Investments

LotusPool targets $125m India fund, IFC to invest

LotusPool Capital, a private equity firm set up by executives from Actis and ePlanet Capital, has received a $15 million commitment from International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its debut fund. The vehicle, which has a target of $125 million, will...

KKR considers bid for Australia's Regis Aged Care - report

KKR is said to be interested in buying Macquarie Group’s take in Regis Aged Care, one of Australia's largest private senior care home operators. There is significant private equity interest in the aged care space, which is seen as ripe for consolidation.

PEP-backed Veda Advantage targets IPO

Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is hoping to raise as much as A$340 million ($326 million) through a sale of new shares as it looks to launch the Australian IPO of credit-checking firm Veda Advantage this December.

Malaysian financial comparison start-up gets $2m

Jungle Ventures has led a $2 million round of Series A funding for iMoney, a Malaysia-based financial comparison start-up. Other investors include IMJ Fenox, Fenox Venture Capital, Redbright Partners, 500 Startups and Vogel Ventures, as well as German...

J-Star completes $6.6m exit of sweets maker Tokachi

J-Star has completed its exit of a 100% stake Japanese sweet maker Tokachi to Tokyo-listed Mediaflag in deal valued at JPY644 million ($6.6 million). According to sources familiar with the matter, the GP has generated a 1.3x return on its investment.

China’s Sungy Mobile targets $80m US IPO

Sungy Mobile, a Chinese app developer backed by IDG Capital Partners, JAFCO, WI Harper and China Broadband Capital (CBC), is targeting a $80 million IPO and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The company, which focuses on apps, widgets and functions...

Lead Capital invests $2m in Japan's Talknote

Lead Capital Management has invested JPY200 million ($2 million) in Talknote, the Japanese start-up behind the corporate social networking platform of the same name. This is the second round of funding the company has received, following an undisclosed...

CITIC oils Stackpole’s China wheels

The oil pumps use to lubricate engine parts and reduce friction come in two forms: fixed and variable. The first are usually oversized to handle the harshest operating conditions and therefore deliver higher average oil pressure and consume more power...

Quadrant eyes aged care consolidation

Quadrant Private Equity completed its exit from New Zealand retirement village operator Summerset last week but demographics remain a prominent theme in the firm’s portfolio with the acquisition of Estia Health, an Australian aged-care provider.

All about Korea

More than 10 years and a host of bank turnarounds and corporate restructurings ago, South Korea was Asia’s most active private equity market. According to AVCJ Research, $3.1 billion was deployed in the country in 2000, comfortably ahead of second-placed...

PE firms bid for South Korea’s Woori assets

Several private equity firms have submitted bids for parts of Woori Finance Holdings in the second of three separate auctions intended to finally dispose of the Korean government’s interest in the business.

Baidu, VC-backed Qunar sets terms for $127m US IPO

Qunar, a Chinese-travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, is seeking to raise up to $127.8 million through its NASDAQ IPO. The company is also backed by GSR Ventures and GGV Capital, neither of which will sell any shares in the offering.

Chinese online marketplace 58.com sets terms for $165m US IPO

Chinese online marketplace 58.com is seeking raise up to $165 million through its New York Stock Exchange IPO. The company’s venture capital investors – Warburg Pincus, SAIF Partners and DCM – will not sell any of their shares in the offering.