Europe
Australia's AMP closes global infrastructure fund at $2.4b
Australia’s AMP Capital has reached a final close of $2.4 billion on its second global infrastructure fund, exceeding the target of $2 billion.
Singapore business school INSEAD launches seed fund
INSEADAlum Ventures (IAV), the Singapore-based VC arm of international business school operator INSEAD, has launched a seed fund dedicated to its alumni and faculty networks across Europe and Asia.
GIC, Tecent, NavInfo to take mapping business Here into China
Singapore’s GIC Private has teamed up with China’s Tencent Holdings and NavInfo – a digital maps and location services provider backed by Tencent – to acquire a 10% stake in Here, a US-headquartered open location company.
Japan's AGC Asahi Glass buys PE-owned CMC Biologics
Japanese glass, ceramic and chemicals maker AGC Asahi Glass has paid JPY60 billion ($510 million) for CMC Biologics, a Denmark-based biopharmaceutical manufacturer backed by several private equity firms.
Asian LPs contribute 23% of Apax's $9b global fund
Asia-based investors account for just under one quarter of commitments to Apax Partners’ latest global fund, which has closed at the hard cap of $9 billion after less than a year in the market.
Japan's Outsourcing buys Orizon from European GP
Japanese employment services company Outsourcing has agreed to acquire German jobs portal operator Orizon, providing an exit for UK-based private equity firm Silverfleet Capital.
Mandarin expands European team
Europe-Asia cross-border focused PE firm Mandarin Capital Partners has hired Inna Gehrt and Andrea Tuccio for its German and Italian offices, respectively.
Macquarie, CIC join consortium to buy control of UK gas distributor
China’s CIC Capital and Australia’s Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) have joined a consortium agreeing to take control of the UK’s largest gas distribution business for GBP5.4 billion ($6.8 billion).
Mandarin acquires Italian pharmaceuticals maker
Europe-Asia cross-border focused PE firm Mandarin Capital Partners has committed EUR16.4 million ($17.7 million) for a majority stake in Italian pharmaceutical manufacturer Mipharm.
INCJ to invest $45m in UK freeze-dried food company
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has committed up to $45 million as part of a joint acquisition of UK-based freeze-dried food manufacturer Chaucer Food.
China’s Ctrip to acquire VC-backed UK travel site Skyscanner
China’s largest online travel site Ctrip.com has agreed to buy Skyscanner, an airfare comparison website backed by VC investors, in a deal valuing the UK-based company at approximately GBP1.4 billion ($1.74 billion).
Blockchain: Ethereal frontiers
As blockchain segments mature in Asia, private equity and venture capital investors will benefit from a range of new entry points. Pitfalls related to the technology’s obscure nature, however, will persist
PE investors commit $850m to Tencent's Supercell acquisition
CITIC Capital and several domestic investment funds have contributed $850 million to Tencent Holdings’ acquisition of a majority stake in Finland-based mobile game developer Supercell.
China’s CSC Group backs UK AI incubator
Chinese private equity firm CSC Group has invested in Founders Factory, a London-based accelerator and incubator, with a view to getting exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) technology start-ups.
Denmark's NKT sells China cables business to local GP
CAC Capital Management, a China-based private equity firm, has agreed to buy the local power cables business of Denmark-headquartered industrial conglomerate NKT for an enterprise value of EUR14.3 million ($16 million).
China football: Game of two halves?
Chinese investors are showing increased interest in international football clubs, hoping to profit off their growing domestic fanbases
Chinese consortium further scales back Opera deal to $575m
A PE-backed Chinese consortium has agreed to scale back its ongoing acquisition of the web browser business of Norway’s Opera Software to a value of $575 million. It follows a renegotiation earlier this year that agreed a $600 million deal as an alternative...
Malaysia-based FirstFloor invests in Skeleton Technologies
Malaysian VC firm FirstFloor Capital has led a EUR13 million ($14.5 million) Series C round for Estonian energy storage system developer Skeleton Technologies to support its growth plans in Southeast Asia.
Chinese investors to buy Italy's AC Milan for $820m
Haixia Capital, an investment firm controlled by China’s State Development & Investment Corporation, is part of a Chinese consortium that will buy leading Italian football club AC Milan.
IDG-backed Chinese group agrees buyout from Germany's Osram
IDG Capital partners has led a consortium to buy Ledvance, the lamps business of German lighting manufacturer Osram, for more than EUR400 million ($440 million).
Permira reaches $6.9b first close on latest global fund
Permira has achieved a first close for its sixth global buyout fund, with about EUR6.3 billion ($6.9 billion) in commitments.
China VCs back $25m round for Austrian entertainment group
China Growth Capital has led a $10 million Series B-plus round of funding for Austria-based media company Juzi Entertainment. It brings the Series B to $25 million overall.
Chinese consortium agrees scaled back Opera deal
A PE-backed Chinese consortium has agreed a $600 million acquisition of the web browser business of Norway’s Opera Software after a full takeover bid worth $1.2 billion failed to attain government approval.
Terra Firma to exit Odeon & UCI Cinemas to Wanda's AMC
UK private equity firm Terra Firma will exit Odeon & UCI Cinemas for GBP921 million ($1.2 billion) to AMC Entertainment, a US-listed cinema chain operator owned by Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group.