Europe
Actis completes full management buyout with $100m deal
The UK government is on course to recoup more than $100 million by exiting its stake in Actis. The private equity firm’s management will buy the government’s 40% holding for GBP8 million ($13 million) in cash and also hand over a portion of the carried...
China’s Bright Food denies Weetabix acquisition talks
China’s Bright Food Group has denied reports that it is in talks to buy Weetabix from private equity firm Lion Capital. Several media outlets have claimed that negotiations began several weeks ago over a deal that would value the UK-based cereal company...
European GPs seek exits to Asian corporates
The trend for European GPs to set up portfolio teams in Asia helps expand their companies into new geographies. But forming local joint ventures offers significant exit prospects as well
Blackstone, PAI prepare for United Biscuits carve-up
Private equity-owned United Biscuits, a one-time target of China’s Bright Food Group, is preparing to spin out its salty snacks business in a potential GBP500 million ($780 million) sale. The Blackstone Group and PAI Partners are keen to separate the...
Family offices eye larger private equity allocations
Family offices are looking to invest more in private equity over the next 12 months at the expense of their cash allocations. A survey of 32 family offices conducted by London-based private market advisory firm Somerset Capital found that 63% plan on...
CIC gets $30b government injection
China Investment Corp. (CIC) has received an additional injection of $30 billion from the Chinese government. The new capital will give the sovereign fund the firepower to invest overseas, particularly in Europe.
Japan’s Asahi favorite to buy StarBev from CVC – report
Asahi has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to buy east European brewer StarBev from CVC Capital Partners in a deal worth up to $3 billion. It is another indication of Japanese corporates’ interest in expanding overseas, offering an exit opportunity...
Mandarin Capital achieves 3x return on Euticals exit
Mandarin Capital Partners has sold more than half of its stake in Italian pharmaceutical ingredient maker Euticals, netting a return of three times of its initial investment - a record for Chinese private equity outbound investment.
Asia, Middle East LPs put up 30% of BC Partners’ buyout fund
Asian and Middle East investors contributed 30% of the capital for BC Partners’ latest European fund, which has closed at EUR6.5 billion ($8.6 billion) after 18 months in the market. LPs from these regions only accounted for 10% of the private equity...
Carlyle’s Applus+ buys Australian inspection firm JDA
The Carlyle Group has acquired John Davidson and Associates (JDA), an Australian extraction industry services provider, through its portfolio company Applus+. The size of the transaction wasn’t disclosed but JDA had revenues of around EUR25 million...
CalSTRS commits $500m to IFM’s infrastructure fund
California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) has committed $500 million to Australia-based fund-of-funds Industry Funds Management (IFM). The capital will be placed in the firm’s Global Infrastructure Fund, which principally targets assets...
Hutchison Whampoa to acquire Orange Austria
Hutchison 3G, a unit of Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa, agreed to acquire Orange Austria, a mobile telecommunication company owned by France Telecom and buyout firm Mid-Europa Partners.
China nearly matches Europe for VC funding in 2011
Chinese companies attracted $6 billion in venture capital funding in 2011, up 8% year-on-year, and putting the country at near parity with Europe, which saw commitments of $6.1 billion. On a country basis, the US remains the runaway leader, with VC funding...
PE and Chinese outbound investment
Who writes CITIC Private Equity's scripts? The day after the conclusion of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, where China and its role in the global economy was inevitably an area of focus, it was announced that Sany Heavy Industry would purchase...
CDB fails to land RBS aviation unit despite making highest bid
China Development Bank (CDB) made the highest bid for Royal Bank of Scotland’s aviation-leasing unit but lost out on the transaction due to concerns about its ability to close the deal. The asset was sold to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) for...
Actis moves closer to full management buyout
The UK government is moving closer to the sale of its remaining stake Actis, with the private equity firm’s management team the most likely buyers after a 12-month search failed to deliver any rival bidders. However, deep divisions remain over the price...
Arctic-backed Living & Leisure receives $244m takeover bid
Living & Leisure Australia Group (LLA), the tourist attractions operator part-owned by Arctic Capital, has received a A$244 million ($244 million) takeover bid from private equity-backed Merlin Entertainments.
Asian bidders compete for RBS’ aircraft leasing business
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, China Development Bank and a consortium led by Australia’s Macquarie are among the final bidders for RBS Aviation Capital, the aircraft leasing business being divested by Royal Bank of Scotland. The only other potential...
CIC plans to invest in Western infrastructure projects
China Investment Corp. (CIC) will commit funds to improving infrastructure in developed countries, starting with the UK, where it plans to team up with fund managers or participate through public-private partnerships.
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...
Asia property funds not suffering from European bank pullback
Most large Asian real estate funds are not suffering from a pullback in lending as a result of the euro zone difficulties because their exposure to European banks is minimal, according to a survey by the Asia Pacific Real Estate Association.
Saab ends investment agreement with Chinese firms
Swedish Automobile has terminated an agreement to sell a majority stake in Saab to two Chinese companies, leaving the carmaker reliant on a $70 million commitment from US private equity firm North Street Capital to cover its immediate expenses.
Asia Pacific LPs put up nearly 25% of EQT’s $6.5b fund
EQT Partners has raised EUR4.75 billion ($6.5 billion) for its sixth European buyout fund, with Asia Pacific LPs accounting for 23% of commitments, up from just 5% in the firm’s previous vehicle. According to people familiar with the situation, Chinese...
AXA buys $500m in LP interests from Mizuho – report
AXA Private Equity has agreed to buy LP interests worth $500 million from Mizuho Financial Group. The commitments concern about 20 US and European buyout funds managed by the likes of Blackstone Group, KKR, BC Partners and EQT Partners.