Sectors
China oil trader agrees to buy control of Warburg-sued Titan
China's Guangdong Zhenrong Energy, an oil and commodity trader partly owned by state-run Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, has agreed to pay HK$175 million ($22.57 million) for a controlling stake in Hong Kong-listed Titan Petrochemicals, a debt-laden shipping and...
Daewoo to sell $1.1b Kyobo Life stake to Affinity-led PE group
A group of investors led by Affinity Equity is buying a KRW1.2 trillion ($1.1 billion) stake in unlisted Kyobo Life Insurance, the smallest of South Korea’s Big Three life insurers, from Posco-owned Daewoo International.
Navis profits from Pearson’s expansion drive
Pearson's M&A activity follows a familiar emerging markets theme. In May the education and publishing company bought GlobalEnglish, a cloud-based English-language learning specialist with 75% of its subscribers in Asia and Latin America.
Bain in bumper $1b deal for India’s Genpact
Indian business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, once a prime target for private equity investment several years ago, have inevitably become a hive of exit activity. The Blackstone Group last year sold its 66.25% stake in Intelenet Global Services to...
History lessons of PE in Asia
With 2012 marking the 25th anniversary of the AVCJ Hong Kong Forum – and, give or take a year, the Asian Venture Capital Journal itself – we have been taking a trip down memory lane for some special content to be released later in the year. This involves...
Taiwan’s PharmaEngine signs Asia deal with VC-backed Nanobiotix
Taiwanese biopharmaceutical company PharmaEngine has agreed to form a strategic partnership with VC-backed Nanobiotix, to hasten the development of one of the French nanomedicine firm’s products.
Accura Infotech in talks to raise $36m from PE firms
Mumbai-based Accura Infotech, which installs automated teller machines (ATMs), is in advanced talks with private equity investors to raise up to INR2 billion ($36 million) to set up and operate ATMs for public sector banks in Uttar Pradesh. The company...
VC fund to help restore Australia’s Olympic dominance
The chairman of a body that introduces sports technology businesses to the commercial market is reportedly attempting to raise A$60 million ($63 million) for a venture capital fund designed to help restore Australia’s dominance in the Olympic Games.
Atinum mulls $350m STX Energy bid
Korea’s Atinum Partners is reportedly considering making a bid for STX Energy Co, the privately-held subsidiary of Korea Exchange-listed STX Group. The deal could value the company at up to KRW400 billion ($$354 million).
Mandarin Capital warned CDB ahead of Suntech fraud scandal
Sino-Italian PE player Mandarin Capital Partners advised China Development Bank (CDB) as early as three years ago that it shouldn't invest in Suntech Power Holdings' southern Italy initiative due to concerns about fraud. The Chinese solar company has...
Colonial First State buys TDF’s broadcasting assets in Finland
Colonial First State, an Australian wealth manager owned by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, has agreed to buy French broadcasting group TDF’s Finland business. The company, known as Digita, owns Finland’s largest broadcast tower network as well as...
L Capital signs up Indian designers for new fashion venture
L Capital is in talks with India’s top designers and Evoluzione, a local retailer, to set up a fashion venture which will consolidate separate designer names. The PE player, part of luxury group LVMH, will invest INR2 billion ($35.9 million) in the...
Australia’s QIC to use Burgiss Group PE software platform
QIC, one of the largest institutional investors in Australia, has deployed a private equity software platform designed by The Burgiss Group, a New Jersey-based software solutions provider.
INFUSE Ventures launches cleantech incubation program
Indian Fund for Sustainable Energy Ventures (INFUSE Ventures), an early-stage fund focused on sustainable energy and cleantech, has launched a program in the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad to foster start-ups that require seed capital.
Apollo launches two Asia real estate funds
Apollo Global Management has launched two funds that will invest in commercial real estate in Asia, seeking up to $750 million in capital. It comes barely three months after the private equity firm disclosed that it has raised about $255 million for an...
General Atlantic denies Snapdeal interest - report
General Atlantic says it never entered into talks with Snapdeal in what would have been the private equity firm’s first foray into Indian e-commerce.
India’s Vistaar receives $7m from VC players
Bangalore-based small enterprise financing company Vistaar Financial Services has raised INR400 million ($7.1 million) in Series B funding from Lok Capital and Omidyar Network as well as existing investors Elevar Equity and SVB Capital Partners.
Baring, ICICI Venture plan Karvy exit – report
Baring Private Equity Asia and ICICI Venture Funds Management, the private equity arm of India’s ICICI Bank, are reportedly in talks to sell their 31% stake in Karvy Stock Broking (KSBL).
PE firms target ING’s Asian insurance assets – report
ING is said to be in talks with several parties, including Apollo Global Management, J.C. Flowers & Co. and a team backed by The Blackstone Group, over the sale of different parts of its Asian life insurance operations. The initial plan was to divest...
Bain Capital to buy 30% stake in Genpact for $1b
Bain Capital has agreed to buy 30% of Indian business process outsourcing (BPO) company Genpact from Oak Hill Capital and General Atlantic (GA) for $1 billion. The sellers will still own 10% of the firm when the deal closes.
SBI commits $3m to Indian e-learning provider
SBI Holdings has invested more than $3 million in to India’s Liqvid, an online content provider that specializes in English language training. SBI Ven Capital Singapore's Brijesh Pande will join the Liqvid board.
PE firms bid for Korean weapons manufacturer – report
Four private equity firms and a European defense company have reportedly submitted bids for a stake in South Korea’s LIG Nex1. The weapons manufacturer is offloading a 49% interest worth around $440 million.
Woori launches $495m PE fund with Posco, EIG
Korea’s Woori Asset Management has launched a private equity fund in partnership with domestic steelmaker Posco and US-based EIG Global Energy Partners. The vehicle was created in February and has a target size of KRW560 billion ($495 million), with...
L Capital backs Indian cinema operator PVR
L Capital, the private equity arm of luxury group LVMH, will invest just under INR1.1 billion ($19.4 million) in cinema and entertainment company PVR for a 10% stake. As part of the deal, L Capital will set up a joint venture with the Indian firm that...