Funds
Hiroyuki Watanabe to launch tech-focused venture fund
Former general manager of internet services firm NGI Group Hiroyuki Watanabe has spun out to launch a maiden venture fund.
Aeon nears acquisition of bankrupt Incubator Bank of Japan
Aeon Bank, a unit of the retail and financial conglomerate Aeon Group, is in the final round of talks to purchase the bankrupt Incubator Bank of Japan, The Nikkei reported.
Accel cancels plans for $400m India fund - report
Silicon Valley-based VC firm Accel Partners will not raise a $400 million India-focused fund as previously planned, The Times of India reported, citing unstable market conditions and increased competition as reasons for the decision.
Mayfield appoints venture advisors in India
Tech-focused Mayfield Fund has bolstered its investment team with the appointment of two venture advisors, including Sunil Singh, who will be based in India.
AXA tipped to sell private equity unit for around $670m
French insurer AXA has put its private equity unit up for sale in order to focus on its core insurance business.
Beijing software company gets Series B funding
800App, a Beijing-based CRM software services firm, has received a Series B round of funding from Salesforce.com, as well as from existing investor Sierra Ventures.
Maarten Ruijs: An enduring interest in Asia
Maarten Ruijs, managing partner & chief investment officer of CVC Asia Pacific, reflects on coping with the global economic downturn and explains why he’s in Asian private equity for the long haul
India's alternative lenders
India needs alternative funding channels. A characteristic of most financial sectors in emerging nations is limited product range, which means capital often fails to reach those enterprises with the potential to deliver the best returns. A truck company,...
Chinese regulators call for clampdown on VIE investment structures
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has issued an internal report asking the State Council to take action against the variable interest entity (VIE) structure that underpins much foreign investment in the country.
Khosla Ventures appoints Lightspeed principal as partner
Silicon Valley-based Khosla Ventures has appointed Lightspeed Venture Partners Principal Andrew Chung as partner, charged with brokering cleantech and IT investments.
KKR closes $1b global mezzanine fund
KKR Asset Management (KAM) has made a final close on its more than $1 billion KKR Mezzanine Partners I fund, raised through global investors including insurers, pension plans, family offices and sovereign wealth funds.
IL&FS looks to raise $900m across three funds
IL&FS Investment Managers (IIML) is looking to raise up to $900 million across three funds, but the fundraising process is expected to take longer than usual as a result of tighter risk assessment among investors globally.
CIC, KIC chairmen named to high-profile RDIF advisory board
The chairman of China Investment Corp. (CIC), Lou Jiwei, has been named to the international advisory board of the Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Choi Chong Suk, chairman of Korea Investment Corp. (KIC), will also serve on the board alongside Bader...
Indian property developers turn to private equity
Indian property developers will borrow about $1 billion from private equity funds this fiscal year as banks cut back on lending, according to Knight Frank. PE funding to the sector came to INR12 billion ($252 million) in the last three months and the...
SBI, Kingston form $100m Greater China fund
Japan’s SBI Holdings will launch a $100 million fund with Hong Kong-based Kingston Financial Group that will invest in public and private companies in Greater China. Each party has agreed to contribute $50 million to the vehicle, which will be launched...
Hudson plans largest RMB clean energy fund
Renewable energy-focused buyout firm Hudson Clean Energy Partners is targeting China in a big way, announcing that it will raise the largest renminbi-denominated fund dedicated to green energy. The New Jersey-based firm did not disclose its targeted corpus,...
Innovation Works closes first fund
Tech incubator Innovation Works arose to fill a perceived void in the Chinese market – new business ideas were in abundance but there wasn’t enough capital to get them off the ground. Company founder Kai-fu Lee told AVCJ’s China summit in May that he...
Intel Capital-backed Parade Technologies launches Taiwan IPO
Intel Capital has ushered semiconductor company Parade Technologies onto Taiwan’s GreTai Securities Market, marking the second Taiwanese listing of an Intel portfolio company in as many weeks.
Blackstone's Ben Jenkins to depart by the end of the year
Ben Jenkins, Hong Kong-based senior managing director at Blackstone Group, will depart the firm at the end of the year to return to New York.
Clearwater raises $200m, targets $900m for Asia fund
Clearwater Capital Partners has so far raised $200 million for its fourth Asia ex-Japan fund, which will target special situations investments in public and private debt and equity. The company is aiming for a final close of around $900 million, a source...
Carlyle files for IPO but listing not expected until 1H 2012
The Carlyle Group made its IPO filing on Tuesday but volatility in the global markets means the offering is unlikely to happen until the first half of 2012.
CVC resumes efforts to sell Japanese shoe repair chain
CVC Asia Pacific has hired Mizuho Securities to advise on the sale of shoe repair chain Minit Asia Pacific and invitations have been sent for first-round bids, according to Reuters.
Chinese online game developer to launch VC fund
Perfect World, the NASDAQ-listed online game developer, will launch a venture capital fund focusing on the technology, media and telecommunications sectors.
KKR, Sino-Ocean launch $140m real estate fund
KKR has launched a $140 million Chinese real estate fund with property firm Sino-Ocean Holdings to “capitalize on the long-term potential in China’s real estate market.“