Industry
SingTel unit leads local series A
Singapore Telecom's recently launched venture capital unit, SingTel Innov8, has made its first investment, leading the Series A financing of locally grown 2359 Media. Innov8 invested approximately S$800,000 in the mobile advertisement platform creator,...
ILPA updates Private Equity Principles
The Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) has released an updated version of its Private Equity Principles and the first of its five recommended Standardized Reporting Templates that aims to drive best practices and support long-term partnerships...
PRC government takes first measure to allow overseas PE investing
Shanghai is to be the first territory in China in which overseas investors will be allowed to convert their foreign currency into renminbi for the use of private equity investing, Shanghainese authorities announced.
Macquarie invests in Moser Baer project
The Macquarie SBI Infrastructure Fund is to take an INR5.8 billion ($129 million) minority stake in a New Delhi-based, 2.52 gigawatt thermal power project of Moser Baer, a domestic energy developer.
A glimpse into the future
With 2011 upon us, industry players offer thoughts on the major themes for the year ahead, and for the first time in years, the forecast is largely for blue skies and sunshine.
Case In Point: SME Deals On the Rise
As if to prove that 2011 would be the year of the SME investment, Polaris Capital Group has acquired a 100% stake in domestic food chain operator Samukawa Food Planning Co (SFP). Although the deal size was not disclosed by Polaris, Nikkei reports suggest...
Global directives and PE
Private equity investing can be thwarted, stalled or propelled into action in certain countries based on legal and tax structures. AVCJ looks at what may affect the industry in 2011.
Frontier markets investments showcase growth and opportunity
Recent activity out of Cambodia showcases the opportunities in frontier markets, in spite of the risks and uncertainties that these countries also present. In January, Leopard Capital, through its Leopard Cambodia Fund, took a 33.7% stake in Intean Poalroath...
Apax, iGate take Patni Computer for $1.22 billion
A private equity consortium comprising of Apax Partners and its investee iGate is to acquire a 63% stake in Mumbai-based IT services firm Patni Computer for $1.22 billion, news that comes one week after the finalized deal was initially supposed to be...
Leopard Capital takes stake in Laos hydro-power firm
Leopard Capital L.P., through its Leopard Cambodia Fund, has taken a 2.32% stake in the soon-to-be publicly listed Laos hydro-electric power company Electricite Du Laos Generating Company (EDL Genco).
Carlyle divests China Pacific Insurance
Days after The Carlyle Group announced that it would sell $860 million worth of shares in China Pacific Insurance, the third-largest insurer in the PRC, the US buyout giant declared that it will offload an additional 415 million shares in the company,...
SAIF considers Specialty Restaurant options
Despite reports suggesting that SAIF Partners is considering boosting its stake in food services firm Speciality Restaurants from 12% to 20%, an executive from the firm has told AVCJ that an equity boost is only one option being considered to fund the...
KKR plans a $1.5 billion India-focused fund
PE major Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) has reportedly begun the process of raising a $1.5 billion India-focused fund, with the firm’s founder Henry Kravis said to be in the country drumming up support for the vehicle.
Gobi Partners invests in the clouds
Tech-focused VC firm Gobi Partners and Singapore-based EDBI Investments have injected $6 million into cloud computing provider Cloudpic Singapore, with the capital slated to enable Cloudpic’s expansion across Asia.
IDG invests in two Chinese companies
IDG Capital Partners, a China-focused VC firm, announced just before Christmas that it made a new investment in ihaveu.com, a website established by the former VP for MSN China and founder of Taobao.com. The total capital raised in this first round of...
Zephyr Peacock targets $150 million for third fund
New York-based Zephyr Management’s India-focused PE arm, Zephyr Peacock, is set to raise a $150 million fund – its third and largest – targeting global investors.
Blackstone caps Shanghai Jinfeng interest in RMB fund
The Blackstone Group may raise not more than RMB 300 million ($45.3 million) from Shanghai Jinfeng Investment Co., Ltd. for its RMB denominated fund.
Baring invests $90 million in Indian boiler manufacturer
Baring Private Equity India has invested $90 million in boiler maker Cethar Vessels for an unspecified minority stake, with capital earmarked to be used to expand Cethar’s facilities. Cethar, India’s second-largest boiler manufacturer, currently produces...
Korea's NPS joins up with local conglomerates to form PE fund
National Pension Service, South Korea’s largest investor, plans to form a private equity fund with local conglomerates, including SK Group, GS Group, and KT Corporation, to seek returns from private investments in global markets.
Leopard Capital takes 33.7% stake in Cambodian MFI
The Cambodia-based private equity firm announced that it has invested an undisclosed sum in Intean Poalroath Rongroeurng (IPR), a Cambodian microfinance firm, in return for a 33.7% equity stake.
Tata Power cancels $300 million deal with Olympus Capital
Six months after Olympus Capital Holdings Asia inked a deal to buy $300 million worth of shares in Tata Power’s coal special purpose vehicles (SPVs) Bhira Investment Ltd. and Bhivpuri Investment Ltd., Tata has rescinded the deal on the grounds that specific...
Blackstone among suitors for Australia's Centro Properties
Debt-burdened Australian shopping mall owner Centro Properties Group is entertaining an acquisition bid from the Blackstone Group for its more than 700 Australian, New Zealand and US properties, with other PE majors also said to be eyeing the assets....
Patni deal delayed - reports
Following initial reports that private equity consortium Apax Partners and iGate had been selected to buy a 63% stake in IT services firm Patni Computer, besting a rival bidding team led by the Carlyle Group and Advent International, latest reports suggest...
Japan's SMBC forms new PE fund
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), one of the largest financial groups in Japan, has announced that it will be establishing a private equity investment management company alongside its affiliates Sumitomo Corporation, and The Sumitomo Trust &...