Europe
Deal focus: LionRock finishes polishing Clarks
LionRock Capital is exiting Clarks to its majority partner, Li Ning-owned and Hong Kong-listed Viva China, having helped the struggling British shoe brand survive the pandemic
China's CMC trims stake in City Football Group
China-based CMC Capital has exited the bulk of its remaining stake in City Football Group (CFG), a series of football clubs built around the Manchester City brand, with CMC founder Ruigang Li vacating his seat on the company’s board.
Hong Kong's LionRock exits UK shoe brand Clarks
LionRock Capital, an Asian private equity firm that invests in global consumer brands with a China growth angle, has agreed to sell its stake in British shoe brand Clarks to Viva China, a holding company controlled by Li Ning, founder of the eponymous...
Sport investment: Into the value chain
Investors are increasingly drawn to the structural nuances, sticky customer bases, and long tail of ancillary opportunities that exist around professional sports. Asia’s role is small but growing
Baring Asia, EQT plan rollout of additional Asia strategies
Mid-cap buyout has been primed as the first of multiple strategies EQT pursues in Europe and North America that will be rolled out in Asia following the completion of the firm’s merger with Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA).
Japan's Nomura launches blockchain VC unit
Japan’s Nomura Holdings has launched a business called Laser Venture Capital that will invest in companies in the blockchain and digital assets space.
Australia's Ramsay Health Care rebuffs revised KKR buyout offer
Australia-listed hospital operator Ramsay Health Care has rejected an alternative buyout proposal from a KKR-led consortium after progress with the initial bid was slowed by the need to conduct due diligence on Ramsay Santé, the company’s separate...
Energy transition case study: Axilone
Energy accounts for a relatively small portion of cosmetics packaging producer Axilone’s overall costs, but rising prices in Europe prompted owner Trustar Capital to accelerate transition efforts
Navis exits medical cold chain player to US strategic
Navis Capital Partners has sold 100% of B Medical Systems, a Luxembourg-based biotech cold chain provider with significant Asian operations, at an enterprise value of EUR 460m (USD 469m).
Baring Asia exits Cath Kidston to UK turnaround investor
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) has exited Cath Kidston, a UK lifestyle retailer that underwent a restructuring during the initial phase of COVID-19, to turnaround investor Hilco Capital.
China outbound: Organic options
Tough domestic competition is encouraging Chinese tech start-ups to expand overseas – often organically, earlier in their lifecycles than before, and despite regulatory concerns
GP profile: EmergeVest
Building on unorthodox roots and a highly concentrated portfolio, EmergeVest wants to establish itself as a global-minded Asia specialist in technology-enabled supply chains
Fund focus: MassMutual Ventures widens remit
Having started a Southeast Asia specialist, MassMutual Ventures has broadened its regional coverage to include everything outside of China. Europe is also part of the equation for Fund III
Insight leads Series C for UK, India-based Builder.ai
Insight Partners has led a USD 100m Series C round for Builder.ai, a low-code/no-code app development platform that has a significant back-office presence in India.
HarbourVest closes latest fund-of-funds at $1.6b
HarbourVest Partners has closed its latest flagship private equity fund-of-funds, which will target Asia Pacific and Europe, at USD 1.6bn, beating a target of USD 1.25bn.
Deal focus: ACA seeks Asia-Europe sporting synergies
Japan’s ACA Group has acquired a Belgium-based KMSK Deinze as part of a multi-club investment strategy that will – in part – bring Asian players into the middle tiers of European football
Japan's ACA buys Belgian football club
Japanese fund manager ACA Investments has created a football-focused unit under its Singapore-based subsidiary and acquired a club that competes in the second tier of the Belgian league.
LP interview: Pictet
Switzerland-headquartered private bank Pictet is adding headcount in Asia – to assess investments as well as woo clients – as the introduction of new strategies increases exposure to the region
Q&A: EQT’s Andreas Aschenbrenner and Sophie Walker
In the past month, EQT has launched an impact fund with a difference and adopted science-based targets for emissions reduction. Andreas Aschenbrenner, deputy head of EQT Future, and Sophie Walker, head of sustainability for private capital, explain why
China's Trustar buys European EV charging specialist
Trustar Capital, formerly known as CITIC Capital Partners, has invested an undisclosed sum in Intramco, a Europe-based manufacturer of components used in electric vehicle (EV) charging.
Fund focus: AGIC sticks to cross-border growth thesis
Having found its sweet spot bridging the middle markets of Asia and Europe, AGIC Capital plans to stay there – although Fund II will move earlier to capture technology hardware post-commercialization
AGIC raises $1.2b for second Europe-Asia fund
AGIC Capital, a private equity firm that focuses on cross-border investments along the China-Europe axis, has closed its second fund with $1.2 billion in commitments.
China's PatPat gets $160m in Series D extension
PatPat, a Chinese-founded children’s wear brand, has raised $160 million from Softbank Vision Fund in a Series D round extension.
LP interview: Allianz Capital Partners
In approaching Asian private equity, Allianz Capital Partners combines the classic conservatism of an insurance investor with a seasoned understanding of how to assess – and perhaps not over-respond – to risk
