Sectors
Apax-owned Travelex to expand in China
Apax Partners-owned Travelex will expand its China footprint on becoming the first overseas operator to receive a nationwide foreign exchange license. The company plans to add a further 20 outlets in the next year to its current tally of 35, begin rolling...
Japan mulls bank rule change, prompts protectionist fears
The Japanese Government is considering altering regulations to allow banks to own larger stakes in Japanese companies, prompting fears of protectionism among the private equity community.
LPs chose direct route into Indian property
APG Asset Management, the group responsible for one-third of all collective pension schemes in the Netherlands, plans to make direct investments into Indian real estate rather than make commitments to private equity funds.
Dhingana raises $7m in Series B funding from VC players
Lightspeed Venture Partners has led a $7 million Series B funding round for Dhingana, a Indian social music streaming site. Existing investors Inventus Capital Partners and Helion Venture Partners also participated.
CPPIB acquires interests in two Australian shopping malls
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has acquired interests in two Australian shopping centers through a A$436 million ($450 million) investment in AMP Capital Retail Trust. CPPIB now has a 37% stake in the trust, which in turn owns 50% of Macquarie...
Korean court says Woongjin will honor MBK’s Coway deal
A South Korean court overseeing bankruptcy proceedings of Woongjin Holdings has said that the company’s biggest shareholder will honor an agreement to sell a controlling stake in subsidiary Woongjin Coway to MBK Partners. The deal was put on hold last...
Australia’s RMB invests in card producer Placard
RMB Capital Partners, an Australian mid-market private equity firm backed by South Africa's FirstRand, has led an investment in Placard, a Melbourne-based producer of secure transaction cards. It is partnering with the existing owner and management team,...
Shanghai VC firm launches JV with MicuRx Pharma
Shanghai Zhangjiang Biomedical Industry Venture Capital has formed a joint venture with MicuRx Pharma, a Sino-US bio-pharmaceutical company, to support the development and commercialization of antibiotic MRX-I for the Chinese market.
Guanxi secures Series A funding from SingTel Innov8
SingTel Innov8, the corporate venture capital arm of SingTel Group, has led a Series A round of funding in Guanxi, a mobile social network services (SNS) spin-off from Chinese mobile search and marketer mInfo.
DCM exits game developer Pokelabo to GREE
DCM has generated a 6x money multiple on its investment in social mobile game developer Pokelabo after the company was sold to Japanese media giant GREE for $175 million.
Nomura to launch Indian infrastructure fund next year
Japanese financial group Nomura Holdings has announced it will launch an India-focused infrastructure fund as early as next year.
Mayfield backs Indian Incubator AngelPrime
Mayfield Fund will take a majority interest in AngelPrime, a Bangalore-based incubator. The investment will be used to support operations as well as seed capital for companies that AngelPrime plans to incubate over the next three years.
CHAMP PE completes Gerard Lighting take-private
CHAMP Private Equity has completed the A$186 million ($192 million) buyout of Australian light fittings distributor Gerard Lighting Group. The company will de-list from the Australian Stock Exchange at the close of today’s trading, just over two years...
Champ PE makes lower offer for Eye Corp
CHAMP Private Equity’s portfolio company oOh!media has made a revised offer of A$110 million ($114 million) for Eye Corp, Ten Network Holdings’ outdoor advertising business.
CHAMP Ventures enters lonely waters
The Torres Strait separates the northern tip of Queensland from Papua New Guinea. It contains more than 270 small islands, most falling under the jurisdiction of Australia, and of which only a handful are inhabited. Cairns, the nearest urban center, is...
J-Star sees 3x return on consolidation play
Fierce competition among the middle-men in Japan’s pharmaceutical industry has created a healthy environment for private equity firms looking to consolidate a fragmented sector. Last week J-Star exited Apo Plus Station (APS) after a two-year holding...
CRCI sells Grant Achieve Global stake to Olympus Capital
China Renaissance Capital Investment (CRCI) and the chairman of Chinese water treatment firm Grant Achieve Global (GAG) have sold a 40% holding in the company to Olympus Capital Holdings Asia and Anoi, a Hong Kong-incorporated enterprise.
CVC appoints banks to run Matahari sale – report
CVC Capital Partners is said to have appointed CIMB, Morgan Stanley and UBS to manage the sale of its majority stake in Indonesia’s Matahari Department Store.
Cathay Fortune's Discovery Metals takeover bid turns hostile
Cathay Fortune Corporation (CFC), the private equity group founded by Chinese billionaire Yong Yu, has made a direct approach to Discovery Metals shareholders after the company's board rebuffed its A$830m ($856m) takeover bid.
India’s Rain Commodities buys Triton-owned Rütgers
Indian industrial group Rain Commodities has agreed to buy Rütgers, a German chemicals producer, from Northern Europe-focused private equity firm Triton. With an enterprise value of EUR702 million ($918 million), the deal is by some distance the largest...
Matrix, Lightspeed invest $5m in India's LimeRoad
Matrix Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners have invested $5 million in Series A funding for LimeRoad.com, a social commerce site aimed at women in India.
Japan's government to set up $500m VC drug fund
The Japanese government plans to set up a public-private fund to support research into drugs targeting cancer, hepatitis, diabetes and other difficult-to-treat diseases.
CHAMP Ventures in marine logistics buyout
CHAMP Ventures as acquired a majority interest in Sea Swift, an Australian marine logistics company that delivers supplies to remote island and coastal communities and resource development outposts. HarbourVest Partners is participating as a co-investor.
Accel, Tiger Global back Series B round for India's Commonfloor
Indian real estate and apartment management portal Commonfloor.com has raised a second round of funding from Accel Partners, an existing investor, and Tiger Global Management.