News
Temasek launches $1.9b China fund
Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek has launched Pavilion Capital, an investment vehicle that will channel up to S$2.5 billion ($1.9 billion) into deals in north Asia.
SBI sells VSN for $117m
Japanese private equity firm SBI Capital has sold its Tokyo-based staffing firm VSN to Adecco, the largest staffing group in the world, for an enterprise value of EUR90 million ($116.8 million).
Red Fort to raise $500m for second real estate fund
Red Fort Capital, an India-focused real estate investor, has announced it is targeting INR10-15 billion ($500 million) for its latest property fund.
Alibaba hires US lobby group for potential Yahoo bid
Alibaba Group has hired Washington lobbying firm Duberstein Group in what is seen as evidence that the company is considering a bid for all of Yahoo if negotiations to buy back the US firm’s Asian assets fail.
ICICI Ventures exits Prize Petroleum stake to HPCL
ICICI Ventures has exited its stake in Prize Petroleum to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL). The private equity firm owns 10% of Prize, with ICICI Bank and HDFC holding 35% and 5%, respectively. Each party is selling up, allowing HPCL, which already...
PE-backed buyouts of US-listed Chinese firms set to continue
Private equity-backed management buyouts of US-listed Chinese companies are expected to continue in 2012 despite recent pullbacks in the Hong Kong and mainland markets eroding the potential valuation arbitrage. With the announcement of dedicated privatization...
General Atlantic invests $108m in Mu Sigma
General Atlantic (GA) has led a $108 million round for India-focused analytics services provider Mu Sigma, in what may be the largest private equity deal in this segment in an emerging market.
TPG loses out on Takefuji deal to J Trust
TPG Capital lost out on a deal to invest into Japanese consumer lender Takefuji, with real estate and financial holding company J Trust instead injecting a reported JPY25.2 billion ($325 million) into the firm.
Yamada replaces Hirano as co-head of Carlyle Japan
Kazuhiro Yamada has been named co-head of The Carlyle Group’s Japanese operations, replacing Masao Hirano who is leaving the private equity firm. Yamada began his duties on January 1, working in collaboration with current co-head Tamotsu Adachi.
Nomura becomes first Japanese firm to invest in Chinese private equity
Nomura Holdings said it would become the first Japanese financial group to make private equity investments in China, having reached an agreement with Shanghai-based Jiu You Quan Xing Equity Investment Fund. This follows the bank winning approval to participate...
PTC India to set up PE vehicle with sovereign wealth fund
PTC India has agreed to set up a private equity fund with an unnamed sovereign wealth fund, according to the chairman of the state-run power trading company. It will have initial capital of $200 million and target stakes in power projects in India and...
Carlyle, Blackstone in separate talks over Reliance Infratel
The Carlyle Group and The Blackstone Group are in separate talks with Reliance Communications concerning an investment in its telecom tower unit. A deal for Reliance Infratel could come in February or March, subject to agreements on its valuation.
GIC backs Canada’s Osum Oil Sands
Government of Singapore Investment Corp. (GIC) has participated in a $500 million investment in Osum Oil Sands Corp, which is looking to tap Canada’s oil sands and bitumen resources, through a private placement to a combination of new and existing investors.
HarbourVest promotes three in Asia Pacific team
Tim Flower, who moved to Hong Kong in 2010 to head up HarbourVest Partners’ secondary investments in Asia, has been promoted to principal. Two other Asia-based executives, Kelvin Yap and Maggie Chan, have been named vice presidents.
H&Q to launch first renminbi fund
H&Q Asia Pacific is looking to tap Chinese institutions and individuals as LPs for its first renminbi-denominated fund.
Unison buys Asahi Tec from RHJ International
Unison Capital will purchase Asahi Tec, which supplies iron castings to the auto industry, from Belgian private equity firm RHJ International and Tokio Marine & Nichido. The Japanese PE investor has agreed to pay JPY23.9 billion ($310 million) and assume...
Blackstone buys DLF Ackruti Info Parks for $153m
An affiliate of Blackstone Group has acquired a firm that owns a special economic zone in India from DLF, the country’s biggest real estate developer, for INR8.1 billion ($153 million).
Jacob Ballas pumps $38m into Religare Finvest
Jacob Ballas Capital India has given Religare Finvest, the non-banking arm of Indian financial services group Religare Enterprises, a INR2 billion ($37.5 million) cash injection.
India’s GVK to sell minority stake in Australian business
GVK Power & Infrastructure plans to sell a minority stake in its Australian unit in order to retire debts and fund operations. Private equity investors and strategic partners, working independently or in tandem, are seen as likely buyers.
Actis invests $71m in India’s Endurance Technologies
Emerging markets investor Actis has invested INR3.7 billion ($71 million) in Endurance Technologies, one of India’s largest privately held auto component manufacturers.
PE firm approaches Australia's PaperlinX
An unnamed private equity house has made a takeover bid for listed Australian paper manufacturer PaperlinX.
GSR Ventures leads $30m round for Boston-Power
GSR Ventures has led a $30 million round of investment into lithium-ion battery maker Boston-Power, which recently agreed to relocate its operational headquarters to China.
Sino-Forest bondholders may face 100% write-down
Sino-Forest bondholders could face a near-100% write-down on their investment as the company received a default notice on two of its bonds after failing to file third-quarter results on time.
CIC buys 25% stake in South Africa’s Shanduka Group
China Investment Corp. (CIC) has paid ZAR2 billion ($245 million) for a 25% stake in South African company Shanduka Group. The sovereign wealth fund will acquire shares from exiting investors Old Mutual Private Equity and Investec.