Articles by Andrew Woodman
Japan's Takeda buys Singapore biopharma start-up
PE-backed Singapore biopharmaceutical start-up Inviragen is to be acquired by Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical for $250 million.
Saban Capital plans to triple Asia portfolio
Saban Capital is looking to triple its investments in Asia over the next two years with a focus on the media and communications space.
JBIC to commit $25m to Mizuho ASEAN fund
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will commit up to $25 million to Mizuho's new ASEAN-focused private equity fund.
Creador rushes to launch Fund II
“Despite our experience, and the fact we spent the last 12 years investing in India with success, I think a lot of people saw us as a first time fund,” says Brahmal Vasudevan, founder and CEO of Creador, recalling the difficulty his firm had in reaching...
Portfolio: Bain Capital and Domino's Pizza Japan
The US consumer cred of Domino’s Pizza means little in Japan where consumer tastes and cultural norms are very different to the West. Bain Capital took an innovative approach to cornering a competitive sector
Quadrant-backed Summerset eyes Australia listing
Summerset, a New Zealand care home operator backed by Quadrant Private Equity, is seeking to list on the Australian Securities Exchange in response to increased interest from local investors.
Sidley Austin adds PE lawyer to Singapore office
US law firm Sidley Austin has hired Gregory Salathé, a cross-border M&A specialist who represents PE and hedge funds, as a partner in its Singapore office. He will relocate from Tokyo, where he was previously co-managing partner of Morgan Lewis' office....
Carlyle launches Japan fund with $2b target - report
Carlyle is said to have launched its latest Japan-focused buyout fund with a target of $2 billion.
OCBC takes part in $116m debt financing for Indonesian toll road operator
Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) has completed IDR1.13 trillion (S116 million) in convertible debt financing for Indonesian toll road operator Baskhara Utama Sedaya (BUS).
Leopard exits Cambodia's Kulara Water
Leopard Capital has exited its entire investment in Cambodia's Kulara Water to the company's founding shareholder. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
BootstrapLabs, MAD incubator launch SE Asia start-up accelerator
Malaysia-based MAD incubator has partnered with Silicon Valley-based BootstrapLabs to create a Southeast Asia-focused start-up accelerator.
OneVentures leads $1.1m round for Australia mobile video spin-out
Australian venture capital group One Ventures has led a A$1.1 million ($1.1 million) round of seed investment in Incoming, a mobile video start-up spun out of NICTA, a government-funded information and communications technology research company.
Creador sets $250m target for Fund II
Creador has launched its second fund, targeting $250 million, barely four months after closing its debut vehicle. The private equity firm, which focuses on India and Southeast Asia,expects to reach a first close in August.
Mercury takes 30% stake in Australia's Novotech
Mercury Capital has taken a 30% stake in Novotech, Australia's largest independent clinical trials provider, with a view to aiding its Asia-Pacific expansion. The amount invested was not disclosed.
Korea's Kakao, government to launch start-up fund
South Korean mobile app developer Kakao has teamed up with the South Korean government to launch a KRW30 billion ($27 million) fund aimed at supporting start-ups. The Small & Medium Business Administration (SMBA) will back the Kakao Young Entrepreneur...
India's education sector: Learning curve
There is no shortage of demand for services or investment opportunity in India’s education sector, but negotiating overcrowding and heavy regulation requires a clear strategy
Creador brews 2x return on OldTown
Malaysia's OldTown White Coffee has unusual origins. The brand came into existence in 1999 as a range of pre-mix instant beverages, offering creamer, coffee and sugar in a single sachet. It was only in 2005 that the company decided to venture into the...
Armstrong expands team ahead of SE Asia cleantech fund close
Armstrong Asset Management, a Singapore-based investment firm, has appointed Yasushi Ujioka as investment director ahead of a final close on its Southeast Asian cleantech fund.
Abraaj exits Thailand's Unitrio to Japan's NTT
The Abraaj Group has exited Thailand-based data center provider Unitrio Technology to NTT Facilities (NTTF), a unit of Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT).
Japanese corporate pension funds boost alternatives exposure – J.P. Morgan
Japanese corporate pension funds are looking to increase their exposure to alternative assets - including private equity - according an annual survey by J.P. Morgan.
Fortis, Next Invest exit Belgian ink maker to Japan's Toyo
Fortis Private Equity and Next Invest have sold their 100% stake in Belgian ink manufacturer, Arets International, to Japan’s Toyo Ink Group for EUR10 million ($13 million).
India's Kaizen to raise Asia education fund
Indian education-focused GP Kaizen is eyeing its first Asia-focused education fund, a source familiar with the situation told AVCJ.
Creador sees 2x return, 101% IRR on maiden exit
Creador has made a partial exit from its investment in Malaysian restaurant chain OldTown White Coffee at a 2x money multiple, representing an IRR of 101%.
CVC, MBK among final bidders for ING Korea unit - report
CVC Capital Partners and South Korean PE firm MBK are among the last five bidders to begin preliminary due diligence as they consider an offer for at least 51% stake in the Korean unit of Dutch insurance firm ING Groep.