News
Wolseley's Blue Star targets Australia printing consolidation
Blue Star Group, an Australian printing and communications specialist owned by Wolseley Private Equity, has agreed to merge with Independent Print Media Group (IPMG) to form the country’s largest printing company.
IFC to support Brummer's second Bangladesh fund
International Finance Corporation (IFC) plans to invest up to $20 million in Frontier Bangladesh II, a $100 million fund being raised by Swedish alternative asset manager Brummer & Partners.
Singaporean investor Temasek opens London office
Temasek Holdings has established an office in London to support its investment interests in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. A New York base is expected to become operational later this year.
KKR completes Panasonic Healthcare deal, eyes bolt-ons
KKR has completed the acquisition of an 80% stake in Panasonic Healthcare, its biggest buyout in Japan to date. According to a source familiar with the situation, operations unit KKR Capstone is already working with the company and a number of bolt-on...
A Capital targets $1.38b for Sino-European tech fund
Sino-European PE firm A Capital has launched a EUR1 billion ($1.38 billion) technology fund to invest in European innovative firms. It will help them expand into emerging markets, in particular China.
Wolfensohn part exits India's Repco
Wolfensohn Capital has made a partial exit from India Repco Home Finance, a little over a year after it first invested in the company.
LeapFrog invests $29m in India's IFMR Capital
LeapFrog Investments, a US-based specialist investor in financial services in growth markets, has invested $29 million in Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) IFMR Capital.
Jafco invests $2m in Japan leisure booking site
Globis Capital Partners and Jafco Ventures have invested JPY200 million ($1.95 million) in Catarizm, the Japanese start-up behind online leisure booking site Asoview.
IDG leads round for Chinese restaurant review app Ricebook
IDG Capital Partners has led a $7 million Series B round of funding for Ricebook, a Chinese restaurant review mobile app operator.
Alibaba to invest $692m in GIC-backed Intime Retail
Alibaba Group will invest HK$5.37 billion ($692 million) for a 34% stake in Intime Retail Group, a Chinese department store operator backed by Singapore’s GIC Private.
Rabo Equity invests in Indian biotech firm
Rabo Equity Advisors' India Agribusiness Fund has invested INR750 million ($13 million) in Beloorbayir Biotech, a Bangalore-based drug developer.
China gaming firm Ourpalm commits $16m to Huatai M&A fund
Ourpalm, a Shenzhen-listed mobile games developer, has committed RMB100 million ($16 million) to Beijing Huatia Ruilian M&A Fund, a new investment vehicle managed by Huatai United Securities, an investment banking arm of Huatai Securities.
Fidelity, Gree invest $5m in Japan's Kaizen Platform
Fidelity Growth Partners and Gree Ventures have together invested $5 million in Japan's Kaizen Platform, the start-up behind PlanBCD, a platform that crowd-sources web design services.
PE-backed Tongyang Life bids for LIG Insurance
Tongyang Life Insurance, a South Korean insurer majority-owned by Vogo Investment, is among the preliminary bidders for a controlling stake in LIG Insurance.
Kalaari provides Series A for India big data start-up
Kalaari Capital has committed $3 million in Series A funding to Germin8, a Mumbai-headquartered big data analytics company.
KDDI incubator announces five start-ups for new program
KDDI Mugen Labo, an incubator backed by Japanese telecoms giant KDDI, has revealed the next batch of five start-ups to enter its boot camp program.
Japan flea market app raises $14m for US expansion
Mercari, the Japanese start-up behind the mobile flea market app of the same name, has raised JPY1.45 billion ($14.1 million) from Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, Itochu Technology Venture, GMO Venture Partners, and other unnamed investors.
Zoyi supports take-private of China's Camelot Information Systems
Zoyi Capital has announced its second deal in a week, completing a $20 million investment in Camelot Information Systems, a US-listed Chinese enterprise application and financial IT services provider.
IFC part exits Indian NBFC to WestBridge
International Finance Corporation (IFC) has made a partial exit from Cholamandalam Investment & Finance (CIF), an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC), selling shares to WestBridge Capital.
Blackstone completes take-private of China's Pactera
A consortium led by The Blackstone Group has completed a take-private of Pactera Technology International that values the NASDAQ-listed Chinese tech outsourcing firm at approximately $625 million.
Cathay Capital launches $687m Sino-French Fund
Cathay Capital, a Sino-French private equity firm, has launched a EUR500 million ($687 million) fund to promote the international expansion of French and Chinese companies in the mid-cap segment.
China Aier Eye Hospital invests in Huatai Securities' M&A fund
Shenzhen-listed Aier Eye Hospital Group plans to commit RMB100 million ($16 million) to an M&A fund managed by Huatai United Securities, an investment banking arm of Huatai Securities.
Japan's Cyberdyne raises $89 million in Tokyo IPO
Cyberdyne, a VC-backed Japanese robotics company that makes exoskeleton suits, more than doubled on its Tokyo trading debut following a JPY7.8 billion ($76 million) IPO on the MOTHERS (market of the high-growth and emerging stocks) section of the Tokyo...
India's Annapurna Microfinance raises $5m Series B round
The state-backed Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) has led a INR300 million ($5 million) Series B round for India's Annapurna Microfinance.