USA
CalPERS to cut 269 private equity managers
The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) is looking to cut its number of GP relationships to less than a third of the current 389.
Silver Lake backs Avago's LSI purchase with $1b investment
Tech-focused private equity firm Silver Lake is investing another $1 billion in Singaporean chip maker Avago Technologies to help fund its $6.6 billion acquisition of LSI Corporation.
SMBC to buy US rail lessor from Perella Weinberg
Perella Weinberg Partners will exit Chicago-based Flagship Rail Services to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) in a transaction valued at $1.1 billion.
CITIC rides China’s LNG wave
Two weeks ago China National Offshore Oil Corp. received the first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Tianjin floating storage regasification unit. The company now has the capacity to handle 24.4 million metric tons of LNG per year at six offshore...
Horizon Ventures leads $15.2m Series B for Misfit Wearables
Hong Kong-based Horizon Ventures has led a $15.2 million Series B round for Misfit Wearables, the US start-up behind the physical activity monitor Shine. Existing investors – which include Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, OATV,...
Jafco Asia leads Series B round for US games developer
Japanese venture capital investor Jafco Asia has led a Series B round of funding for US games developer Playnery. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
CITIC Capital, Windjammer buy US valve manufacturer
CITIC Capital Partners has teamed up with US-based Windjammer Capital Investors to buy Engineered Controls International (ECI), a manufacturer of valves used in the transportation and storage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas...
The secondary network: Online platforms
Setter Capital’s Secondary Link is the latest online platform intended to fill the information void in the secondaries market. Industry participants have mixed feelings as to its utility
Australia’s Ansell buys PE-backed glove maker for $615m
US-based Odyssey Investment Partners has agreed to sell BarrierSafe Solutions International, a provider of disposable gloves, to Ansell for approximately $615 million.
Kingsoft receives $50m from Morningside, GGV, Shunwei
Kingsoft Office Software, an office suite that competes with Microsoft Office, has received $50 million in commitments from Morningside Technologies, GGV Capital and Shunwei China Internet Fund.
China's 500.com jumps 54% on NYSE debut
Shares in VC-backed 500.com gained 54% as the Chinese online sports lottery provider made its US trading debut on Friday. The stock peaked at $21.85 before closing at $20.01, valuing the company at $700 million.
Baring Asia backs $2.8b Giant Interactive take-private
Baring Private Equity Asia is supporting a management buyout of Chinese online game developer Giant Interactive Group that values the New York Stock Exchange-listed company at approximately $2.8 billion. If the deal goes through it would be the second-largest...
Sungy Mobile stock closes up 19% after $78.5m US IPO
Sungy Mobile, a Chinese app developer backed by IDG Capital Partners, JAFCO, WI Harper and China Broadband Capital (CBC), saw its stock jump 19% on its first day of trading on NASDAQ to close at $13.35.
DFJ consolidates China operations
Draper Fisher Jurvetson’s (DFJ) Shanghai office will close as the firm consolidates its operations in China. Existing portfolio companies will continue to receive support and Hope Chen remains a managing director responsible for overseeing China investments,...
VC-backed 500.com revises IPO pricing, targets $86.5m
VC-backed Chinese online sports lottery provider 500.com has increased the indicative price range for its US IPO, putting the company on course to raise up to $86.5 million.
Exhilway to invest $1b in India via Global Opportunities Fund
Exhilway Global, a US-based hedge fund and emerging markets private equity GP, is looking to invest $1 billion in India as it prepares to launch its Exhilway Global Opportunities Fund (EGO) next month - targeting $2 billion.
Fundraising: The JOBS Act and general solicitation
The removal of restrictions on general solicitation in the US potentially allows private equity firms to tap accredited investors that previously fell beneath their radar. However, managers are reluctant to rush in
Fundraising and pension reform: A slow-burn issue
Defined benefit public pension plans are one of PE’s biggest bank rollers, so the rise in defined contribution plans – that tend to favor liquid assets – is a long-term concern. There must be compromise on both sides
China Asset Management-led consortium reduces iSoftStone bid
The private equity consortium seeking to privatize US-listed Chinese IT services provider iSoftStone Holdings has reduced its offer for the company following a second-quarter loss and warnings of more difficulties to come. The revised offer values iSoftStone...
Qunar shares nearly double on NASDAQ debut
Qunar, a Chinese-travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, saw its stock nearly double on the first day of trading on NASDAQ on Friday. It betters the 42% gain posted by VC-backed Chinese classifieds website 58.com a day earlier.
Baidu, VC-owned Qunar ups US IPO target
Qunar, a Chinese-travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, has increased the indicative price range for its forthcoming IPO and is now expected raise as much as $155.4 million.
China classifieds site sees shares close up 42% on US debut
Chinese online marketplace 58.com – a classifieds website along the lines of Craigslist, backed by Warburg Pincus, SAIF Partners and DCM – saw its shares close up 42% on the first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Coming in the wake of...
Fosun VC, ChinaRock back Shijiebang Series A round
Fosun Venture Capital Investment, Fosun Group’s VC arm, and US-based ChinaRock Capital Management have invested in a Series A round of financing for online travel site Shijiebang. Angel investor Jerry Yang, co-founder and former CEO of Yahoo, also participated...
RRJ ups stake in ING's US insurance business - report
RRJ Capital is said to have upped its stake in the US insurance unit of ING Group, investing a further $248 million.