News
SVB provides loan to VC-backed Zoomin
SVB India Finance, a subsidiary of Silicon Valley Bank, has provided INR80 million ($1.5 million) in venture debt funding to Zoomin.com, an online digital photo printing and merchandise company backed by early-stage investors Sherpalo Ventures and First...
CapAsia to launch $350m infrastructure fund
Singapore-based Capital Advisors Partners Asia (CapAsia) is in the process of launching a new infrastructure fund to invest in projects across Southeast Asia. The fund - CapAsia ASEAN Infrastructure III - will start out with $100 million and eventually...
China to see record PE deal flow in 2013 – PwC
China is likely to see record highs in terms of private equity deal volume and value in 2013, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, as a “perfect storm” of turmoil in the global economy and a slowing domestic economy allows investors to target larger-scale...
Carlyle exits Japan’s Qualicaps to Mitsubishi Chemical
The Carlyle Group has exited its holding in Qualicaps, a supplier of pharma-grade capsules, to Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings for JPY55.8billion ($639 million).
CVC-led consortium completes $1.7b KFC take-private
A CVC Capital Partners-led consortium has completed a MYR5.12 billion ( $1.7 billion) privatization of Malaysia's KFC franchise and its parent company.
Actis launches fourth India-focused fund
Actis Capital is raising its fourth India-focused fund, four years after its predecessor closed at $500 million. The move comes at a difficult time for the Indian fundraising environment, resulting in some GPs dropping out of the market while others take...
China eases restrictions on mutual funds to include private vehicles
China is planning to bolster the equities market by allowing brokerages and insurers’ asset management units to launch mutual funds. “Sunshine” funds, which traditionally invest privately raised capital in listed companies, will also be eligible.
Navis, Rabo exit Thai duck processor
Navis Capital Partners and Rabo Capital have exited Thai duck processing firm Bangkok Ranch, plus its Dutch subsidiary Duck To Holdings, to a consortium led by the companies’ founders. The deal values the combined assets at THB5.7 billion ($188 million).
Texas County & District invests $50m in RRJ’s second fund
Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) has committed $50 million to RRJ Capital’s second fund, which is targeting up to $5 billion. The private equity firm is run by Richard Ong, who previously co-founded China-focused Hopu Investment Management,...
Korea’s EQ Partners supports ArcelorMittal deal – report
South Korean private equity firm EQ Partners is said to be part of the Asian consortium that has acquired a 15% stake in ArcelorMittal Mines Canada (AMMC) for $1.1 billion. Other investors include South Korean steelmaker Posco and Taiwan’s China Steel...
Founder of SAIF-backed NVC Lighting sells a 12% stake
Wu Changjiang, founder and former chairman of NVC Lighting Technology Corp, a Hong Kong-listed lighting company backed by SAIF Partners, has agreed to sell close to two-thirds of his stake to Elec-Tech International (HK), another China-based lighting...
Taiwan's Chinatrust in talks to buy Tokyo Star Bank - report
Chinatrust Commercial Bank, one of Taiwan's largest commercial banks, is reportedly in talks to acquire Tokyo Star Bank for JPY50 billion ($582 million). Tokyo Star's shareholders, which include Lone Star Funds, have previously struggled to find interested...
India’s Essel Group to launch private equity fund
Essel Group, the Indian conglomerate headed by media mogul Subhash Chandra, has set up a new investment arm - Essel Financial Services - that will target private equity, infrastructure, real estate and financial services.
Equis closes first fund at $647m
Equis Funds Group, a pan-Asian fund manager focused on Asian energy and infrastructure, has closed its first private equity fund - Equis Asia Fund I - at $647 million, exceeding its initial target of $500 million.
Unitas snaps up majority stake in Shenzhen ZTE Netview
Unitas Capital has taken a controlling interest in Shenzhen ZTE Netview Technology (ZNV), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed tech company ZTE Corporation, for RMB1.3 billion ($208 million). The transaction came out of ZTE’s broader program to divest non-core...
Zoomlion's PE backers exit CIFA holdings for $236m
Chinese construction equipment maker Zoomlion has paid $236 million for equity interests held by Hony Capital, Goldman Sachs and Mandarin Capital Partners in the business unit that was used to buy Italy’s Compagnia Italiana Forme Acciaio (CIFA) in 2008.
CHAMP Ventures exits Australian Portable Buildings
CHAMP Ventures has agreed to sell Australian Portable Buildings (APB) to two Canadian companies, Black Diamond Group and Britco, for A$72.5 million ($75.2 million). The Australian private equity firm acquired a near 80% stake in the company in February...
Advantage Partners buys Sanyo’s camera business
Advantage Partners has acquired Sanyo Electric’s digital camera unit. Panasonic, which took control of its former competitor in 2009 in a JPY400 billion ($4.6 billion) acquisition, said it chose to do business with Advantage because of the private equity...
Abax, chairman complete $364m Fushi Copperweld take-private
Abax Global Capital has finally completed its management buyout of NASDAQ-listed Chinese wire manufacturer Fushi Copperweld more than two years after the initial bid was submitted. The transaction, staged in conjunction with Li Fu, Fushi’s chairman...
ShangPhama board agrees to TPG-backed buyout
ShangPharma Corporation, a Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech research outsourcing firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has agreed to management buyout by Michael Hui, the firm’s chairman and CEO, and TPG Capital. The transaction values the company...
AVCJ daily bulletin returns January 2
AVCJ's daily bulletin will take a short break next week for the festive holiday season. Publication will resume on January 2, while the weekly magazine's first issue of 2013 is released the same day.
Rabo targets $250m for second India agribusiness fund
Rabo Equity Advisors is targeting $250 million for its second India agribusiness fund, more than double the $120 million raised for its debut vehicle in 2008. The larger corpus means Rabo’s typical transaction size will increase to $25 million from...
Lafarge in talks with PE to sell part of India business
Lafarge is in talks with private equity and financial firms to sell 20-25% of its India unit for about $300 million. The divestment is part of a wider effort from the French cement maker to divest non-core assets and reduce debt levels to below EUR10...
China’s Weichai could raise Kion stake to one third
Weichai Power, a Chinese automotive and equipment manufacturer owned by Shandong Heavy Industry, has obtained the option in increase its stake in German forklift truck maker Kion to one third. The company owns 25% of the business and already has an option...