Growth capital
Tencent leads round for Chinese rural e-commerce site
Tencent Holdings and Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturer MediaTek have led a round of funding - reportedly worth more than $200 million - for Mmb.cn, a Chinese mobile e-commerce platform catering to rural consumers and urban migrants. Existing investor...
Kerogen makes Asia oil and gas play, eyes Fund II
Kerogen Capital has invested A$30 million ($27 million) in Twinza Oil, which has oil and gas interests in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Thailand. The energy-focused GP is also said to be preparing to launch its next fund later in the year.
Alibaba, CBC invest $20m in China travel portal Byecity
Alibaba Group and China Broadband Capital (CBC) have committed $20 million in Series B funding for outbound travel platform Byecity.com.
FidelisWorld invests in India sports management firm
FidelisWorld Asset Management (FAM) - an Indian GP focusing on sports, media and entertainment - has bought a significant minority stake in Technology Frontiers India (TFI), a Chennai-based sports management firm.
Indonesia acquisition finance: Squeezed at the margins
With bumper LBOs few and far between, banks see limited opportunities for leveraged finance in Indonesia. And in the prevailing economic climate, they aren’t generous at acquisition or operating company level
Indonesia macro: Tipping point?
Indonesia appears to have weathered the worst of its recent economic storms, but the route towards long-term sustainable growth has yet to be mapped out. PE investment theses rely on sensible navigation
Carlyle to invest $40.9m in India clothing brand Mufti - report
The Carlyle Group is to invest INR2.5 billion ($40.9 million) in Credo Brands Marketing, the company behind Indian casual wear brand Mufit.
Gaorong Capital leads $48m round for China's Avazu
Avazu, a Shanghai-based digital advertising firm, has raised $48 million in a Series A round of funding led by Gaorong Capital. An undisclosed US-based internet-focused private equity fund and a consortium of internet companies also took part in the round.
QIC PE unit invests in Australian building contractor
Australia’s QIC has bought a minority stake in Queensland-based Ostwald Construction Materials (OCM), the quarry and concrete solutions arm of Ostwald Bros. QIC acted through its private equity unit.
ASK Pravi takes minority stake in Indian kidswear brand
India mid-market private equity firm ASK Pravi Capital Advisors has invested INR500 million ($8 million) in children's clothing manufacturer Indian Clothing League.
Creador raises Somany Ceramics investment to $10m
South and Southeast Asia-focused mid-market GP Creador has increased its investment in Indian tile maker Somany Ceramics to $10 million via a secondary market transaction.
CDH pays $40m for 20% stake in China gold project
CDH Investments will acquire a 20% stake in Eastern Dragon project, a gold reserve base owned by Canadian miner Eldorado Gold Corporation, for $40 million in cash.
Samena picks up stake in Mahindra scooters business
Asia and Middle East-focused private equity firm Samena Capital has bought a 10.29% stake in Mahindra Two Wheelers, a scooter business controlled by Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group, from Kinetic Engineering.
Hopu participates in $2.5b China warehouse investment
Hopu Investment Management is part of a consortium that has agreed to invest $2.5 billion in Global Logistic Properties (GLP), a Singapore-listed warehouse operator with interests in China, Japan and Brazil.
ClearVue Partners closes $262m China consumer fund
ClearVue Partners has closed its first fund, ClearVue Partners Fund I, at $262 million. It has exceeded the original target of $200 million.
Mingxin China Growth Fund backs liquid fuel cell specialist
Oorja Protonics, a California-based liquid fuel cell technology firm, has raised a Series E round of funding from Mingxin China Growth Fund, with participation of existing investor DAG Ventures.
RRJ to invest $250m in Shanghai Bright Dairy JV
RRJ Capital plans to invest RMB1.5 billion ($250 million) for a 45% stake a dairy farming joint venture with Shanghai-listed Bright Dairy & Food, a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Bright Food Group.
Tiantu Capital commits $8m to Qinghai dairy firm
China’s Tiantu Capital has committed RMB50 million ($8 million) to Qinghai Xiaoxiniu Biological Dairy Industry, a dairy products manufacturer, for an undisclosed stake.
Portfolio: STIC Investments and Access Bio
STIC Investments backed Access Bio when the Korean-led malaria testing technology player wanted to buy key components and expand output. Now KOSDAQ-listed, the company has its eye on specialty diagnostics
KKR eyes Asia opportunities as valuations fall
KKR sees increasing opportunities in Asia for private equity and special situations as valuations fall amid growing investor uncertainty about the prospects for emerging markets globally.
Equis, Partners Group bet on Japanese solar
Japan's rapid embrace of renewable energy in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster has alerted PE investors. In the last 12 months, Macquarie Capital and local engineering firm Maeda Corp. launched a joint venture that will target infrastructure...
Bull Capital invests in Singapore-based IT security specialist
Bull Capital has bought a 41.67% stake in i-Sprint Group, a Singapore-based IT security service provider owned by Automated Systems Holdings, for $9.85 million.
Strategic imperative: Chinese corporates embrace PE
Corporate private equity arms are catching on in China as companies beyond the tech space develop an appetite for investment. What does it mean for the industry’s independent incumbents?
Battles averted?
No one emerged from the debacle at NVC Lighting Technology looking particularly good.