Funds
VCs invest $1.2m in Japanese website Retty
GREE ventures, NTT investment Partners and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital have jointly invested JPY100 million ($1.2 million) into Retty, a Japanese social restaurant guide.
New Zealand, Taiwan ink $200m co-investment pact
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) and Taiwan’s National Development Fund (NDF) have formed a co-investment partnership which aims to commit up to $200 million into venture capital funds in the two nations.
CVC-backed Nine avoids receivership as lenders reach agreement
Lenders to CVC Capital Partners-backed Nine Entertainment, the beleaguered Australian TV network, have reached an agreement to save the company from being put into administration.
Australia’s Kaz Capital to launch venture fund
Australian boutique financial advisor Kaz Capital is planning a venture fund that will support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in need of expansion capital. The company claims to have received conditional regulatory approval to establish an...
PE consortium in $330m take-private bid for China's Yongye
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) and Abax Global Capital are backing a $330 million bid by the chairman of Yongye International to take private the US-listed Chinese animal and plant feed maker.
Japan’s J-Star sees 3x return on Apo Plus Station
Mid-market Japanese GP J-Star has sold its majority stake in the pharma-focused contract sales company Apo Plus Station (APS) to Qol, a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm.
SAIF Partners to launch China hedge fund – report
China-focused private equity firm SAIF Partners is reportedly planning to launch a Greater China hedge fund, which would make it the first major Chinese PE player to attempt such a move.
Shares in Baring-backed Courts up 7.1% following IPO
Shares in Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) portfolio company Courts Asia rose by more than 7% following its Singapore IPO last Monday.
Panorama leads Series D round for Skyfire’s Asia expansion
Panorama Capital has led a $10 million Series D round of funding for Skyfire, intended help the mobile video optimization and cloud solutions company expand in Asia.
CITIC Securities targets up to $1.6b for RMB fund
CITIC Securities is targeting RMB5-10 billion ($798 million to $1.6 billion) for its first private equity fund, most of which will come from Chinese institutions, including government agencies. The vehicle will buy stakes in companies involved in M&A...
INCJ-led consortium to complete $2.5b Renesas rescue - report
A consortium led by Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) is said to be nearing a JPY200 billion ($2.55 billion) deal to buy ailing Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronic Corp.
Affinity completes debut Indonesia deal
Affinity Equity Partners has completed its first Indonesian investment, securing a significant minority stake in local auto services group Mitra Pinasthika Mustika (MPM) for about $100 million.
Azure Capital launches $94m property fund
India's Azure Capital is raising an INR5 billion ($94.10 million) real estate private equity fund that will target commercial properties across the top seven cities in the country. The new vehicle - India Realty Fund II (IRF2) – will be raised completely...
Blackstone closes global real estate fund at $13.3b
The Blackstone Group has closed its seventh global real estate fund on $13.3 billion. Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII was launched 13 months ago, and raised capital from more than 250 global LPs.
Partners VC buys stake in Korea’s Panax Etec
Partners Venture Capital has purchased a 10% stake in Panax Etec, a South Korean battery electrolyte manufacturer, for KRW10 billion ($9 million). The investment facilitates the partial exit of Samsung Venture Investment and Bokwang Investment.
CVC-backed Nine makes new restructuring proposal
The management of Nine Entertainment, the beleaguered Australian media company owned by CVC Capital Partners, has put forward a new proposal for restructuring its A$3.8 billion ($3.9 billion) in debt. Adrian McKenzie, CVC’s Australian managing partner...
Asian PE fundraising slips in 3Q as RMB vehicles struggle
Asian private equity fundraising reached $10.8 billion in the third quarter of 2012, continuing a downward trend that stretches back 12 months, according to provisional data from AVCJ Research. Renminbi-denominated fundraising experienced the most acute...
3Q analysis: The bottom falls out of RMB fundraising
China US dollar funds attract more capital than renminbi vehicles; trade sales and secondary buyouts continue to gather pace; positive early signs for China buyouts
Yishan creates JVs to tap Indonesia real estate market
Yishan Capital Partners, a Southeast Asia-focused real estate investment and asset management firm, has formed two strategic joint ventures to improve its penetration of the Indonesia market. The Yishan team, which spent more than a decade investing in...
Dragon Capital funds secure continuation vote from shareholders
Shareholders in two Vietnam-focused funds managed by private equity firm Dragon Capital have voted in support of the continuation of the vehicles.
Terra Firma, CDB to launch infrastructure fund – report
UK-based private equity firm Terra Firma and China Development Bank (CDB) are reportedly planning to launch an energy infrastructure fund worth $3-5 billion at an investor meeting this week.
Australian infrastructure: Changing tastes
Australia’s superannuation funds are active infrastructure investors, but the size and nature of commitments to the asset class are influenced by past experience, available resources and risk appetite
Baring PE Asia in new attempt at Courts IPO
Baring Private Equity Asia has resumed efforts to list electronics and furniture retailer Courts Asia in Singapore. The PE firm, which controls Courts through Asia Retail Group, attempted an IPO in 2010 but withdrew the offer due to valuation concerns.
IUVP rebrands as Kalaari Capital, closes $150m India VC fund
The founders of Indo US Venture Partners (IUVP) have established Kalaari Capital Advisors, a new fund manager that has raised a venture capital vehicle worth $150 million for the Indian market.