USA
Formation 8 raises $448m, eyes US-Asia VC opportunities
Formation 8, a start-up venture capital firm that targets US businesses with the potential to expand into Asia, has raised $448 million for its debut fund. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the firm has eight operating professionals based out of offices...
China's Hongye commits $100m to California's Singpoli Capital
China's Hongye International Investment Group has committed a $100 million in private equity to California-based firm Singpoli Capital to develop green energy, biochemistry, media, high-tech and real estate construction projects.
NEPC forms alliance with Singapore’s GFIA to boost Asia advisory business
NEPC has entered into a research agreement with a Singapore-based investment consultant GFIA to bolster its coverage of Asia-based managers and investment strategies.
Temasek sets up dedicated LNG investment unit
Temasek Holdings has set up an investment unit dedicated to liquefied natural gas (LNG) assets. The move comes as the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund seeks to increase its energy exposure – as also evidenced through recent PE investments – in recognition...
New Silk Route’s Rajat Gupta sues co-founder
Rajat Gupta, the former Goldman Sachs director who was convicted last year of insider trading, is taking legal action against his co-founder of private equity firm New Silk Route (NSR), claiming breach of contract.
CVCI invests in BPO firm SourceHOV, Apollo exits
Citi Venture Capital international (CVCI) has invested in SourceHOV, a largely India-based business process out-sourcing (BPO) firm. The deal will see CVCI buy out other minority shareholders including Apollo Global Management. The value of the deal has...
Australia's QIC reveals stake in US retailer
Australian investment manager QIC has disclosed its ownership of a stake in online plus-size retailer OneStopPlus through its private equity unit.
Australia's Blackbird Ventures reaches first close on VC fund
Sydney-based VC firm Blackbird Ventures has reached a first close of A$20 million on its A$30 million ($31 million) internet-focused venture capital fund.
Asia PE firms lead world in female representation – study
Asia-based private equity firms have a higher proportion of women in high-level roles than their North American and European counterparts, according to a new study.
Hony supports $505m take-private of Simcere Pharmaceutical
Hony Capital is backing a $505 million management buyout of Chinese drug developer Simcere Pharmaceutical Group. It takes the number of take-private deals involving US-listed Chinese companies to 13, according to AVCJ Research.
Australian firms tap US high-yield market for record sums
Australian companies have raised a record $6.2 billion in high-yield debt via the US markets in the last five months. This includes about $700 million in Term Loan B financing obtained by hedge funds Apollo Global Management and Oaktree Management to...
KPCB, IDG-Accel invest $10m in China's EntreMed
KPCB China and IDG-Accel China have agreed to invest $10.7 million in EntreMed, a clinical-stage pharma company that develops drugs in the US and China for global release.
Morgan Stanley to complete $147m China dairy take-private
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) is on the cusp of completing a $147 million buyout of Chinese dairy producer Feihe International after the board accepted a bid from the PE firm in conjunction with the company’s chairman and CEO. It is the...
7 Days board agrees to PE-backed buyout
Chinese budget hotel chain 7 Days Group has accepted a take-private offer from its co-chairmen and three private equity investors that values the company at approximately $688 million. Two PE firms, The Carlyle Group and Sequoia Capital, were initially...
RRJ, Blackstone boost holding in Cheniere Energy
RRJ Capital and GSO Capital, The Blackstone Group’s credit arm, have bought the bulk of $372 million in shares issued by Cheniere Energy Partners, a limited partnership that controls America’s fire liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant.
CHAMP affiliate Castle Harlan promotes Tariq Osman
Tariq Osman has been promoted to managing director with the CHAMP Private Equity's New York affiliate Castle Harlan.
Deloitte sued over US-listed ChinaCast Education
Deloitte is being sued by a group of US investors over its auditing role at ChinaCast Education Corp. The Chinese company, which was backed by VC investors in its early years, went public in the US via a reverse merger in 2007 but has since been de-listed.
Australia’s AMP Capital invests $100m in US wind energy project
AMP Capital has injected $100 million in Capistrano Wind Partners, a large-scale wind energy project developer in North America, alongside a consortium of infrastructure investors. AMP made the commitment on behalf of a large Australian superannuation...
Zhongpin delays take-private deal, drops go-shop provision
Zhongpin, the NASDAQ-listed Chinese pork producer that is subject to a PE-backed management buyout bid, has amended the deal to allow more time for completion and prevent directors from sourcing competing offers. The valuation of $502 million is unchanged.
Australia’s Hastings adds to North America team
Australian infrastructure investor Hastings Funds Management has appointed Irene Mavroyannis as executive director with responsibility for business development in the US and Canada. She will join the existing investment team in New York.
3SBio board agrees to CITIC PE-backed buyout
The board of NASDAQ-listed Chinese biotechnology firm 3SBio has agreed to a privatization bid tabled by Jing Lou, its CEO, and CITIC Private Equity. The deal values the company at $340 million.
VIDEO: Stephen Pagliuca of Bain Capital
Global buyout firms are destined to become more diversified investors because the skills that underpin their success in corporate private equity are equally applicable to other asset classes, says Stephen Pagliuca, US-based managing director at Bain Capital
New York State Teachers shuffles PE, real estate heads
New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) has appointed John Virtanen as managing director for private equity. He moves over from the system’s property portfolio, which will now be overseen by David Gillan.
RRJ Capital raises $3.5b for Fund II – report
RRJ Capital has reportedly raised $3.5 billion for its second fund. The Hong Kong-based GP, which was set up by Richard Ong, formerly of Goldman Sachs and Hopu Investment Management, originally targeted up to $5 billion for the vehicle.