VENTURE CAPITAL POST

UK-based investment fund Pearson Affordable Learning Fund has backed Delhi-based education startup Avanti Learning Centres to develop a system that will help students from low-income families prepare for college entrance tests.

Blackstone Group, the largest real estate private equity firm, recently said that it targets more real estate acquisitions in Asia. It has invested USD3 billion in the region since making its first deal in 2007.

Australia-based taxi app ingogo has raised an additional AUD3.4 million in venture capital funding and expressed plans for a 2014 listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Despite the discount of costs to run hedge funds in the Asian-Pacific region, Citigroup Inc's recent survey revealed that not all hedge funds in the region are successes in expanding its assets and achieving profitability.

Hong Kong-based private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners is set to purchase minority stakes in four commercial property acquisitions in the UK and the US, in a deal with a total value of USD1 billion.

State-owned China Southern airline has held detailed discussions last year with a consortium of wealthy investors to provide financial backing for the syndicate's stake in Qantas.

Japan's Toshiba Corp. and German real estate major Gagfah SAS entered a joint venture to sell energy directly to residents in Germany. The deal could bring in a revenue of USD184 million to USD233 million to the Japanese conglomerate.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the approved merger of American Airlines and US Airways to form the largest airline by revenues in the world is not good news for passengers.

Italy's richest man Giovanni Ferrero said that chocolate company Ferrero SpA has no plans to go public or sell out to a bigger rival. Ferrero unveiled his company's vision to expand in Asia and the US in the next decade.

Australia-based gas and oil explorer Octanex said the main reason for its merger with Peak Oil & Gas was the latter's access to exploration projects in the Philippines and in Indonesia.

Australia-based task outsourcing platform Airtasker raised an additional USD2 million in a funding round with BridgeLane Capital, Exto Partners, and other private equity investors, to be used for the firm's team expansion.

The government of Taiwan has encouraged state-run Mega Financial to consider the possibility of merging with Chang Hwa Bank amidst difficulties in the banking sector.

Hong Kong-based tech startup Multichannel raised USD3 million in a seed round from angel investors in Asia and Europe to be used for the improvement of the company's marketing spend tracker.

US-based private equity fund Exhilway Global has closed USD200 million for its mines and minerals private equity fund that will operate in Indonesia, Turkey, and Kazakhstan.

International consumer packaging company Chesapeake Services and packaging solutions firm Multi Packaging Solutions Inc entered into a definitive agreement to merge, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.