Funds
KPCB, IDG-Accel invest $10m in China's EntreMed
KPCB China and IDG-Accel China have agreed to invest $10.7 million in EntreMed, a clinical-stage pharma company that develops drugs in the US and China for global release.
Aditya Birla-backed Tree House to acquire Brainworks
Pre-school management company Tree House Education, backed by Aditya Birla Capital Advisors, is to acquire 100% of Brainworks Learning Systems, a national chain of pre-schools. Brainworks is part of Better Value Brands.
JAFCO invests $5 million in HiringBoss
Japanese venture capital firm JAFCO has put $5 million into HR software provider HiringBoss in a Series A round of funding.
Archer-owned Australian Aged Care buys Lend Lease's care unit
Australian Aged Care Partners, an Archer Capital portfolio company, has agreed to buy property group Lend Lease's aged care unit for A$270 million ($276 million). The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of March 2013.
IAN, Sequoia swap Jigsee holding for Vuclip stake
Indian Angel Network (IAN) and Sequoia Capital have become shareholders in VC-backed XinLab, which operates under the brand Vuclip, following its acquisition of mobile video start-up Jigsee in an all-stock deal.
NZVIF receives $49m underwrite for new fund investments
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF), a venture capital fund-of-funds, will receive a NZ$60 million ($49 million) underwrite facility from the New Zealand government.
China's Beisen gets Series B funding from Matrix, Sequoia
Beisen, a Chinese supplier of HR evaluation and testing tools and services, has received $10 million in Series B funding from Matrix Partners and Sequoia Capital. It comes three years after the company’s first-round of financing, which saw Shenzhen Capital...
Temasek unit completes Singapore's biggest IPO in two years
Mapletree Greater China Commerical Trust (MGCCT), a unit of Temasek Holding's real estate arm, has raised $1.3 billion in Singapore's biggest IPO in two years.
Korea's AmorePacific leads pharma firm's Series B round
AmorePacific Ventures, the VC arm of Korea's largest cosmetics group, has led a $7 million Series B round of investment in Miami-based Brickell Biotech, a pharma firm specializing in skin conditions. Further details of the deal were not disclosed.
Washington State to invest $300m in Affinity Fund IV
Affinity Equity Partners has secured a $300 million commitment for its fourth pan-Asia fund from Washington State Investment Board. It is three times the size of the US pension system’s investment in the GP’s previous vehicle.
Going walkabout: Australian outbound investment
Taking portfolio companies from Australia into Asia represents a major opportunity for private equity. Pan-regional funds see it as a key part of their strategy, but can domestic players join the party?
Indonesian incubator Grupara invests in fashion site
Indonesian venture capital firm Grupara has invested in men's fashion e-commerce site Maskool.in for an undisclosed amount.
IvyCap takes lead role in Thomson Reuters' India farming platform
IvyCap Ventures has agreed to become the lead investor in Thomson Reuters’ information platform for Indian farmers. Terms and conditions of the transaction were not disclosed.
Carlyle upbeat on Japan, expects to launch new fund in 2013
The Carlyle Group says it has already begun preliminary talks with investors for a third Japan fund, and remains upbeat about opportunities in the country's buyout space.
Ireo to invest $700m in hotel chain
India real estate investor Ireo will pump $700 million into luxury residences and hotel development in Gurgoan. The fund has tied up with the global hotel chain Hyatt to manage the project.
KKR, Allegro target Australia's ailing Geon
KKR and Allegro Funds have placed Australian commercial printing company Geon Group into administration and are looking to buy parts of the business out of receivership. The pair became creditors last year following the acquisition of a portfolio of distressed...
China Resources Capital, APG launch $265m car park fund
China Resources Capital (CR Capital), the financial services arm of state-owned China Resources Group, and Dutch pension fund asset manager APG have established a $265 million car park fund.
ADV seeks $500m for Asia special situations fund
ADV Partners, a PE firm set up by former executives from Mount Kellett Capital, is targeting $500 million for its debut Asia-focused special situations fund. The hard cap is $750 million.
China's CSRC issues draft regulation on PE supervision
China’s securities regulator has issued draft rules that impose greater oversight on domestic private equity funds. The proposals, and in particular the watchdog role to be played by the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC), represent another...
Helion provides Series A round for India's Lifecell
Helion Venture Partners has committed INR350 million ($6.5 million) to a Series A round of funding for LifeCell International, India’s first and largest stem cell banking company. The capital will be used to expand LifeCell’s domestic presence and support...
Apax makes partial exit from Apollo Hospitals
Apax Partners has exited part of its stake in India' s Apollo Hospital to Oppenheimer Funds for INR5.3 billion ($97 million).
Orix beats PE firms to buy Rabobank's Robeco
Orix has bought the asset management arm of Rabobank, Robeco, for EUR1.9 billion ($2.5 billion). The Japanese financial services firm will acquire a 90.1% stake in the company while Rabobank will retain 9.9%.
Investors flock to CRC's debut RMB fund
Renminbi fundraising weakened considerably over the course of 2012. Preliminary AVCJ figures showing that barely 20 vehicles attracted a total of $4.2 billion in the second half of the year, less than one third the amount raised in the previous six months....
China e-commerce: End of the line
Burning through cash and with no public market exit in site, many of China’s e-commerce players are losing the confidence of their investors. New rounds of funding come at depressed valuations – if they come at all