Articles by Susannah Birkwood
Kotak PE invests $25m in Minda Corporation
Kotak Private Equity Group (KPEG), part of Kotak Mahindra Group, has reportedly invested INR1.25 billion ($25 million) for a minority stake in automotive component firm Minda Corporation.
Masdar to invest in Chinese fuel cells and water treatment
Masdar Capital, the private equity arm of renewable energy firm Masdar, is said to be looking for opportunities to invest in the fuel cells and water treatment spaces in China.
Temasek sells $300m ICICI Bank stake
Temasek Holdings, Singapore’s second-largest sovereign wealth fund has sold a 1.4% stake in ICICI Bank for INR14.7 billion ($299 million), reducing its shareholding in India’s biggest private bank to 2%.
Actis launches tool to assess impact of energy investments
Emerging markets private equity firm Actis has unveiled a tool for assessing the sustainability of its energy investments. It aims to capture the key drivers that build value and pinpoint where improvements could be made.
TPG, Bain in talks to invest $50m in Parag Milk - sources
TPG Capital India and Bain Capital are said to be in advanced talks with India’s Parag Milk Foods about purchasing $50 million worth of shares in the dairy products manufacturer.
Verlinvest acquires 20% of Everstone's restaurant business
Family office Verlinvest, has acquired a 20% stake in Cuisine Asia, a Mauritius-based holding company set up by Everstone Capital to manage its food and beverage assets.
Political risk tempers LP appetite for Southeast Asia
Insurgent groups and corrupt governments are every investor’s worst nightmare. For those private equity firms operating in the Philippines and Indonesia, they’re also a reality.
Unitas takes a bite out of Babela's
Everyone loves pizza and chicken wings, and none more so than Unitas Capital. The regional buyout firm, which paid $40 million for a majority stake in Chinese restaurant chain Babela’s last week, plans to kick off its list of operational improvements...
Sun-Apollo invests $15m in Indian housing project
Sun-Apollo India Real Estate Fund has invested INR750 million ($15 million) for a 49% stake in a housing project run by real estate developer Assotech in Gurgaon, India.
PEP conducts due diligence on Spotless
Australia’s Spotless Group has done an about-turn and allowed Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) to conduct due diligence into the cleaning services company. This comes despite the firm previously saying it would only open its books to PEP if it increased...
BC Partners replaces Fitness First management team
BC Partners has axed the core management team of Fitness First in a bid to prevent its portfolio company sinking under the weight of its high-interest loans.
Lightspeed nears close of $200m China fund
Lightspeed Venture Partners is reportedly nearing a final close of a $200 million China fund, coming after it recently said it was seeking $675million for its new global vehicle.
Baring injects $100m in RMZ India project
Baring Private Equity Partners (BPEP) has channeled INR5 billion ($100 million) into backing RMZ Corp’s acquisition of an office space project in Bangalore.
Ironbridge mulls IES SBO
Ironbridge Capital is reportedly among the private equity suitors looking to participate in the secondary buyout of CHAMP Private Equity’s International Energy Services (IES).
CIC takes minority stake in EIG Global
China Investment Corp. (CIC), the $410 billion Chinese sovereign wealth fund, has bought a minority stake in US-based asset management firm EIG Global Energy Partners.
Bain, Unitas consider $400m Prestolite SBO
Bain Capital and Unitas Capital are said to have submitted second round bids to purchase China-focused motor manufacturer Prestolite Electric from First Atlantic for around $400 million.
TPG eyes PacBrands takeover
TPG and a syndicate of banks are reportedly preparing a takeover bid for listed Australian clothing and related consumer brands wholesaler Pacific Brands (PacBrands).
Saban Capital opens in Hong Kong
Saban Capital Group (Asia), a regional unit of the Los Angeles-based private equity firm controlled by billionaire Haim Saban, has opened a new office in Hong Kong.
Aureos boosts Indian packaging firm with $7m
Aureos South Asia Managers, a unit of Aureos Capital, has invested $7 million in Indian paper packaging company Sai Security Printers to help it build a new facility in Bangalore.
Advantage, Japan's Orix abandon Yayoi buyout - sources
Advantage Partners and Japan’s Orix Corp. have reportedly dropped out of the running for software developer Yayoi, which was put on the block by MBK Partners last year.
Indian realty valuations to take a hit
The time is ripe for an exit for private equity funds focused on Indian real estate. But can investors keep up the pace without affecting returns?
IL&FS signs off five real estate part-exits in 4Q
IL&FS Investment Managers (IIML) completed partial exits from five of its investments in Indian real estate in the fourth quarter of 2011. It also invested INR7.7 billion ($154 million) in the three months to December 2011.
MCap-backed Jyothy Labs secures $110m loan
Jyothy Laboratories, the Indian consumer products maker backed by MCap Fund Advisors, has raised an INR5.5 billion ($110 million) loan to refinance its debt.
Lone Star wins approval for KEB sale
Embattled buyout firm Lone Star has finally gained approval from the necessary parties for the sale of its 51% stake in Korea Exchange Bank to Hana Financial Group.