Investments
Innovation Works raises $148m for fund II, yet to reach close
Innovation Works, the tech incubator started by Google’s former China head Kai-fu Lee, has so raised $148 million for its second fund. Lee confirmed to Sina that fundraising efforts began in April, but didn’t disclose the target size or details of...
Colonial First State buys TDF’s broadcasting assets in Finland
Colonial First State, an Australian wealth manager owned by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, has agreed to buy French broadcasting group TDF’s Finland business. The company, known as Digita, owns Finland’s largest broadcast tower network as well as...
INFUSE Ventures launches cleantech incubation program
Indian Fund for Sustainable Energy Ventures (INFUSE Ventures), an early-stage fund focused on sustainable energy and cleantech, has launched a program in the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad to foster start-ups that require seed capital.
General Atlantic denies Snapdeal interest - report
General Atlantic says it never entered into talks with Snapdeal in what would have been the private equity firm’s first foray into Indian e-commerce.
CHAMP Ventures takes majority stake in Ansett Aviation Centre
CHAMP Ventures has taken a majority interest in Ansett Aviation Centre, a training facility bought from administrators in 2004 following the collapse of Ansett Australia, the country’s second-largest carrier. It is the third investment out of CHAMP...
India’s Vistaar receives $7m from VC players
Bangalore-based small enterprise financing company Vistaar Financial Services has raised INR400 million ($7.1 million) in Series B funding from Lok Capital and Omidyar Network as well as existing investors Elevar Equity and SVB Capital Partners.
Baring, ICICI Venture plan Karvy exit – report
Baring Private Equity Asia and ICICI Venture Funds Management, the private equity arm of India’s ICICI Bank, are reportedly in talks to sell their 31% stake in Karvy Stock Broking (KSBL).
PE firms target ING’s Asian insurance assets – report
ING is said to be in talks with several parties, including Apollo Global Management, J.C. Flowers & Co. and a team backed by The Blackstone Group, over the sale of different parts of its Asian life insurance operations. The initial plan was to divest...
Bain Capital to buy 30% stake in Genpact for $1b
Bain Capital has agreed to buy 30% of Indian business process outsourcing (BPO) company Genpact from Oak Hill Capital and General Atlantic (GA) for $1 billion. The sellers will still own 10% of the firm when the deal closes.
PE firms bid for Korean weapons manufacturer – report
Four private equity firms and a European defense company have reportedly submitted bids for a stake in South Korea’s LIG Nex1. The weapons manufacturer is offloading a 49% interest worth around $440 million.
L Capital backs Indian cinema operator PVR
L Capital, the private equity arm of luxury group LVMH, will invest just under INR1.1 billion ($19.4 million) in cinema and entertainment company PVR for a 10% stake. As part of the deal, L Capital will set up a joint venture with the Indian firm that...
Australia’s Gresham PE in $180m Witchery Group exit
Gresham Private Equity has agreed to sell fashion retailer Witchery Group to Country Road for A$172 million ($180.2 million). The deal will see Witchery CEO Ian Nairn replace Howard Goldberg as head of Country Road, which is majority-owned by South Africa’s...
Oman India fund commits $13m to explosives maker
Oman India Joint Investment Fund (OIJIF), a PE vehicle owned by Oman’s sovereign wealth fund and India’s State Bank of India, has invested INR720 million ($13 million) in explosives manufacturer Solar Industries. The fund will pick up 4.28% of the...
General Atlantic nears Snapdeal investment – report
General Atlantic is reportedly closing in an investment in online retailer Snapdeal, which would represent its first foray into Indian e-commerce. The private equity firm will participate in a round of funding worth $80-100 million.
Entrepreneurs launch Korea start-up accelerator
A group of South Korean serial entrepreneurs has launched a start-up accelerator intended to connect domestic companies with their global counterparts. Advisors and mentors to the program include US tech entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban...
TPG in rare China leveraged buyout
TPG Capital's full acquisition of packaging firm HCP Holdings, worth approximately $500 million, has a strong claim to be the largest ever leveraged buyout of a Chinese company. This is notoriously difficult territory for dealmakers and PE statisticians...
CVC, SCPE generate quick return on Infastech
A swift trade sale exit was always likely for Asia-based fastener manufacturer Infastech. Not long after CVC Capital Partners and Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) acquired the asset in 2010, strategic investors started showing an interest.
Warburg Pincus backs Chinese children’s goods retailer
Warburg Pincus has invested $55 million in Chinese maternity and children’s goods retailer Kidswant. The capital will be used to increase store numbers and boost the company’s growth plans.
PE to join in on $504m DLF land buyout
A private equity player is thought to have teamed up with Lodha Group to buy a 17.5-acre plot of land in India from DLF, the country's largest developer, for INR28 billion ($504 million).
Korea’s Woongjin, KTB Private Equity in $1b Coway deal
KTB Private Equity, an affiliate of South Korean financial services company KTB Investment & Securities, will team up with Woongjin Holdings to buy a 31% stake in water purifier manufacturer Coway for KRW1.2 trillion ($1 billion). The target company is...
Warburg’s Future Capital offer faces delays
Warburg Pincus’ offer to buy a 26% stake in India's Future Capital Holdings (FCH), the financial services unit of the Future Group, has been delayed despite reports that the $100-125 million deal was finalized last month.
SCPE backs Sri Lanka’s Abans with $40m - report
Standard Chartered Private Equity has reportedly invested $40 million in Sri Lankan family-owned business Abans.
Sequoia invests in India healthcare services start-up
Sequoia Capital India has invested INR250 million ($4.6 million) into Bangalore-based Practo Technologies, a cloud-based clinic management platform. The Series A round will support the company's global expansion plans.
Babson to incrase Asia-Pacific lending
Babson Capital Management plans to increase the loans it provides in Australia and Asia, as borrowers are prepared to pay high interest rates due to the withdrawal of several European banks from the region.