Regions
Media entrepreneurs to create China alternative investment group
Chinese media entrepreneur Bruno Wu and Thomas Middelhoff, former CEO of German media group Bertelsmann and Arcandor, are to form a China-focused media and investment joint venture, pooling assets with revenues of $1-2 billion.
First Reserve-backed KrisEnergy jumps 5% on Singapore debut
KrisEnergy, the Southeast Asia-focused oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) company which counts First Reserve among its investors, rose 5% on its trading debut in Singapore on Friday. The stock closed at S$1.155 after reaching an intra-day high...
KKR seals debut Indonesia deal
KKR will become the second-largest shareholder in Indonesia’s Tiga Pilar Sejahtera Food (TPSF) after agreeing to buy an approximately 9.5% stake for an undisclosed sum. The investment, which is being made through funds advised by KKR Asset Management,...
Pearson, Village Capital to fund Indian education start-ups
Pearson - a UK education company which owns the Financial Times and publishers Penguin Random House - has teamed up with social investor Village Capital to set up a business incubator for Indian education start-ups.
Australian regulator declines PE request to delay Billabong deal
The Australian Government Takeover Panel - the country's takeover regulator - has declined a request from Oaktree Capital Management and Centerbridge Partners to delay a A$395 million ($359 million) refinancing deal for surf-wear company Billabong International.
ASK eyes $100m first close for $200m real estate fund
The ASK Group expects a $100 million first close of its first overseas real estate fund in September.
Singapore online grocer RedMart closes Series A round
Online grocery store RedMart has closed its Series A round of funding from Singapore-based Garena, which offers online gaming. The company did not disclose the exact amount raised in this round, only that the total amount of funding raised so far adds...
ADB-backed infra fund to invest $85m in Philippines wind farm
The Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PINAI) fund, a vehicle partly financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and managed by Macquarie Infrastructure Management Asia, is investing up to $85 million in the country's first ever wind...
Oak Capital invests $6.6m in Japan's K-Lab
Japan's Oak Capital Corp. has invested JPY650 million ($6.6 million) in online mobile game designer KLab.
Southeast Asia VC still overlooked by global investors - AVCJ Forum
Southeast Asia is the region’s forgotten venture capital market despite some compelling fundamentals. Last month ASEAN overtook the US by internet users and at some point this month it will surpass the US in terms of the total number of 3G connections,...
Globis, KDDI invest $2.6m in Japanese how-to site
Globis Capital Partners and the KDDI Open innovation fund have led a JPY270 million ($2.6 million) investment in Nanapi, a Japanese website offering everyday how-to advice. This is the second round of investment for Globis which previously backed the...
Blackstone to acquire India’s Agile Electric Works for $110m
The Blackstone Group has agreed to buy a majority stake in Indian auto parts maker Agile Electric Sub-assembly Limited (AESPL) and its listed subsidiary Igarashi Motors India(IMIL) for $110 million.
Australia's PushStart closes accelerator program
PushStart, an Australian firm that offers mentoring to early stage Australian tech startups, has shut down its accelerator program.
McDonald's picks IDG's Nguyen to bring brand to Vietnam
McDonald's has appointed Henry Nguyen, managing partner at IDG Ventures Vietnam, to assist the burger chain in taking its brand into the country for the first time ever.
ASEAN integration brings opportunities, challenges - AVCJ Forum
ASEAN integration is a game changer for companies from China and India as well as for those in Southeast Asia, but a lack of familiarity with private equity in more peripheral markets remains an obstacle, fund managers told the AVCJ Singapore forum.
HomeAway acquires VC-backed vacation rental startup Travelmob
US-based vacation rentals site HomeAway has bought a controlling stake in Singapore-based Travelmob in a bid to boost its online rental accommodations business in Asia. Early investors of the start-up include Accel Partners and Jungle Ventures, alongside...
Shuanghui plans HK IPO after Smithfield deal - report
China’s Shuanghui International - which is backed by CDH Investments and Goldman Sachs - intends to list US pork producer Smithfield Foods on the Hong Kong stock exchange following its planned takeover.
Apollo's McGraw-Hill Education buys out Indian JV partner
McGraw-Hill Education, a US-based textbook publisher backed by Apollo Global Management, has bought Tata Group’s minority stake in Indian publishing joint venture Tata McGraw-Hill Education. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
India relaxes FDI rules in telecoms, 12 other sectors
India has relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) rules in sectors such as telecoms, single brand retail and oil and gas.
Baidu pays $1.9b for VC-backed 91 Wireless
Chinese search engine giant Baidu is to acquire 91 Wireless - the mobile app store business of online gaming company NetDragon Websoft - for $1.9 billion.
France approves Fosun ClubMed takeover
The French financial markets authority, Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), has approved the takeover of France-based vacation resort operator Club Méditerranée (Club Med) by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International and Axa Private Equity.
Japanese mobility chair firm raises $1m VC round
Whill, a Japanese startup which has designed a type of electronic mobility chair, has received JPY100 million ($1 million) in funding from a group of venture capital investors including Itochu Technology Venture, 500 Startups and Sun Bridge Global Ventures....
Billabong strikes $331m refinancing deal with Altamont, Blackstone
Australian surf wear company Billabong has a reached an agreement with US private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners and Blackstone Group's credit arm GSO Partners for a A$395 million ($331 million) refinancing package.
J-Star reaches $205m final close in Fund II
Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star has reached at JPY20.4billion ($205 million) final close on its second buyout fund.