Official Record
When private equity gets political
Those of you who are familiar with Hong Kong will know that the Special Administrative Region of China will be holding its elections for a new chief executive – the highest local government post – next year. While a number of individuals have expressed...
Maybank sees SE Asia cleantech potential
China and India's near monopoly over the Asian cleantech space may have come to an end if the first close last week of Maybank’s Southeast Asia-focused fund is anything to go by.
Australian LPs miss out on Neuberger Berman fund-of-funds
Neuberger Berman announced a final close of $720 million for its NB Crossroads 2010 fund-of-funds last week, but Australian investors were conspicuous by their absence. Not one Australian LP subscribed to the latest vehicle, which Neuberger attributes...
Goldman raises $1.1b in ICBC stake dilution
Goldman Sachs' investment in the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) looks to be paying off. Across three separate stake sales, the US investment firm has more than doubled its original capital commitment, and it still owns a 2.4% stake in the...
Update - MSPEA buys restaurant manager Nolboo
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has completed its first acquisition in Korea since seeing the departure of four key executives nearly 18 months ago, closing a transaction that has garnered praise from industry peers but also raises questions.
Samsung’s MRO sale flatters to deceive
Online shopping mall Interpark’s purchase of iMarketKorea from Samsung Group last week might be described as the deal that failed to live up to first impressions.
Navis reaps 50% IRR on King’s trade sale
Navis Capital Partners has given its investors reason for cheer. Not only did the firm exit its 2008 investment in King’s Safetywear last week for well above 50% IRR (4-5x money multiple), it also signed off the buyout of the field marketing and retail...
Archer Capital, Bilden scoop top honors at 2011 AVCJ Awards
The 11th AVCJ Asia Awards recognizes leading achievements in the region’s private equity industry.
Anchorage exits NZ Burger King to Blackstone
It's a good time to be targeting turnarounds in Australasia. Private equity firms, hedge funds and investment banks are pursuing a host of opportunities in the consumer segment where companies have been hit hard by the seize-up in spending that followed...
Affinity buys Australian meats producer
Affinity Equity Partners has ramped up its consumer portfolio in Australia through a 70% stake acquisition in top deli meats producer Primo Smallgoods, for a price that values the company at A$740 million ($758 million).
EQT, TPG funds reflect Asia’s PE power
Asia's growing significance in the private equity world was further confirmed in two separate fundraising events last week. First in Europe, where EQT Partners announced that Asia Pacific LPs were responsible for nearly one quarter of total commitments...
Northern Light eyes healthcare sector
Healthcare will be a stronger area of focus for Northern Light Venture Capital’s third US-dollar fund, which last week achieved a final close of $400 million.
CLSA enters India test preparation space
India's parallel education segment remains attractive to private equity investors as rising incomes enable parents to supplement the core services provided by schools and universities with specialist support in areas such as test preparation. CLSA Capital...
PE players see India’s wind potential
Private equity investment in India's cleantech sector continues to rise. With two months remaining in 2011, $505.6 million has been committed in 13 deals, more than double the amount for the whole of last year. Investments are approaching the pre-crisis...
PAG shows appetite for distress
Interest in Asian distressed assets appears to be living up to the hype, with PAG last week reaching a final close of $900 million a regional special situations fund. Several investments have already been made and more are in the pipeline, a source familiar...
SBI makes first foray into Cambodia
Japanese Financial Group SBI Holdings has entered Cambodia through the creation of a private equity fund in partnership with Royal Group, the country’s largest conglomerate. It is SBI’s second overseas joint venture vehicle this year, following the...
Colorado Group gets back on its feet
Is there life after receivership? The owners of Colorado Group are banking on it, and have injected A$70 million ($68.7 million) to resurrect the retail brand in the hopes of finding longevity the second time around.
Blackstone exits first property in China
The Blackstone Group has sold its first property in China, exiting its 95% stake in Shanghai’s Channel 1 shopping mall to Hong Kong-based real estate group New World Development for RMB1.46 billion ($229 million). The deal is scheduled to close in early...
Hisense unit makes two for Advantage in China
Japanese buyout firm Advantage Partners has made its second investment in a Chinese company, injecting approximately JPY1.5 billion ($19.7 million) into Hisense Broadband Multimedia Technologies (HBMT).
PE firms offer Alibaba staff a liquidity event
The timing of Silver Lake's investment in Alibaba Group, alongside parties including DST Global, Yunfeng Capital, Temasek Holdings, was curious. Days earlier Silver Lake reportedly contacted Yahoo as one of several private equity firms considering a bid...
InMobi tools up for Google, Apple battle
Mobile advertising network InMobi seeks to position itself as an alternative to Google and Apple. Now the company has capital to reinforce its claim.
Zhenai receives backing from Match.com
Match.com hopes that Chinese dating website Zhenai.com is an investment match made in heaven.
Hudson plans largest RMB clean energy fund
Renewable energy-focused buyout firm Hudson Clean Energy Partners is targeting China in a big way, announcing that it will raise the largest renminbi-denominated fund dedicated to green energy. The New Jersey-based firm did not disclose its targeted corpus,...
Innovation Works closes first fund
Tech incubator Innovation Works arose to fill a perceived void in the Chinese market – new business ideas were in abundance but there wasn’t enough capital to get them off the ground. Company founder Kai-fu Lee told AVCJ’s China summit in May that...