Articles by Andrew Woodman
Talent tinkering: Operating partners in Asia
Operational value-add is becoming the new normal in Asia as private equity firms hire professionals with the skills to build portfolio companies. However, methods of recruitment and retention vary hugely
BlackRock appoints head of alternatives for North Asia
BlackRock has appointed Jeong Hoon Lee as head of its alternative investment strategy group for North Asia.
Japan's Aeon eyes CVC's Matahari - report
Japan's Aeon Group and a unit of Thailand's Central Group are said to be eyeing CVC Capital Partners-owned Indonesian retail group Matahari Department Store.
Softbank Ventures Korea invests $1.4m in KnowRE
Softbank Ventures Korea (SBVK), the venture capital unit of Japan's Softbank Corporation, has invested $1.4 million in KnowRe, an education technology company specializing in adaptive online learning services.
Kaizen, Bertelsmann invest in online education firm
Kaizen, an education-focused Indian private equity firm, has led a $4 million Series B round investment in Educomp Solution's subsidiary authorGen, which produces online education platform WizIQ. German global media company Bertelsmann has also participated...
Infinity and affiliate secure 4.7% of Anxin-China
Infinity Group, the Israel-based private equity firm created by China Development Bank and Israeli conglomerate IDB Group, has joined an affiliate in purchasing a 4.7% stake in Anxin-China Holdings for $30 million.
Kirkland & Ellis adds Chinese PE lawyer to HK office
Kirkland & Ellis has added private equity M&A specialist Frank Sun to its Hong Kong practice. Sun joins the firm as a partner from US rival Paul Weiss.
PE-backed Amtek sells 5% stake in subsidiary
Auto component maker Amtek Auto, which is backed by Warburg Pincus and ChrysCapital, has sold a 5% stake in its subsidiary Amtek Crankshafts (India) to an unnamed foreign investor for INR223 million ($4.1 million).
Big data, big deal?
Following the success of India’s business process outsourcing industry, big data is being touted as the next major opportunity for technology investors in the country
Summit Partners to invest $25m in The Iconic
Summit Partners is expected to invest $25 million into Australian fashion online retailer, The Iconic.
TA Associates' Dhiraj Poddar promoted to principal
TA Associates has promoted Dhiraj Poddar to principal in its Mumbai Office. His job title was previously director.
Samsung Ventures invests in Fixmo
Samusung Venture Investment Corp, the venture capital unit of Samsung Group, has invested in Canada's Fixmo, a mobile security solutions firm. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
J-Star completes clothing brand turnaround
Three and-a-half years ago, Olive des Olive, a hip teen clothing-brand based out of Tokyo, was suffering. Having filed for bankruptcy, its reputation frayed by allegations that its clothing came from a factory in China and had been re-labeled “Made in...
Advantage sees 7x return on coffee chain deal
When Advantage Partenrs paid JPY15 billion ($146 million) for a 78% stake in Komeda Coffee in 2008, the chain was to a certain extent a victim of its own success. After more than 40 years of expansion the company had grown to around 300 stores and its...
India Infoline invests in real estate project
India Infoline (IIFL) has invested INR750 million ($13.9 million) in a real-estate development project in the state of Haryana through its IIFL Domestic Series 1 Fund.
J-Star exit sees 3x return on Olive des Olive exit
J-Star, a Japanese mid-market buyout firm, has exited Tokyo clothing brand Olive des Olive to wholesale company Takisada-Osaka, securing a return of more than 3x and an estimated IRR of 35-40%.
Creditor meeting brings closure to CVC's $1.4b Nine loss
Creditors of the ailing Australian TV network Nine Entertainment have unanimously approved the company's A$3.4 billion ($3.5 billion) recapitalization, bringing a formal end to CVC Capital Partners' six-year stewardship. The private equity firm has lost...
Sequoia invests $9.3m in Indian eye hospitals
Sequoia Capital has invested INR500 million ($9.3 million) in ASG Eye Hospitals, a Rajastan-based group of specialty eye hospitals. The funding will be used by the company to support expansion into central and northern India.
MoFo opens new office in Singapore
US law firm Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) has opened an office in Singapore, its fifth in the region.
Norwest invests $11m in India's Perfint Healthcare
Norwest Venture Partners has invested $11 million in Indian medical technology company Perfint Healthcare as part of a Series D round of funding. Norwest previously invested $7.2 million in the Chennai-based company in 2010.
GPs upbeat on ailing Japan
Private equity investors expect to see more buyout opportunities in Japan despite a weak deal environment in recent years and ongoing concerns about the country's economy.
SingTel Innov8, Optus launch new funding round for Australian start-ups
SingTel Innov8 and Optus have launched a second round of funding for Australian start-ups under the companies’ Innov8 seed program.
Cerberus to raise $1.7b through Aozora Bank exit
Cerberus Capital Management is set to raise 146.1 billion ($1.7 billion) as it sells the bulk of its 58% stake in Japan's Aozora Bank following a nine-year holding period.
The debt deadline: Japans's SMEs at a crossroads
Japan’s Debt Moratorium Law, seen by some industry participants as an impediment to PE deal flow in the last three year, is set to expire at the end of March. Does this spell new opportunities for the industry?