News
NEA considering Flipkart investment - report
NEA, the US venture capital firm is considering an investment in Bangalore-based Flipkart, an online retailer of books, mobile phones and other consumer goods. Investment bankers familiar with the situation told The Business Standard that the company...
Permira divests 6.5% stake in Galaxy Entertainment for $614m
UK-based Permira has divested approximately 6.5% of its stake in Macau casino and entertainment operator Galaxy Entertainment Group for HK$4.8 billion ($614 million). It sold 270 million shares for HK$17.70 apiece.
Siemer & Associates launches in Asia
California-based tech investor and merchant bank Siemer & Associates LLC (S&A) has made its foray into Asia with the launch of a Hong Kong office. It is headed by Managing Director Martin Lichauco, an industry veteran who spent 10 years at Walden International.
Korea Teachers Pension Fund to invest $50m in local PE, VC
The Korea Teachers Pension Fund (KTPF) reportedly plans to invest KRW54 billion ($50.7 million) in 3-5 domestic venture capital and private equity firms in September.
Actis hires new director to manage portfolio companies
Emerging-market investor Actis has appointed Vincent Low, previously a general manager at Momentive Performance, as director of its value creation group.
Bain denies talk of potential Gome exit
Bain Capital has said it plans to remain a long-term investor in Gome Electrical Appliances Holding, scotching reports in August that it had appointed a bank to arrange the sale of its shares. Bain owns 10% of the company, having invested $420 million...
Innovation Works closes China internet fund at $180m
Innovation Works, the tech incubator started by Google’s former China head Kai-fu Lee, has closed its debut fund at $180 million. The vehicle, which specifically targets Chinese internet companies, was oversubscribed, the company said.
Chinese gamblers buoy Permira-backed Galaxy Entertainment
Permira-backed Macau casino group Galaxy Entertainment reported an 84% year-on-year in underlying profit in the first half of 2011, attributed to strong spending by mainland Chinese gamblers. The company reported EBITDA of HK$1.8 billion ($230.9 million),...
Australia’s private equities continue to outperform public
Private equity in Australia outperformed public markets in the first quarter of 2011, continuing a trend that dates back nearly a year. The Australia Private Equity and Venture Capital Index (APEVC Index), published by Cambridge Associates, delivered...
Tenaya Capital leads SMS GupShup’s $10m Series E round
San Francisco-based venture capital firm Tenaya Capital has led the $10 million Series E round of financing for SMS GupShup, an Indian social networking company. The company plans to use the funds to add new senior management who can help it expand and...
Insecticides India seeks $15m in expansion capital
Insecticides India hopes to raise around INR700 million ($15.3 million) through a qualified institutional placement of shares of a private equity round of financing to support its expansion plans. Rajesh Aggarwal, the company’s managing director, said...
ChrysCapital accumulates 7.2% stake in NCC
ChrysCapital has bought a 7.2% stake in NCC, an Indian construction company backed by Blackstone Group, for INR1.37 billion ($30 million). The purchases – 18.5 million shares in total – were made on the open market by ChrysCapital unit Warhol between...
PE firms sell down Whitehaven Coal stakes
First Reserve Corp., an energy-focused PE investor, and AMCI International have sold A$390 million ($416 million) of shares in Australian miner Whitehaven Coal, prompting a 5% fall in its share price on Wednesday. The partial exits come after Whitehaven...
Mongolia fund to make first investment by October
The Mongolia Opportunities Fund is looking to make its first investment by the end of October. Batsaihan B. Jamichoi, the former Uniqlo executive who started the fund, told Bloomberg that he is targeting infrastructure and service provider in the mining...
Affinity in negotiations over Primo Smallgoods
Affinity Equity Partners is reportedly in exclusive negotiations for a controlling stake in Australian meat producer Primo Smallgoods in a deal that could value the company at up to $1 billion.
Intel-backed Gudeng Precision IPOs in Taiwan
Intel Capital ushered its third company of the year onto the public market - Taiwan’s Gudeng Precision Industrial, which listed on Taiwan's GreTai Securities Market on Wednesday, raising an undisclosed amount.
KKR among suitors for India's Future Group
KKR has emerged as one of the key suitors for Future Capital Holdings, the financial services division of India’s Future Group. It joins JP Morgan and Piramal, the healthcare, manufacturing and real estate conglomerate, according to Reuters.
Tokyo real estate developers to be taken private
Tokyo-listed real estate developer Tachihi Enterprise and New Tachikawa Aircraft have reportedly agreed to be taken private via a management buyout launched by a private equity fund set up by the two companies’ CEOs.
AXA, LGT buy $901m in secondary assets from German bank
AXA Private Equity and LGT Capital Partners have acquired a EUR620 million ($901 million) private equity portfolio from Germany’s HSH Nordbank. The portfolio is said to include stakes in about 47 private equity funds, including European vehicles managed...
ANZ in talks to buy Cerberus’ Aozora Bank stake – report
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) has begun negotiations to buy Cerberus Capital’s 50% stake in Aozora Bank, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the situation. ANZ is said to be attracted by the Japanese lender’s strong...
Investors demand greater transparency from GPs - survey
Institutional investors are increasingly turning to private equity for returns, but they expect greater transparency from GPs. According to a survey report released by SEI in collaboration with Greenwich Associates, fund management need to demonstrate...
Bright Foods anticipates more acquisitions in Australia
China’s Bright Foods is looking to continue its buying spree in Australia following the completion of its acquisition of a 75% stake Manassen Foods. It hopes to use the market as springboard to becoming an international food producer of scale.
Nomura appointed to oversee sale of Tokyo Star Bank
Lone Star Funds and its fellow creditors have hired Nomura to sell off Tokyo Star Bank, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Lone Star sold the asset to Advantage Partners (AP) less than four years ago but resumed...
Gome reports 30% rise in net profit, targets growth in lower-tier cities
Bain-backed Gome Electrical Appliances has reported a more than 30% rise in net profit for the first half of 2011, attributed to the launch of 131 new outlets in second-tier cities. The company wants to add 260 stores by the end of the year.