of approximately $130 million.
SparkLabs selects 10 companies for its second start-up class
Korean start-up accelerator SparkLabs has selected a second class of 10 for its mentoring program. The program is three months in length and provides funding, office space and access to a network of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and angel investors....
Kae Capital seeds India language-learning platform
Indian venture capital firm Kae Capital has invested an undisclosed amount for a minority stake in Intap Labs, the start-up behind language-learning platform CultureAlley.com.
DBS wins approval to buy Indonesia bank stake from Temasek
DBS Group Holdings has won approval to buy a 40% stake in Indonesian mid-sized lender Bank Danamon for $2.75 billion from Singapore state investor Temasek. It will be the biggest acquisition in the country's history.
China's Cathay resumes pursuit of Discovery Metals
Chinese private equity firm Cathay Fortune Corporation (CFC) has made a renewed takeover bid for Australia-listed mining company Discovery Metals. The offer is the latest development in ongoing spat between CFC and Discovery Metals, whose principal asset...
Financial services in China: Carving a niche
With investment opportunities in China's traditional banking and insurance industries limited, private equity firms are looking to niche financial services. What have they found in the shadows?
AMCG invests $30m in Chevalier for Moraitis acquisition
Asia Mezzanine Capital Group (AMCG) has invested in $30 million in Chevalier International Holdings, aiding its acquisition of Australia's Moraitis, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler backed by Catalyst Investment Managers. AMCG provided the financing via...
Quantum seeks to reclaim Intrepid Indonesian mine asset
Quantum Pacific Investment, the third-biggest shareholder in Australia's Intrepid Mines, is looking to recover some of the explorer's stake in a key Indonesian asset as it brings in a new leadership team.
Goldman completes exit from ICBC
Goldman Sachs has sold its remaining stake in Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the nation's largest lender, for around $1.1 billion - seven years after its first investment.
Australia's Quadrant exits Virtus Health, Summerset
Quadrant Private Equity has exited its investment in fertility services provider Virtus Health via a A$339 million ($330 million) IPO, while making another partial exit from retirement village chain Summerset.
Cerberus extends tender for Seibu shares
Cerberus Capital Management is to extend the deadline to buy more shares in Japan's Seibu Holdings until May 31. The US private equity firm, already the largest shareholder in Seibu with a 32.44% stake, has been trying to boost its holding to 44.7% through...
Japan's Globis reaches $78m first close on Fund IV
Tokyo-based venture firm Globis Capital Partners has reached a first close on its fourth fund a JPY8 billion ($78 million). Globis Fund IV, will focus on Japanese companies looking to capitalize on high-growth Asian markets as well as those in the domestic...
Cerberus to secure around one third of Japan's Seibu - report
Cerberus Capital Management is expected to hold more than one third of Japan's Seibu Holdings following a takeover bid set to expire tomorrow.
IFC commits $20m to Armstrong's SE Asia cleantech fund
International Finance Corporation, the World Bank's investment arm, has committed $20 million to Singapore-based Armstrong Asset Management's Southeast Asia cleantech fund.
Structured solutions: GPs consider equity alternatives
Mainstream GPs in Asia are becoming more open to investments based on debt rather than equity, addressing entrepreneurs' reluctance to give up stakes in their businesses. How significant is the opportunity?
Navis commits up to $150m to SE Asia e-waste specialist
Navis Capital Partners has acquired a majority interest in TES-Envirocorp, a Singapore-headquartered electronic waste (e-waste) company. According to sources familiar with the transaction, the GP invested $100-150 million.
Ares Management buys AREA Property Partners
Global alternative asset manager Ares Management has acquired AREA Property Partners, a New York-headquartered real estate management firm investing across North America, Europe and India.
Carlyle pursues Rio Tinto's Australia mining asset - report
The Carlyle Group is said to have made an initial bid for Rio Tinto's 80% stake in an Australian copper-gold mine. KKR previously showed an interest in the Northparkes mine in New South Wales but didn't follow up with a bid.
Japan's New Horizon, Integral bullish on fundraising
Japan's New Horizon Capital is considering enlarging its second fund against a backdrop of improved investor sentiment in the country. Integral Corp. cites similar reasons for the strong response to its own second fund, which is expected to reach a final...
CPPIB, GE Capital launch Tokyo property co-invest program
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and General Electric Capital Real Estate (GECRE) have formed a joint venture targeting investments in mid-size Class A-B offices in key central business district sub-markets in Tokyo.
TPG, Northstar in partial exit from Indonesia's BTPN
TPG Capital and Northstar Pacific Partners have agreed to exit part of their stake in Indonesian lender Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional (BTPN) to Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).