Investments
Hanhong PE buys Stonewall stake for $13m
China’s Hanhong Private Equity Investment Company has invested $13 million in Stonewall Mining, buying it a 19% stake in the South African gold miner.
Australian supers drive secondaries
The Australian superannuation funds’ ongoing move away from private equity has undoubtedly been a drawback for primary fund managers. But what of the impact on the Asian secondaries market?
Standard Chartered injects $30m in Ecoplast - report
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has boosted Ecoplast Technologies, the world’s second largest manufacturer of starch-based bioplastics, with a $30 million cash injection.
IIF program to invest $102m in Australian venture
The Australian government has announced plans to provide venture capital funds with up to A$100 million ($102 million) of capital via its Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) program.
Blackstone's Rob Johnson resurfaces at J.P. Morgan
J.P. Morgan Asset Management has appointed former Blackstone MD Rob Johnson as its head of global business development for China real estate.
NZVIF to invest $6m in start-ups
The New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) is making plans to invest up to NZ$8 million ($6 million) in New Zealand-based start-up firms.
SAIF Partners invests $80m in Guodian IPO
SAIF Partners has become a cornerstone investor in the IPO of Beijing-based Guodian Technology and Environment Group by contributing $80 million to the deal.
Bain, TPG, TA circle VC-backed Trivitron
Bain Capital, TPG and TA Associates are reportedly weighing up the possibility of investing for a 10-12% stake in Indian medical device provider Trivitron Healthcare.
Thomas Cook India attracts private equity interest
Private equity houses are tipped to be interested in a purchase of the Indian arm of beleaguered UK tour operator Thomas Cook.
Hana's board approves $3.5b KEB purchase
Hana Financial Group has approved a plan to acquire the 51% stake in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) held by US buyout fund Lone Star for KRW3.92 trillion ($3.5 billion). Pending regulatory approval, the transaction could be completed by the year’s end, signaling...
PEP raises bid for Spotless
Pacific Equity Partners has upped its takeover bid for Australian cleaning services firm Spotless to A$711 million ($727.7 million) from A$700 million, in an attempt at coaxing the company that has twice rejected its private equity suitors.
Update: Lone Star may sell KEB for 11% less
Lone Star is reportedly looking to sell its stake in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) to Hana Financial Group at an 11% discount to its previously discussed price of KRW4.4 trillion ($3.8 billion). That price is a further reduction on the 7% discount reported...
JH Partners sells Jurlique stake to Japanese trade buyer
US private equity firm JH Partners has sold its 30% stake in Australian organic skincare brand Jurlique International to Japanese cosmetics maker POLA Orbis Holdings.
Apollo sells Parallel Petroleum to South Korean trade buyers
New York-based Apollo Global Management has reportedly sold its US oil and gas company Parallel Petroleum to two South Korean trade buyers for $780 million.
Warburg Pincus to buy $210m Haitong shares
Warburg Pincus Private Equity has agreed to buy $210 million worth of Haitong shares, thus becoming a cornerstone investor in the Chinese brokerage’s Hong Kong IPO.
Blackstone, Bain eye Yahoo bid
Blackstone and Bain Capital are reportedly nearing a bid to buy the whole of Yahoo that could value the company at more than $20 a share. Yahoo’s associates in China and Japan, Alibaba Group and Softbank Corp., may support the private equity consortium...
SAIF invests $30m in China Polymetallic Mining IPO
SAIF Partners has agreed to buy $30 million worth of shares in China Polymetallic Mining, moving the firm toward its goal to raise up to $163 million through an IPO.
VC Professional of the Year – Sandeep Singhal
Sandeep Singhal, co-founder of Nexus Venture Partners, discusses job satisfaction, the secrets of his venture firm’s success and the outlook for India’s early-stage sector.
Bain sells offs Chinese chemical companies
With Bain Capital poised to announce a first close on its second Asia fund, the private equity firm has secured the first full exit from an investment made through its debut regional vehicle. The sale of Hipro Polymers and Casda Biomaterials to French...
PE Deal of the Year – Hyva
UNITAS CAPITAL’S BUYOUT OF DUTCH cylinder-maker Hyva earlier this year was a landmark private equity deal in that it was the first in Asia to be backed by a high-yield bond. Not only did the company’s $375 million bond issue set a precedent for other...
PE sees rise in post-deal disputes
Post-closing claims against PE firms have shot up since the global financial crisis, causing cash to be held back from exits and IRRs to suffer. What does it mean for Asia?
Trade Sale of the Year – Beijing Leader & Harvest
Conventional wisdom states that foreign private equity firms will struggle to do buyouts in China. If an owner is willing to sell – and few private entrepreneurs are, while anything with state ties is off limits – the regulators might not be willing to...
Private Equity Professional of the Year – Peter Wiggs
“It's been quite a year,” Peter Wiggs reflected as he collected the prize for Private Equity Professional of the Year at the 2011 Asian Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards.
Archer, Ironbridge achieve iNova exit
It may have taken longer than expected, but Archer Capital and Ironbridge Capital have finally exited Australian portfolio company iNova Pharmaceuticals to a Canadian trade buyer two years after launching an auction for the company. A healthy return on...