Regions
2012: That was the year that was
The broad trends and particular highlights of private equity fundraising, investment and exit activity in Asia
China wine funds: Sour grapes?
Wealthy Chinese may recognize wine’s investment potential, but inexperience, taxation issues and limited access to top-tier vineyards means many domestic wine funds often promise more than they can deliver
Headland offers toymaker succession solution
Big eyed and rosy cheeked, Kong Suni the potty-training baby doll is the must-have toy in South Korea this year. Her ability to eat, fill her diaper and pass wind has attracted headlines both home and abroad. The doll is a creation of South Korean firm...
Primus co-founder in aircraft leasing club deal
During a week in which it emerged that Primus Financial Holdings was no more, two of its co-founders reemerged in new guises. First, Dexia announced that it was in exclusive negotiations with GCS Capital, a financial services-focused PE firm run by GuocangHuan,...
The four arms of Chinese private equity
The Chinese private equity market has lost a lot of its momentum in the past 12 months, with fundraising and investment dropping significantly, particularly in the latter half of 2012. Renminbi fundraising appears to have ground to a near halt, contributing...
Standard Chartered-backed Malakoff to list in 2013
Malakoff, the Standard Chartered Private Equity-backed power unit of Malayasian building firm MMC Corporation, has outlined plans for an IPO in 2013.
Korean PE fundraising to surpass $7b in 2012
The aggregate amount of private equity funds raised in South Korea this year is set to surpass KRW8 trillion ($7 billion), a record high for the country.
Olympus-backed DM Healthcare targets IPO by 2015
Olympus Capital-backed DM Healthcare, a Dubai-based healthcare services provider which gets a majority of its business in the Middle East, aims to go public by 2015.
PE-backed Xiaomi gets 10% of Kingsoft’s cloud computing unit
Chinese smart phone maker Xiaomi has agreed to purchase a 10% stake in Kingsoft Cloud Group, a unit of Chinese software maker Kingsoft, for $1.82 million in total.
Illinois Teachers commits up to $125m to MBK’s third fund
Illinois Teachers' Retirement System has committed up to $125 million to MBK Partners III. The pension plan previously committed $25 million to the North Asia-focused private equity firm’s second vehicle in 2008.
Sutherland Global Services to acquire Apollo's PE-backed BPO arm
Sutherland Global Services, a US-based business process and technology management services, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Apollo Health Street (AHS), Apollo Hospitals’ healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) arm. The company is...
PE-backed Chinese consortium to buy AIG’s aircraft leasing business
A Chinese consortium including a fund run by Wing-fai Ng, one of the co-founders of now-defunct Primus Financial Holdings, has agreed to buy up to 90% of International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) from American International Group (AIG). It is the...
Norwest Venture Partners invests $6m in Indian IT firm Attune
Norwest Venture Partners has invested INR326 million ($6 million) in cloud-based IT product company Attune.
General Atlantic appoints Apax's Sandeep Naik as India head
General Atlantic (GA) has appointed Sandeep Naik as managing director and head of its India office in Mumbai. Naik will lead GA’s investment advisory activity in the country, focusing on growth companies.
Renesas sells $1.8b in shares to INCJ-led consortium
Ailing Japanese chip-maker Renesas will sell JPY150 billion ($1.8 billion) of new shares to a consortium led by government-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ).
CNEI leads $20m Series B for Juxin International Leasing
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has led a Series B round of financing for Chinese specialty leasing company Juxin International Leasing. The investors acquired a 12.1% interest in Juxin for $20 million.
Singapore travel website gets seed funding from TNF, SingTel Innov8
Singapore-based online travel booking site Flocations has raised $570,000 seed funding round led by TNF Ventures and including SingTel Innov8, the corporate venture arm of SingTel – and angel investor Ben Ball.
Piramal’s IndiaVenture Adviors to raise $185m fund
IndiaVenture Advisors, the PE arm of Indian pharmaceuticals company Piramal Enterprises, plans to raise a fund of up to INR10 billion ($185 million) that will target healthcare and education.
Composition Capital invests in four Asian projects
Composition Capital Partners has invested in four projects in Macau, Taiwan and Malaysia through its local joint venture partners. The property-focused investor has also exited a Tokyo office development within a year of acquisition.
US, India-focused Naya reaches first close on VC fund
Naya Ventures, a US-based VC firm that also invests in India, has reached a first close of $50 million on a fund targeting the mobile and cloud markets. Its approach involves providing capital and industry expertise to early-stage companies with a view...
Blume, First Light invest $500k in India's MadRat Games
Blume Ventures and First Light Ventures have invested $500,000 in Bangalore-based gaming start-up MadRat Games.
CNEI leads $23m investment in China Dadi Chemical
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has led a $23 million round of funding for China Dadi Chemical, a leading industrial salt and salt chemicals producer. Korea Development Bank was a co-investor in the deal.
Fenox VC invests in Japan's Dream Link Entertainment
Silicon Valley-based Fenox VC has invested in Japanese flash animation studio Dream Link Entertainment (DLE).
Headland completes $55m buyout of South Korea’s YoungToys
Headland Capital Partners has a acquired a 96.5% stake in South Korean toy manufacturer YoungToys for KRW60 billion ($55 million). It is the 10th investment from Headland Private Equity Fund 6.