Investments
Globis leads $3.6m Series A round for quiz developer
Globis, the Japanese venture capital firm, has led a GBP2.3 million ($3.6 million) Series A round of funding for Quipper, a UK quiz applications manufacturer. Benesse, a Japanese education and publishing company, and Atomico, the VC firm led by Skype...
Carlyle to sell Ta Chong for $1.25b - report
The Carlyle Group looks set to sell its 40% stake in mid-sized Taiwanese lender Ta Chong Bank to Yuanta Financial in a deal which could value the bank at up to T$37 billion ($1.25 billion).
PEP seeks buyers for Link Group – report
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has reportedly begun the auction process for Link Group, which could sell for as much as A$1.4 billion ($1.4 billion), including debt. It is poised to be Asia’s biggest private equity exit of the year.
Alibaba to buy back 20% of Yahoo’s stake for $7.1b
Alibaba Group has agreed to repurchase about a 20% stake in itself from Yahoo for $7.1 billion ahead of an initial public offering. The US internet company bought 40% of Alibaba - founded by Jack Ma (pictured) - in 2005, paying $1 billion plus ownership...
Longreach seeks to sell Taiwan bank stake for $1.2b
Japan-focused private equity firm Longreach Group is planning to sell its stake in Taiwanese lender EnTie Commercial Bank at TW$30 or more per share, which would value the deal at about $1.2 billion.
Ironbridge targets $1b for Fund III, invests $95m in dental business
Australian private equity house Ironbridge Capital has said it will target up to A$1 billion ($1 billion) for its third fund, for which it will begin fundraising in the second half of this year.
AMP Capital acquires Australian schools project for $232m
Asset manager AMP Capital has received approval to acquire the South Australian Schools Public Private Partnership (PPP) project for an enterprise value of $232 million.
Lightspeed leads Series A round for Tujia.com
Early stage investor Lightspeed China Partners and CDH Investments have participated in a Series A round of funding for Tujia.com, the first online vacation rental services provider in China.
Asian PE infrastructure evolves with the industry
Everything always seems clearer and easier to understand with the benefit of hindsight. While it seems pretty apparent now that Asian private equity would emerge as a leading asset class for investors around the world, it was actually quite difficult...
Nomura plans Ashikaga IPO
Nomura is planning to sell shares of regional bank Ashikaga in an initial public offering (IPO) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as early as December. The bank may trade at a market value of JPY200 billion ($2.5 billion) to JPY300 billion.
IIFL real estate fund makes first investment
IIFL Alternate Asset Advisors, the venture capital arm of the India Infoline Group (IIFL), has made the first investment from its venture capital fund, backing a slum redevelopment project.
TPG, Carlyle sell Healthscope pathology assets for $100m
TPG Capital and the Carlyle Group have sold the New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australian pathology businesses of their portfolio company, Healthscope, for A$100 million ($100 million). The buyer was pathology and radiology group Sonic Healthcare.
KKR ends takeover talks with Pacific Brands
Melbourne-based underwear manufacturer Pacific Brands said on Tuesday that a takeover from parties including KKR is unlikely in the near term.
Baring backs Yongda Auto IPO
Baring Private Equity has become a cornerstone investor in the IPO of China Yongda Automobile Services, the number-one BMW dealer in China. The company could raise up to $435 million through a listing in Hong Kong.
Warburg Pincus joins race for India's Future Capital
US buyout firm Warburg Pincus is thought to have joined the race to acquire a stake in India's Future Capital Holdings (FCH), the financial services unit of the Future Group.
Mandarin Capital agrees JV with China’s Dagong - report
Sino-Italian private equity group Mandarin Capital Partners has reportedly agreed to establish a joint venture with Chinese ratings agency Dagong.
Creador invests $15m in OldTown
India- and Southeast Asia-focused investor Creador has injected RM45.7 million ($15 million) in OldTown White Coffee, the number-one Asian restaurant chain in Malaysia.
Inventus, Ojas lead $3.5m Cbazaar round
US-India venture capital firm Inventus Capital Partners early-stage technology investor Ojas Venture Partners have led a $3.5 million Series A round of funding for Indian fashion portal Cbazaar.
Thailand’s CPF prepares bid for Permira-backed Birds Eye
Thai food manufacturer Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) looks set to join the various private equity houses that have submitted bids for Permira-backed Birds Eye Iglo.
New Zealand’s Waterman buys 20% of Manuka Health
New Zealand-based Waterman Capital has acquired a 20% stake in natural health brand Manuka Health.
Unison secures Showa Yakuhin Kako SBO
Unison Capital has emerged victorious in the auction for Showa Yakuhin Kako, securing the secondary buyout of the drug producer from Tokio Marine Capital, Polaris Capital Group and PineBridge Investments.
Hong Kong’s ADM buys stake in Prista Oil
ADM Capital and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have provided EUR48 million ($62 million) of replacement capital for a 30% stake in Bulgaria’s Prista Oil Group.
GSR, Oak lead $30m Series B round for SunSun Lighting
China-based LED manufacturer SunSun Lighting has raised $30 million in Series B financing from GSR Ventures and Oak Investment Partners in addition to commitments from its original angel investors. The investment comes nearly a year after SunSun secured...
Bright Food adds Weetabix to foreign portfolio
China's Bright Food Group through a considerable amount of trial and error before sealing its first overseas acquisition last year, purchasing a 75% stake in Manassen Foods from CHAMP Private Equity for an enterprise valuation of $525 million.