Financials
Baring PE India boosts stake in Manappuram Finance
Baring Private Equity Partners India has increased its stake in gold loan company Manappuram Finance to 9.71% through an open market transaction.
Kuwait-based Asiya launches Hong Kong operation
Kuwait’s Asiya Investments has opened a Hong Kong office, only its third service center globally, in response to rising demand from Arab investors for exposure to Asia.
Strained relations: Foreign PE and financial services
Global buyout firms have seen less deal flow in South Korea in recent years, with financial services sector activity a shadow of its former self. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are unwelcome
India's Satin Creditcare raises new VC funding, Lok Capital exits
Satin Creditcare Network, a New Delhi-based microfinance institution (MFI) has raised INR410 million ($7.49 million) from three venture capital firms’ three funds. The transaction facilitates the exit of Lok Capital, an early investor in the company....
China Development Financial Holding plans PE fund - report
Taiwan-based China Development Financial Holding (CDFH) is said to be planning a private equity fund that will invest in unlisted companies in local creative industries. This is line with a strategy to strengthen its asset management business while reducing...
PE, MFIs back Philippines rural lending initiative
When examining the driving forces of rural development, one fact continually rings true: the higher the proportion of people in possession of a bank account, the higher a country's GDP per capita. In Asia, two countries fall well below the trend line...
Strong demand for Carlyle-backed Repco Home Finance IPO - update
The public issue of Repco Home Finance (RHF), which is backed by The Carlyle Group, Wolfensohn Capital Partners and Creador, was over-subscribed on its final day on Friday.
Carlyle-backed Repco Home Finance launches IPO
Repco Home Finance (RHF), which is backed by The Carlyle Group, Wolfensohn Capital Partners and Creador, launched its IPO on Wednesday, seeking to raise INR2.7 billion ($49 million).
Olympus Capital launches Asia structured credit business
Olympus Capital Asia is entering the structured credit space, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia, India and Australia. Daniel Mintz, the private equity firm’s founding managing director, believes the pullback by commercial banks combined with entrepreneurs’...
PE, strategics bid for Thai Life Insurance stake – report
A clutch of private equity firms and strategic investors have reportedly entered the bidding for a 20% stake in Thai Life Insurance, with the deal expected to reach around $500 million.
MBK appoints advisor for ING South Korea bid - report
North Asia-focused buyout firm MBK Partners is said to have hired Barclays to advise on a bid for ING's South Korean life insurance business.
Bamboo Finance, DFIs back Philippines financial services start-up
Bamboo Finance has teamed up with a group of non-profit investors to commit $24 million to Bridge, a Philippines-based financial services start-up dedicated to improving rural banking. The participants include microfinance pioneer Accion and two development...
Cerberus to boost stake in Japan's Seibu
Cerberus Capital Management wants to raise its stake in Japanese railways and property group Seibu Holdings by around 4% as the company plans to re-list.
India's Future Generali Life Insurance sells 22.5% stake to IITL
Industrial Investment Trust (IITL) will acquire a 22.5% stake in the life insurance unit of India's Pantaloon Retail, Future Generali India Life Insurance (FGLI).
CX Partners to close India Transaction Solutions deal - update
CX Partners is near to closing its acquisition of a 75% stake in the Indian ATM unit of Australia's Transaction Solutions International (TSI) for $22 million.
TPG, Northstar approached for BTPN stake - report
Japanese banks Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho and Sumitomo Mitsui are said to be among potential suitors approaching TPG and Northstar Pacific Partners with a view to acquiring their stake in Indonesia's Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional (BTPN). The PE firms'...
Vogo-backed Tong Yang Life eyes ING South Korea unit
Vogo Capital-backed Tong Yang Life Insurance is considering purchasing ING Group's South Korean insurance unit.
India's Grameen Koota raises $9.6m from VCs
Indian's Grameen Financial Serivces (GFS), also known as Grameen Koota, has raised INR532 million ($9.6 million) from Creation Investments, Incofin Investment Management and MicroVentures in its third round of funding.
ChrysCapital buys 10% stake in NBFC Au Financiers
ChrysCapital Partners has purchased a 10% stake in Indian non-banking financial company Au Financiers for INR1.2 billion ($22.2 million). The investment facilitates another partial exit for Motilal Oswal Private Equity, which sold a portion of its holding...
TPG in $303m partial exit from Shriram Transport
TPG Capital has sold about half its stake in Indian truck financier Shriram Transport Finance (STFC) for about INR16.6 billion ($303 million).
Orix beats PE firms to buy Rabobank's Robeco
Orix has bought the asset management arm of Rabobank, Robeco, for EUR1.9 billion ($2.5 billion). The Japanese financial services firm will acquire a 90.1% stake in the company while Rabobank will retain 9.9%.
China's CIC makes invests in Moscow Exchange IPO
China Investment Corporation (CIC) participated as a cornerstone investor in Moscow Exchange’s $500 million IPO. The deal represents another collaborative effort between the Chinese sovereign wealth fund and its Russian counterpart, Russia Direct Investment...
Korean GP EQ Partners gets investment from Reorient Group
Hong Kong-listed financial services provider Reorient Group has bought a one third stake in Korean private equity firm EQ Partners from Dongah Tire & Rubber, a Korean auto parts manufacturer, for KRW4.5 billion ($4.1 million).
IFC to invest $24m in India's Ratnakar Bank
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, plans to invest up to INR1.3 billion ($24 million) in India’s Ratnakar Bank. The commitment, which would be structured as a preferential allotment, complies with IFC’s strategy...