Investments
India's Axis Private Equity to sell portfolio companies
India’s Axis Private Equity is reportedly negotiating the sale of Vishwa Infrastructure and Corrtech International, and plans to dilute its stake in Neesa Leisure through an IPO.
Carlyle invests $26m in Indian affordable housing firm
The Carlyle Group has committed $26 million to Value & Budget Housing Corporation (VBHC), a constructor and developer of affordable housing in India
Australian VC firms back Spinifex Pharmaceuticals
GBS Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Uniseed Management and UniQuest have participated in the Series B round of financing for Spinifex Pharmaceuticals. The Australian drug development company raised a total of $19 million, $6.5 million more...
PE targets deep distress
Specialist distressed asset firms are scouting to Asia for companies that have gone beyond bankruptcy – and therefore beyond where most investors would look
Bright Food finally seals overseas acquisition
China's Bright Food Group is set to acquire a 75% stake in CHAMP Private Equity-controlled Manassen Foods, finally making a breakthrough in its long-held but often thwarted ambitions to take a significant step into overseas markets. The parties did not...
PEP, Unitas exit Independent Liquor to Asahi
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital last week agreed to sell New Zealand beverage firm Independent Liquor to Japan’s Asahi Group for NZ$1.525 billion ($1.27 billion). The private equity firms secured a 1.5x return on their original NZ$1.2...
Lexington eyes bumper deal flow
Brent Nicklas founded Lexington Partners in 1994 and currently serves as managing partner, overseeing private equity secondary and co-investment funds. He discusses global opportunities for secondary investors
Secondaries: The direct approach
The product of a secondary investment itself, Bank of America Merrill Lynch spinout NewQuest Capital has now set out its stall as Asia’s first direct secondary fund
Secondaries in Asia: Small beginnings
Global secondary investors are opening offices and forging relations in Asia, waiting for the trickle of deals to evolve into a healthy flow
PE’s love-hate relationship with corporates
This week's AVCJ highlights three deals, all located down under, involving corporates in private equity – Bain Capital outbidding Sage for Archer and HarbourVest’s MYOB, Asahi taking over Independent liquor from Pacific Equity Partners and Unitas,...
China's outbound investments increase 40% in H1 2011
Outbound Chinese M&A activity rose 40% in H1 2011 from the same period in 2010, Robert W. Baird & Co. announced in its China M&A Market report, translating to a 50% rise in the collective deals’ value.
Singapore's Asian Agri Capital to raise $100m for palm oil investment
Asian Agri Capital, a Singapore-based early-stage plantation investor, is looking to raise $100 million to invest in palm oil and other tropical commodities in Southeast Asia and Latin America, Bloomberg reported.
PE invests $100m in India's food industry in H1
Private equity has invested more than $100 million in India’s food service industry in the first half of 2011, the Franchise India and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced.
Australian tax authorities win right to pursue TPG over Myer
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was won court orders to help it trace overseas funds that were distributed following TPG’s IPO exit from Myer, The Australian reported.
Qantas dismisses private equity takeover talk as speculation
Australian airline Qantas said Wednesday that it had received no approaches from prospective buyers but acknowledged rumors that private equity firms are interested in the business. "As far as we are concerned there is no formal or informal bid on the...
BofAML to retain at least 5% of its CCB holding
Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML) has agreed to extend its partnership with China Construction Bank (CCB) until the at least the end of 2012. Zhang Jianguo, president of CCB, said the US bank, which currently has a 10% stake in the Chinese lender,...
Osakakoshinko accepts Tasumi Shokai buyout offer
Osakakoshinko, a listed Osaka-based real estate developer and manager, has accepted a tender offer made by Tasumi Shokai, an Osaka logistics company. Tasumi Shokai already owns 73.17% of Osakakoshinko.
Apollo may exit Parallel Petroleum to Korea’s Samsung C&T
Apollo Global Management could be on course to exit Parallel Petroleum after South Korean trading firm Samsung C&T said it was interested in purchasing the US asset. The deal is slated to be worth about KRW1 trillion ($919.6 million), Reuters reported,...
SingTel Innov8 participates in Sentilla's $15m Series C round
SingTel Innov8 Ventures, the venture arm of the SingTel Group, has participated in a $15 million Series C round of financing launched by California-based Sentilla Corporation, a leading provider of IT infrastructure software. Other participants include...
Ascent Capital commits $45m to Karaikal Port expansion
Ascent Capital will inject $45 million into Karaikal Port as part of an INR7 billion ($153 million) expansion plan that will see a six-fold increase in the port’s capacity to 28 million metric tons. This is the port’s second round of private equity...
Reliance Communications again seeks PE buyers for tower unit
Reliance Communications is courting private equity firms and strategic investors as it seeks to sell its 95% stake in tower unit Reliance Infratel. The company has hired UBS to arrange a sale and is looking to recoup $5 billion for the asset, Reuters...
Bain emerges as winner in MYOB auction
Bain Capital is to acquire Australian business software maker MYOB from Archer Capital and HarbourVest Partners for approximately A$1.2 billion ($1.3 billion). It outbid private equity rival KKR and UK software maker Sage, which was earlier said to be...
GCM eyes failed Incubator Bank of Japan
GCM, a Tokyo-based investment bank formed by former Sanwa bankers, is reportedly in bidding for the bankrupt Incubator Bank of Japan. It is competing with AEON Bank, a banking unit of AEON Group, for the asset.
Rabo Private Equity tipped to exit Indian edible oils producer
Rabo Private Equity is set to exit its stake in Indian edible oils producer Geepee Agri Private as Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) closes in on an acquisition of the company. Sources familiar with the situation told The Times of India that the US food processing...