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Equity Partners buys majority stake in New Zealand's AHM
Equity Partners has acquired a stake of around 70% in New Zealand camping and gardening product distributor Amalgamated Hardware Merchants (AHM).
Fortress closes second Japan distress fund at $1.6b
Fortress Investment Group has closed its second distress fund, Fortress Japan Opportunity Fund II, at its hard cap of JPY130 billion ($1.65 billion). It is the successor fund to Fortress Japan Opportunity Domestic Fund (FJOF) which closed in June 2010...
Nine Entertainment targets listing within 18 months
Nine Entertainment is expected to list on the Australian Securities Exchange within 18 months following its A$3.4 billion ($3.5 billion) recapitalization, according to court documents submitted this week. The company reached an agreement with its creditors...
Shearman & Sterling elects new partner in Hong Kong
Global law firm Shearman & Sterling has promoted Sidharth Bhasin to partner in its Hong Kong office. He was formerly counsel.
Abraaj exits Thai restaurant chain Hot Pot after IPO
The Abraaj Group has exited restaurant chain Hot Pot after taking the company public on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in September. Hot Pot sold 101.9 million shares at THB2.80 apiece, raising THB285.3 million ($9.3 million), in an offering that was...
Nexus Ventures-backed Vdopia raises $3.4m Series B round
Video advertising network Vdopia has secured $3.4 million in Series B funding in a private offering from a single unnamed investor.
Templeton invests in China's Tongda Group
Franklin Templeton has acquired a 6.3% stake in Tongda Group Holdings, a Chinese manufacturer of high-precision components used in consumer electronics products. The investment was made through Templeton Strategic Emerging Markets Fund IV, which targets...
Japan's Fuller gets $1.2m seed round
Japanese internet service provider ASAHI Net and m8 Capital, a London-based VC firm, are leading a JPY100 million ($1.2 million) round of seed funding for Japan-based start-up Fuller Inc.
Golden Gate invests in three Singapore e-commerce firms
Golden Gate Ventures, a Southeast Asia-focused early stage technology seed fund, has added three Singapore-based e-commerce businesses to its portfolio: TradeGecko, RedMart and Coda Payments.
Temasek invests $104m in Godrej's agribusiness unit
Temasek Holdings has paid INR5.72 billion ($104.5 million) for a 19.99% stake in Godrej Agrovet, an agribusiness subsidiary of Godrej Industries. The deal comprises primary and secondary tranches, with the former earmarked to support Godrej Agrovet’s...
Riverside-owned Retail Zoo completes Australia bolt-on
Retail Zoo, an Australia-based restaurant chain backed by The Riverside Company, has completed the bolt-on acquisition of Cibo Espresso, a franchiser of espresso bars in South Australia and Queensland.
Baird teams up with Axis Capital for cross-border investment banking
International asset manager Baird is forming a strategic alliance with Axis Capital, the investment banking subsidiary of India’s Axis Bank, to focus on cross-border M&A between India, Europe and the US.
IFC to provide $25m to General Atlantic-backed Fourcee
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private investment arm of the World Bank, will provide a loan of $25 million to Fourcee Infrastructure Equipments, an Indian logistics firm backed by General Atlantic (GA) and India Equity Partners.
IFC exits India's Kanoria Chemicals
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private investment arm, has sold its 10.88% stake in India’s Kanoria Chemicals, exiting at a small profit.
KKR, Providence battle for Australia's NextGen – report
KKR is said to have joined Providence Equity Partners and TPG Telecom in the bidding for NextGen, the fibre-optics business being sold by Australian contractor Leighton Holdings.
Healthcare-focused Essex Woodlands opens Shanghai office
Essex Woodlands, the Silicon Valley-based healthcare investor, has opened an office in Shanghai as it looks to deepen its exposure to one of China’s fastest-growing sectors. David Yang and Scott Barry, both managing directors with the firm, will run operations...
Billabong receives $555m buyout offer - UPDATE
Billabong International has received a A$527 million ($555 million) buyout offer from Paul Naude, a director at the firm, with US-based Sycamore Partners participating as a cornerstone equity investor.
TPG-backed Li Ning warns of loss for 2012
Li Ning, the Chinese sportswear retail group backed by Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and TPG Capital, will record a substantial net loss for the year based on its preliminary review for the 11 months ended November.
China removes QFII cap on sovereigns, central banks
China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has removed the $1 billion limit on quotas for sovereign wealth funds, central banks and monetary authorities under the Qualified Institutional Investor (QFII) program.
Ascalon's Chuak Chan promoted from Asia head to CEO
Ascalon Capital Managers has appointed Chuak Chan as CEO. He joined the Australia-headquartered firm last year as head of Asia, having previously worked at Hong Kong hedge fund Segantii Capital Management, ING Investment Management and Bankers Trust in...
Anchorage approaches $263m close on Fund II – report
Anchorage Capital Partners will reportedly reach a final close on its latest fund at A$250 million ($263 million) as early as next month. The Australian private equity firm began fundraising in November.
Ticketgoose plans second round funding from VCs
One of India's leading online bus tickets firms, Ticketgoose.com, is looking to raise INR250 million ($4.6 million) in a second round of VC funding, CEO Arun Athiappan said.
Singapore named most attractive market for infrastructure investment
Singapore is the world’s most attractive market for infrastructure investment, according to a new report.
Hony invests in China International Marine Containers
Hony Capital has secured a 5.16% stake in China International Marine Containers (CIMC), the state-owned container producer that intends to shift its listing from China's B-share market to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.