South Asia
Saban Capital plans to triple Asia portfolio
Saban Capital is looking to triple its investments in Asia over the next two years with a focus on the media and communications space.
Accion backs Asian financial services start-ups
Non-profit microfinance pioneer Accion will provide funding to three Asian start-ups through its $10 million seed initiative, Venture Lab. Singapore-based Coda Payments, Demyst Data and Indian education access provider Varthana are among the five businesses...
Creador rushes to launch Fund II
“Despite our experience, and the fact we spent the last 12 years investing in India with success, I think a lot of people saw us as a first time fund,” says Brahmal Vasudevan, founder and CEO of Creador, recalling the difficulty his firm had in reaching...
NSL Renewable raises $90 million
With $90 million in funding raised over the last week, NSL Renewable Power (NRPPL) is looking to leverage the falling costs of producing power from renewable sources. It currently has 185 megawatts of installed capacity across wind, solar, bio-mass and...
Canary in the coal mine: GP economics under stress
Still dealing with the fallout from a fundraising boom, mid-market PE firms in Asia face the prospect of smaller vehicles in coming vintages, and team volatility comes as part of the package
Tata fund leverages parent’s brand
The Tata Opportunities Fund (TOF) was launched in 2011 with a mandate to invest into Tata Group companies as well as outside Indian firms. The manager, Tata Capital, announced a final fund close at $600 million last week, making it the largest India-focused...
Goldman invests $110m in Indian cable distributor
Goldman Sachs has invested INR6 billion ($110 million) in DEN Networks, an Indian cable distribution company. According to AVCJ Research, it is the fifth-largest PE investment completed in India so far this year.
CLSA Capital Partners to invest $10m in Indian agri company
CLSA Capital Partners will acquire a 19.6% stake in Camson Bio Technologies, an agricultural biotechnology company, for INR539 million ($10 million).
Qatar sovereign fund buys $1.2b stake in Bharti Airtel
The Qatar Foundation Endowment will buy a 5% stake in Bharti Airtel for INR67.9 billion ($1.26 billion). It will purchase 199.8 million new shares issued by the India-based telecommunications provider at INR340 apiece.
Creador sets $250m target for Fund II
Creador has launched its second fund, targeting $250 million, barely four months after closing its debut vehicle. The private equity firm, which focuses on India and Southeast Asia,expects to reach a first close in August.
India’s NSL Renewable raises $30m from ADB
Renewable energy developer NSL Renewable Power Private (NRPPL) has raised $30 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in another round of financing to fund the construction of two hydro-power and wind energy projects in India.
Tata Capital closes Opportunities Fund at $600m
Tata Capital has closed its Tata Opportunities Fund (TOF) with $600 million in commitments, short of its target of $1 billion. The fund was launched back in March 2011, with the mandate of investing within the Tata group of companies and also in Indian...
Spice Global to co-invest with Silicon Valley’s Formation 8
Spice Global, the Indian conglomerate controlled by B.K. Modi, has committed an undisclosed amount to US-based venture capital firm Formation 8. The group will also be looking to co-invest with Formation 8 as it targets US start-ups with the potential...
Baring Asia in talks to buy stake in Lafarge India unit
Baring Private Equity Asia is in advanced talks with the Indian arm of French cement maker Lafarge for a minority stake in the unit.
CDC posts $345m return for 2012
CDC Group, the UK government’s development finance arm, showed a total return for 2012 of GBP223 million ($345 million) as its total assets grew 8.6% to GBP2.8 billion.
India's education sector: Learning curve
There is no shortage of demand for services or investment opportunity in India’s education sector, but negotiating overcrowding and heavy regulation requires a clear strategy
India’s NSL Renewable Energy raises $60m round
A group of investors, including International Finance Corporation (IFC) and FE Clean Energy, has committed $60 million to the NSL Renewable Power Private, a subsidiary of NSL Group.
TPG increases stake in Indian bulk container manufacturer
TPG Capital has invested INR1.35 billion ($25 million) in Flexituff International through a subscription to foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCB), one month after buying a 5.34% stake in the company for INR270 million ($5 million)
Fortis healthcare raises $100m from IFC
Indian hospital and diagnostics group Fortis Healthcare is to issue 28.6 million shares to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a total of $45 million. Another $55 million will come through a private placement of foreign currency convertible...
IDFC, Capital International exit India's Manipal Group via share buyback
India’s Manipal Group has raised around $260 million in debt to buy back IDFC PE and Capital International’s stake in Manipal Education and Medical Group International India (MEMG).
India's Kaizen to raise Asia education fund
Indian education-focused GP Kaizen is eyeing its first Asia-focused education fund, a source familiar with the situation told AVCJ.
Standard Chartered-backed Ramky Enviro delays $200m IPO plan
Ramky Enviro Engineers (REEL), an Indian waste management company backed by Standard Chartered and IL&FS Investment Managers, has delayed its planned $200 million IPO.
Kae Capital leads investment in Indian app building startup ShepHertz
Kae Capital, Blume Ventures and Mumbai Angels have invested an undisclosed amount in ShepHertz Technologies.
SEAF, Sarona invest in India's Khyati Foods
Canada-based Sarona Asset Management has invested in India's Khyati Foods, alongside SEAF Agribusiness India Fund. The details of the transaction were not disclosed.