North America
Blackstone consortium reduces Pactera MBO offer
A consortium led by The Blackstone Group has made a definitive offer for Pactera Technology International that values the US-listed tech outsourcing firm at approximately $600 million. Existing investor GGV Capital is also participating in the bid alongside...
Advent, CDIB, Mirae back The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Advent International has joined Taiwan's CDIB Capital and Japan's Mirae Asset Private Equity to acquire a significant stake in International Coffee and Tea, the company behind US specialty coffee and tea retailer - The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. The largest...
Intel Capital, AsiaVest to make partial exits from China's Montage via US IPO
Intel Capital and AsiaVest Partners will make partial exits from Montage Technology Group when the China-based semiconductor manufacturer completes its NASDAQ IPO.
PE-backed Endurance International to buy India's Directi
Endurance International Group, a US-based web hosting services provider controlled by Warburg Pincus and Goldman Sachs, has agreed to buy Indian online services firm Directi Web Technology for up to $110 million.
CalSTRS alters allocation to favor inflation sensitive, illiquid assets
The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) will recalibrate the long-term allocation targets of its $170 billion investment portfolio, placing greater emphasis on inflation-sensitive and illiquid assets at the expense of equities and...
Secondaries: Bifurcation point
More LP interests in Asian funds are coming onto the secondary market, but the region remains the industry’s future rather than its present. Which investors will be around to witness it coming to bloom?
OTPP loses head of Asia fund investments
Alison Nankivell has left her role as head of Asian fund investments at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) for a job with Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
Japan's Rakuten acquires VC-backed video site Viki
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has acquired Viki, a VC-backed global video streaming platform.The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Japan's Rakuten leads $23m Series B round for e-commerce app Slice
Rakuten Group - Japan's largest e-commerce firm - has led a $23 million financing round for the Silicon Valley-based start-up behind online shopping app Slice.
American Capital exits Miami flight school to Japan's ANA for $79m
American Capital has exited its majority stake in the Miami-based Pan Am International Flight Academy to Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) for $79 million, claiming a compound annual rate of return of 16% over the lifetime of the investment.
Profile: 500 Startups' Dave McClure
A Silicon Valley veteran of nearly 25 years standing, 500 Startups founder Dave McClure has worked for PayPal and sold a software firm to Intel. Now he is bringing his own brand of angel investing to Asia
Singapore’s Temasek exits Cheniere Energy
Temasek Holdings has halved its stake in Cheniere Energy, taking advantage of a spike in the US liquefied natural gas (LNG) company’s shares. The Singapore fund sold 9.2 million shares in the second quarter of 2013 at a valuation of $257 million.
China's 58.com plans for $100m IPO in the US - report
Chinese venture capital-backed local classifieds website 58.com intends to raise at least $100 million through a US IPO later this year.
Clearlake Capital buys Australia-based auto interiors firm
Clearlake Capital Group, the Los Angeles-headquartered PE firm, has made its first investment in Australia, buying Elders’ automotive business for A$69 million ($62 million), including debt. The divestment allows Elders to become a pure-play rural and...
Founder of VC-backed ShopClues faces US charges
Sandeep Aggarwal, founder of VC-backed Indian e-commerce site ShopClues, has been arrested in the US in connection with the SAC Capital Advisors insider trading investigation. He is charged with passing confidential information to a trader concerning...
Asia Pacific Capital completes $25m Series C round for Ciris Energy
Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific Capital (APC) has invested $15 million in Ciris Energy, a US company that converts coal to natural gas, concluding a $25 million Series C round of investment.
Zhejiang ZF invests in Canada's Empire Industries
Zhejiang ZF investment (ZZG) has invested in Empire Industries - a steel fabrication company in Canada - via a $3m private placement.
SEC removes PE general solicitation ban
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has voted to remove the longstanding ban on general solicitation by private-issuers, opening a path for private equity firms to speak publicly about their fundraising efforts and engage more freely with...
Japan, Canada pension fund consortium makes first investment
A consortium of Canada's Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement Scheme (OMERS) and a group of Japanese pension funds led by Mistubishi Corp. has made its first investment in Midland Cogeneration Venture (MCV), a gas power plant in the US. The details...
Friend or foe? Chinese M&A in the US
Chinese companies are keen to acquire assets overseas and the US is a popular target. Success hinges on satisfying regulators, appeasing politicians and persuading sellers of their ability to execute transactions
Sun Capital exits US-based ASB to Japan's Lixil
Sun Capital Partners has exited its stake in American Standard Brands (ASB), a US maker of bathroom and kitchen fixtures, to Japanese toilet manufacturer Lixil Corp. for $542 million. The deal values the 138 year-old firm at around $342 million and includes...
PEP-owned American Stock Transfer refinances debt – report
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is said to have tapped the US markets to refinance $480 million in debt held by portfolio company American Stock Transfer (AST). This is the third time in less than two months that firms owned by the Australian GP have completed...
TIAA-CREF merges property business with Henderson to boost Asia exposure
TIAA-CREF has merged its real estate business with that of London-based manager Henderson Global Investors in order to broaden its global portfolio and gain better Asia exposure in particular.
Japanese, Chinese VCs provide $4.4m round for social site Muzy
The Silicon Valley-based venture capital arm of Japanese telecoms giant NTT Docomo, Docomo Capital, and Recruit Strategic Partners - the corporate VC arm of Japanese internet company Recruit Holdings - have teamed up with Chinese entrepreneurs to invest...