North America
Bain may sell Outback Steakhouse in Korea, elsewhere
Bain Capital is reportedly in talks to sell the successful Asia Pacific operations of its investee company, Australian-themed restaurant chain Outback Steakhouse, with the sale of the Korean assets most advanced.
CalPERS plans to reduce relationships
Major US LP the $203 billion California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is planning to reduce its number of GP relationships, in a bid to improve returns and cut costs.
Religare buys into Northgate
Religare Enterprises, the Indian financial services group, has announced an investment in US private equity fund-of-funds firm Northgate Capital, for a reported 60% controlling stake in the firm's management company.
Morgan Stanley may hand over ANA hotels
Morgan Stanley may have to give up its $2.4 billion portfolio asset of Japan's ANA Hotel chain to creditors, if as expected, the firm fails to repay debts due in April this year.
Intel Capital, CIC agree cooperation
Leading US corporate VC Intel Capital has announced a joint innovation investment initiative with PRC SWF the China Investment Corporation (CIC).
WI Harper's Lam made Valley's AAMA president
WI Harper Group MD David Lam has been appointed President of Silicon Valley's Asia America MultiTechnology Association (AAMA), a Valley business network set up to foster VC ties between Sand Hill Road and Asia.
Clarity raising second China fund
Beverly Hills-headquartered private equity group Clarity Partners is reportedly seeking to raise its second China fund, targeting some $650 million.
SEC reconsiders placement agent restrictions
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may review its recently unveiled plans to prevent private equity firms from hiring placement agents to help seek funds from public pensions.
New alignments, new businesses
New regulations and new fund realignments look set to push more private equity activity to Asia.
PRC real estate play IFM Investments downsizes IPO
Chinese real estate company IFM Investments Ltd., which operates under a franchise agreement with major US real estate agency Century 21, has reportedly downsized the number of shares it plans to sell in its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange from 16.6...
Oh dear, Obama
US President Barack Obama’s recent statement about curbing US banks’ abilities to use their own capital to trade out of proprietary investment accounts or to invest in private equity funds and hedge funds is rife with implications, but very little in...
HSBC investee JinkoSolar files for $100 million NYSE IPO
PRC solar company JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. has filed for an NYSE IPO of up to $100 million. The company is partly owned by an affiliate fund of UK lender HSBC.
Insight invests Six Waves for Facebook
New York-headquartered VC Insight Venture Partners has sought to tap Facebook’s popularity by investing $17.5 million in Six Waves Inc. (otherwise known as ‘6 waves, a Hong Kong-based company that has developed a sheaf of products and games based on the...
US BBH deploys partner to Hong Kong
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co (BBH), a US private bank offering specialist private equity services, will relocate its senior partner Andrew J. F. Tucker to Hong Kong in order to develop business in Asia.
India's SMS GupShup shop gets $12 million VC investment
Globespan Captial Partners, a US IT-focused firm, Charles River Ventures, a US early stage venture firm and Helion Venture Partners, an India-focused venture firm, jointly injected $12 million into SMS GupShup, India's largest social network operator....
CalPERS places spotlight on placement
One not strictly Asia Pacific development that emerged lately – but one that certainly has implications for GPs here – is the latest wrinkle in the ongoing controversy over the relationship between California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)...
Venture Q&A: Peter Wagner
Rebecca Fannin recently chatted with Accel Partners’ Peter Wagner, who heads up the investment firm’s strategy in India.
GIC could lose $720 million
An announcement that New York-based property developer Tishman Speyer Properties and a unit of BlackRock will not be making a full scheduled debt payment on Manhattan Eastside properties Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village could cost the Government...
Carlyle announces Beijing RMB fund
The Carlyle Group has announced an MOU to form a Beijing-based RMB fund in partnership with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Work.
NEA kicks the slump
The world’s largest VC firm, New Enterprise Associates, has announced the final close of its latest global fund, New Enterprise Associates XIII, at just under $2.5 billion, bringing its total committed capital to some $11 billion.
Goldman sees China NYSE realty IPO
Goldman Sachs investee Century 21 China Real Estate, a franchised division of US real estate group Century 21, is planning to go IPO on the NYSE, aiming to raise $150 million by the end of January.
HarbourVest makes promotions as Delbridge steps back
HarbourVest Partners has given several Asia-based executives wider roles, as one of its pioneering investors in the region moves to a less active position.
That was the year that wasn't?
Another year gone – unlike any other.
CalPERS supports placement lobbyist status
The board of US LP giant the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) has voted to back draft California state legislation compelling placement agents seeking business from public pension funds to register as lobbyists.