Articles by Brian McLeod
Fund administration: the silver lining post GFC
It's interesting to note how far – and how deeply – GFC shockwaves reached into private equity practice, even at the shop-floor level, in fund management and administration.
India's all-inclusive infrastructure rollout
Huge infrastructure development schemes have been underway across most of Asia’s developing economies for some years now, especially in India and China.
BHP end game for PotashCorp?
The tussle for control of Canadian fertilizer behemoth PotashCorp took another turn on October 14th, when news broke that premier Chinese chemicals SOE Sinochem Corp. had decided against a counteroffer to rival the $39 billion hostile bid by Australian-based...
Australian private equity: Behind the numbers
Judging by current data, one might think that Australian private equity has seen the best of times become the not-quite-so-good times.
Inside India's infra riddle
The Athletes' Village furor that erupted in Delhi on the eve of the Commonwealth Games has shone a strong spotlight on the reality of India’s landscape, and its problems delivering improvements in infrastructure.
Sandstone, Sequoia, Madison take minority stake in Micromax
Subcontinent specialist Sandstone Capital and Silicon Valley VC icon Sequoia Capital, as well as media and communications-focused firm Madison India Capital, have taken a small position – collectively estimated at less than 10% - in Indian handset producer...
Alinta's future hinges on private equity consortium deal
Australian power generation company Alinta Energy Group has been in talks with TPG Capital’s debt investment arm, TPG Opportunities Partners, to restructure the company, pending the outcome of an earlier proposal by the company for trade sales plus an...
Potash a hot commodity
When Canadian fertilizers mining leader PotashCorp formally rejected Australia-headquartered resources major BHP Billiton’s $130-per-share, $39 billion takeover bid last week, expectations were triggered that multiple higher bids would emerge from some...
Funding Asian infrastructure: The ancillary factors
With infrastructure funds still evolving in terms of their structure, and more and more shifting focus to Asia, participants in the sector are reporting a shift from the original dividend yield story as the focal point to much more of a capital appreciation...
CIC to fund Liverpool FC bid?
Despite China Investment Corporation’s (CIC) proclamation that it won’t be involved in the purchase of top-tier English Premier League’s Liverpool Football Club – and that it has never even heard of Kenny Huang, the Hong Kong sports businessman CIC is...
Limited Partner Q&A: International Finance Corporation
AVCJ’s Brian McLeod talks to David Wilton, CIO of the Private Equity and Investment Funds Department at the International Finance Corporation, the private finance arm of the World Bank
Tata Capital targets $1 billion in new PE capital
Tata Capital, the Tata Group’s financial services arm, has announced plans to raise approximately $1 billion from local and international sources next year for four sector-focused private equity funds.
Allied Medical talks complicate Healthscope situation
The $1.6 billion takeover bid for Australian private hospital and pathology operator Healthscope by a consortium of the Blackstone Group, the Carlyle Group, and TPG Capital, with a rival bid from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., has been complicated by...
CCB backs PRC's first aviation fund
In partnership with China Aviation Industry Corp., China Construction Bank (CCB) has formally established the country’s first ever aviation-focused industry fund, the AVIC Fund of China.
NZ Super fuels SMEs via Waterman
Private equity firm Waterman Capital, which is raising a new NZ$75 million ($53 million) fund to invest in Kiwi small businesses with a NAV of between NZ$10-50 million ($7-35 million), has been buoyed by New Zealand Superannuation Fund’s plans to inject...
CIC-AES JV out of wind
PRC SWF the China Investment Corporation (CIC) has jointly announced with $14 billion Virginia-headquartered global power giant AES Corp. that their non-binding letter of intent for CIC to take a 35% stake in AES Wind Generation expired at the end of...
Asia Pacific distress still pays off
Given the financial journal headlines and relentless LP interest reinforcing the notion that Asia is booming, one might well wonder what distress opportunities remain in the region.
Carlyle to take 13.6% stake in China Fishery
Singapore-listed China Fishery Group – which began operations as a North Pacific trawling business in 2001 – has announced it will issue new ordinary shares and warrants in a conditional private placement to the Carlyle Group, for a total consideration...
DE Shaw looks at Ambani JV
Private equity and hedge fund group DE Shaw is on the point of forming an equal JV with billionaire Indian business leader Mukesh Ambani, according to Indian reports.
Cleantech Q&A: Capital Dynamics
David Scaysbrook, founder of Novera Energy, and now MD of the new Clean Energy and Infrastructure team at $21 billion asset management firm Capital Dynamics, talks about the group’s new direct investment focus on the cleantech space.
Primus Nan Shan bid gets extension
The consortium led by Primus Financial Holdings and China Strategic Holdings, which has already inked an agreement to acquire Taiwan's Nan Shan Life Insurance from American International Group (AIG), has now announced a sought-after accord with the seller...
Liu made Beijing corporate head at DLA Piper
DLA Piper's Steven Liu has been appointed Head of Corporate Practice in Beijing, with responsibility for private equity and VC coverage, the firm has announced
Indian government may limit Temasek, GIC ICICI holdings
The Indian finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India have lodged a query with the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) over a proposal that Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) should increase their...
Carlyle invests $140 million in Asia growth
The Carlyle Group has announced the closing of four growth capital investments spread across Asia Pacific, collectively valued at $140 million, and made from the Carlyle Asia Growth Capital Partners IV (CAGPIV) fund, which had its $1.04 billion final...