Sectors
Franklin Templeton raises $319m global real estate fund
Franklin Templeton has closed its latest real estate fund at $319.2 million, exceeding the initial target of $300 million.
Nanostart acquires 10% stake in Stella Specialty Chemicals
Nanostart Asia Pacific has acquired a 10% stake in Singapore-based Stella Specialty Chemicals and plans to increase its holding to around 23% by the beginning of next year. The investment was made through the Nanostart Singapore Early Stage Venture Fund...
Macy's invests $15m in China's VIPStore
Macy’s, the US department store operator, has invested $15 million in VC-backed Chinese e-commerce firm VIPStore. As part of the deal, Macy’s will sell private brand merchandise through omei.com, VIPStore’s luxury retail site.
Warburg Pincus leads $32m round for Quikr
Warburg Pincus has led a $32 million investment round for India’s largest horizontal classifieds platform, Quikr. Existing venture backers Matrix Partners India and Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) also subscribed to the round.
CVC sells $1.6b stake in Formula One ahead of Singapore IPO
CVC Capital has sold a $1.6 billion stake in Formula One Group to BlackRock, Waddell & Reed and Norges Bank Investment Management ahead of its planned IPO in Singapore.
Fairbridge Capital acquires Thomas Cook India for $150m
Fairbridge Capital, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings, has acquired the Indian arm of Thomas Cook, the second-largest holiday maker in Europe, for INR8.17 billion ($150 million).
Everstone Capital invests in Helion-backed R&R Salons
Everstone Capital has purchased a significant stake in R&R Salons, which operates the YLG salon chain across India. The capital raised will be use for further business expansion.
Hahn & Co. buys Korean cement firm out of bankruptcy
One of the standout PE investment trends in Korea is taking ownership of assets from second-tier conglomerates that have run into difficulty and are forced to divest non-core assets. MBK Partners acquired Kumho Rent-A-Car in this fashion and it was also...
Accel, Helion back Series A round for TaxiForSure
Accel Partners, Helion Venture Partners and seed investor Blume Ventures have backed a Series A round of funding for India’s Serendipity Infolabs, which runs online taxi booking site Taxiforsure.com.
PE giants sell AMC Cinemas to China's Wanda for $2.6b
Private equity firms Apollo Global Management, Bain Capital, CCMP Capital Advisors and Spectrum Equity Capital have sold AMC Entertainment, owner of the eponymous cinema chain, to China’s largest entertainment group for $2.6 billion. The deal is thought...
IDM Venture Capital backs online gaming network
Singapore-based firm IDM Venture Capital has led a $3 million funding round for Xfire, an online social platform that for PC-based gamers. The funding will be used for Xfire’s expansion into Asian territories.
Nippon Mirai Capital in ALC buyout
ALC Press, a listed language-focused educational service provider, has approved a tender offer from Nippon Mirai Capital and plans to go private.
Baird Capital invests in Chinese refrigerated trucks manufacturer
Baird Capital Partners Asia, the China-focused private equity fund of Baird Private Equity, has invested in Chinese truck maker Henan Bingxiong Refrigerated Truck (also known as Ice Bear).
PE-owned oOh!Media tipped to buy Ten's outdoor ad business
Australia’s Ten Network Holdings has entered into exclusive negotiations with a bidder for its outdoor advertising business, Eye Corp. The company didn’t disclose the identity of the bidder, but it is thought to be oOh!Media Group, which was bought by...
Globis leads $3.6m Series A round for quiz developer
Globis, the Japanese venture capital firm, has led a GBP2.3 million ($3.6 million) Series A round of funding for Quipper, a UK quiz applications manufacturer. Benesse, a Japanese education and publishing company, and Atomico, the VC firm led by Skype...
NSR-backed Augere Wireless to exit India
Augere Wireless, a portfolio company of Asia-focused New Silk Route, is reportedly selling its 4G broadband spectrum in two Indian states, as part of a move to leave the country.
Carlyle to sell Ta Chong for $1.25b - report
The Carlyle Group looks set to sell its 40% stake in mid-sized Taiwanese lender Ta Chong Bank to Yuanta Financial in a deal which could value the bank at up to T$37 billion ($1.25 billion).
PEP seeks buyers for Link Group – report
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has reportedly begun the auction process for Link Group, which could sell for as much as A$1.4 billion ($1.4 billion), including debt. It is poised to be Asia’s biggest private equity exit of the year.
Alibaba to buy back 20% of Yahoo's stake for $7.1b
Alibaba Group has agreed to repurchase about a 20% stake in itself from Yahoo for $7.1 billion ahead of an initial public offering. The US internet company bought 40% of Alibaba - founded by Jack Ma (pictured) - in 2005, paying $1 billion plus ownership...
Accel, Tiger-backed Freshdesk sets up $10m future fund
Indian technology product start-up Freshdesk, which is backed by international funds Tiger Global Management and Accel Partners, has announced phase one of its $10 million Freshdesk Future Fund, which will provide cloud-based support solutions to new...
LVMH to invest in Chinese wedding photo firm
L Capital, the private equity arm of French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, is targeting a Chinese wedding photography company as its next investment to tap the emerging consumer market.
ICICI Venture in talks to buy Maja Health Care
ICICI Venture is in talks to pick up a stake in Maja Health Care, a division of Vi-John Group that manufactures shaving cream and other personal care products.
Longreach seeks to sell Taiwan bank stake for $1.2b
Japan-focused private equity firm Longreach Group is planning to sell its stake in Taiwanese lender EnTie Commercial Bank at TW$30 or more per share, which would value the deal at about $1.2 billion.
Ironbridge targets $1b for Fund III, invests $95m in dental business
Australian private equity house Ironbridge Capital has said it will target up to A$1 billion ($1 billion) for its third fund, for which it will begin fundraising in the second half of this year.