News
Infinity establishes RMB and USD funds in Chongqing
Infinity Group, an Israel-based privat equity firm created by China Development Bank and Israeli conglomerate IDB Group, has announced the establishment of the Chongqing arm in cooperation with the government of Chongqing's Banan district.
Switzerland’s SIFEM converts into a development finance institution
SIFEM, a Swiss fund-of-funds investor active in Asia since the 1990s, has been acquired by the government’s Swiss Confederation division and will now operate as a development finance institution.
Sequoia, Nexus invests $12 in Druva
Nexus Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital has jointly invested $12 million in a Series B round of funding in Druva, a global data protection solutions firm.
PE-owned Fitness First approved for Singapore listing
Singaporean regulators have reportedly granted UK-based BC Partners approval to launch its portfolio company Fitness First on the Singapore Stock Exchange. It comes more than a year after the private equity firm announced that it would take Fitness First...
Australian VC firms back Spinifex Pharmaceuticals
GBS Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Uniseed Management and UniQuest have participated in the Series B round of financing for Spinifex Pharmaceuticals. The Australian drug development company raised a total of $19 million, $6.5 million more...
Prudential, Fosun approved for China insurance JV
The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has approved US-based Prudential Financial's plans to set up a joint venture life insurance unit with conglomerate Fosun Group. This extends a partnership between the two companies that already includes...
Apax among global buyouts targeting India's FirePro
Apax Partners is among the global private equity firms considering a $200 million buyout of Bangalore-based fire-protection firm FirePro Systems, India’s Business Standard reported – capital that the company itself hopes will elevate its operations...
Baring India, IDFC anchor TD Power Systems’ IPO
Baring India Private Equity and IDFC are two of five anchor investors that have together committed INR334 million ($7.2 million) to TD Power Systems ahead of its IPO. The company, which manufacturers AC generators, counts Ironwood Investment Holdings,...
China's outbound investments increase 40% in H1 2011
Outbound Chinese M&A activity rose 40% in H1 2011 from the same period in 2010, Robert W. Baird & Co. announced in its China M&A Market report, translating to a 50% rise in the collective deals’ value.
Vector, with CITIC Capital, acquires US-based graphic manufacturing group
Tech-focused PE firm Vector Capital has acquired a majority stake in Gerber Scientific, an international supplier of automated manufacturing systems used in signs, specialty graphics, apparel and the industrial sector. Chinese firm CITIC Capital Partners...
Singapore's Asian Agri Capital to raise $100m for palm oil investment
Asian Agri Capital, a Singapore-based early-stage plantation investor, is looking to raise $100 million to invest in palm oil and other tropical commodities in Southeast Asia and Latin America, Bloomberg reported.
PE invests $100m in India's food industry in H1
Private equity has invested more than $100 million in India’s food service industry in the first half of 2011, the Franchise India and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced.
Groupon’s China JV closes offices, fires staff
GaoPeng, the Chinese group buying site run as a joint venture between Groupon, Tencent Holdings and local private equity firm Yunfeng Capital, has closed offices in some cities and is laying off employees. Sources familiar with the situation told The...
Australian tax authorities win right to pursue TPG over Myer
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was won court orders to help it trace overseas funds that were distributed following TPG’s IPO exit from Myer, The Australian reported.
Qantas dismisses private equity takeover talk as speculation
Australian airline Qantas said Wednesday that it had received no approaches from prospective buyers but acknowledged rumors that private equity firms are interested in the business. "As far as we are concerned there is no formal or informal bid on the...
BofAML to retain at least 5% of its CCB holding
Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML) has agreed to extend its partnership with China Construction Bank (CCB) until the at least the end of 2012. Zhang Jianguo, president of CCB, said the US bank, which currently has a 10% stake in the Chinese lender,...
Spring Capital makes two executive hires
Greater China growth investor Spring Capital Asia has bolstered its operational team, hiring Guosen He as senior director and Xiaoning Liu as senior director and head of legal.
PE-backed Taikang Life looks to IPO within three years
China’s fifth-largest insurance firm Taikang Life, which is 12%-owned by Goldman Sachs, is slated to list in Shanghai and Hong Kong within the next three years, Dongsheng Chen, the company’s chairman, told local media
Osakakoshinko accepts Tasumi Shokai buyout offer
Osakakoshinko, a listed Osaka-based real estate developer and manager, has accepted a tender offer made by Tasumi Shokai, an Osaka logistics company. Tasumi Shokai already owns 73.17% of Osakakoshinko.
Apollo may exit Parallel Petroleum to Korea’s Samsung C&T
Apollo Global Management could be on course to exit Parallel Petroleum after South Korean trading firm Samsung C&T said it was interested in purchasing the US asset. The deal is slated to be worth about KRW1 trillion ($919.6 million), Reuters reported,...
SingTel Innov8 participates in Sentilla's $15m Series C round
SingTel Innov8 Ventures, the venture arm of the SingTel Group, has participated in a $15 million Series C round of financing launched by California-based Sentilla Corporation, a leading provider of IT infrastructure software. Other participants include...
Carlyle appoints MD of investor relations for Australia, New Zealand
The Carlyle Group has hired Natasha Nankivell, former executive director and head of private capital markets for Asia of Macquarie, as a managing director of investor relations for Australia and New Zealand. Nankivell has previously held senior positions...
Ascent Capital commits $45m to Karaikal Port expansion
Ascent Capital will inject $45 million into Karaikal Port as part of an INR7 billion ($153 million) expansion plan that will see a six-fold increase in the port’s capacity to 28 million metric tons. This is the port’s second round of private equity...
PE-backed Muthoot Finance seeks to raise $218m
Muthoot Finance, India’s largest gold-loan non-banking finance company (NBFC) plans to raise INR10 billion ($218 million) through the issue of listed retail non-convertible debentures (NCDs). It would follow four rival NBFCs, including Mannapuram Finance...