Sectors
Clearlake backs Futuris to buck downturn
The A$200 million ($178 million) state bailout for Australia's auto industry comes after years of decline in manufacturing. Industry production numbers are the lowest since 1957. Toyota and General Motors (GM) have scaled back production amid export pressure...
Financial technology: The new normal
Initiatives are in place to make private equity reporting faster, more detailed and completely standardized. Are the guidelines a good fit for the industry in Asia and what are GPs doing to meet them?
Axa to exit Arkadin to Japan's NTT
Axa Private Equity has entered exclusive negotiations with Japan's NTT Communications Corporation to sell its stake in collaboration software as a service (SaaS) provider Arkadin.
China pollution control business gets $20m Series C round
Invesco WLR Private Equity and Keynote Ventures have led a $20 million Series C round funding for LP Amina, an US-based energy and environmental solutions provider. Existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and Hao Capital also participated.
Jafco invests $10m in lunch box delivery start-up
Japanese VC firm Jafco Ventures has invested JPY1 billion ($10 million) in Star Festival, the start-up behind lunchbox delivery and catering site Gochikuru.com.
Sequoia-backed Quick Heal targets India IPO
Sequoia Capital-backed Quick Heal Technologies (QHT), an Indian security software-maker, expects to file its draft red herring prospectus and begin the formal listing process next year.
Chinese VCs join funding round for gesture-based technology developer
Shunwei Capital Partners and CTQuan joined Chinese mobile handset maker Xiaomi in a Series B funding round for Israel’s Pebbles Interfaces worth $11 million.
China Tiantu Capital closes sixth RMB fund at $160m
Tiantu Capital has closed its sixth renminbi-denominated fund on RMB1 billion ($160 million). The vehicle will mainly invest in China's consumer sector.
Advantage Partners exits Japan's Kazaka Securities
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Advantage Partners has sold its stake in Kazaka Securities to Osaka-based Naito Securities. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Actis makes another attempt to sell India’s Sterling Hospitals – report
Olympus Capital-backed DM healthcare and Temasek’s HealthCare Global (HCG) are reported to be making offers for Actis Capital's Sterling Hospitals.
MBK in exclusive talks with ING to acquire Korea unit - report
MBK Partners has reportedly entered into exclusive talks regarding the sale of ING Groep's South Korean life insurance business. The private equity firm is said to have offered KRW1.8 trillion ($1.6 billion) for the entire operation.
Mandarin Capital exits Italian valve component maker
Sino-European PE firm Mandarin Capital Partners has exited its 70% stake in Italian valves’ components producer Gasket International to Hutchinson, a French thermoplastics company. The Girelli family that founded the business has also sold its 30% shareholding....
AIG says aircraft leasing deal with Chinese consortium is not dead
Negotiations are ongoing between American International Group (AIG) and the Chinese consortium – which includes a fund run by former Primus Financial Holdings executive Wing-Fai Ng – that has agreed to buy a majority stake in International Lease Finance...
SingTel Innov8 invests $10m in Fab.com
SingTel Innov8 has invested $10 million in online lifestyle store Fab.com as part of an ongoing Series D round of financing. It joins a list of strategic Asian backers as the company plans expansion in the region.
China’s Zhonglu VC invests in five start-ups
A venture capital arm of Shanghai Zhonglu Group, a Chinese bicycle manufacturer, has invested a total of RMB36.4 million ($5.9 million) in five online technology start-ups. Zhonglu VC will take a 20% stake in each company.
New Zealand's Pan Pacific, Taiwan to set up $40m cross-border fund
Taiwan’s state-run Institute for Information Industry (III) and New Zealand-based Pan Pacific Capital have formed a $40 million venture capital fund, with a view to promoting cross-border deals and expanding bilateral cooperation.
Providence Equity-backed Idea Cellular to raise $616m through share sale
Idea Cellular, an Indian telecom provider backed by Providence Equity Partners, plans to issue up to INR37.5 billion ($616.1 million) in equity.
China's 58.com plans for $100m IPO in the US - report
Chinese venture capital-backed local classifieds website 58.com intends to raise at least $100 million through a US IPO later this year.
Clearlake Capital buys Australia-based auto interiors firm
Clearlake Capital Group, the Los Angeles-headquartered PE firm, has made its first investment in Australia, buying Elders’ automotive business for A$69 million ($62 million), including debt. The divestment allows Elders to become a pure-play rural and...
Daiwa, Intec invest $2m in Japan's Repica
Japan's Daiwa PI Partners and Intec IT Capital have invested JPY200 million ($2 million) in Repica, a company that develops CRM solutions for Japanese businesses.
Baring Asia completes Korea parcel delivery buyout
Baring Private Equity Asia has announced the acquisition of South Korean courier firm Logen. Details of the deal, said to be worth around KRW160 billion ($140 million), emerged last month prior to closing. The seller is Mirae Asset Private Equity.
Founder of VC-backed ShopClues faces US charges
Sandeep Aggarwal, founder of VC-backed Indian e-commerce site ShopClues, has been arrested in the US in connection with the SAC Capital Advisors insider trading investigation. He is charged with passing confidential information to a trader concerning...
DBS abandons takeover bid for Indonesia’s Bank Danamon
Singapore’s DBS Group has abandoned its $7.3 billion takeover bid for Indonesia’s Bank Danamon after deciding the regulatory hurdles were insurmountable.
Nomura, Next Capital-backed Ashikaga files for IPO - report
Ashikaga Holdings, which is backed by Nomura Financial Partners and Next Capital Partners, has applied to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) for what could be a $1 billion IPO.