Buyouts
KKR to buy majority stake in Australia's Colonial First State
KKR will buy a 55% stake in Colonial First State (CFS), the wealth management arm of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), in a deal that values the business at A$3.3 billion ($2.1 billion).
Carlyle pursues control of India's SeQuent for $210m
The Carlyle Group has reached agreements that could see it pay INR16.3 billion ($216 million) for up to 74% of Indian animal healthcare services provider SeQuent Scientific.
Virtual realism: Realizing investments remotely
Does Capricorn Capital's recent acquisition of a Hong Kong corporate services business, which was negotiated and transacted via Zoom, represent the future of dealmaking? Only if due diligence processes are uncompromised
Bain makes $1b bid for Japan care services provider
Bain Capital has submitted a buyout offer for Nichii Gakkan, a Tokyo-listed provider of aged care, childcare and medical support services, that values the company at approximately JPY109.5 billion ($1 billion).
PEP looks to cut OPTrust into Zenith Energy deal
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) wants to bring OPTrust into its bid for Australia-listed off-grid power provider Zenith Energy after the Canadian pension fund built up a sizeable position in the company.
KKR reassured by heavy Asia PE exposure as pandemic eases
KKR sees its significant exposure to Asia – which accounts for more than 30% of the firm’s overall private equity portfolio – as a source of strength as the region appears to be emerging from the coronavirus pandemic faster than the US and Europe.
CLSA acquires Japan IT services provider
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has acquired a majority stake in Japanese IT services provider Earth Technology for an undisclosed sum.
Warburg Pincus, General Atlantic back privatization of China's 58.com
Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic have thrown their support behind Ocean Link’s proposed $7 billion privatization of 58.com, China’s leading online classifieds marketplace.
Australia's mid-market: The middlemen
Pure proprietary deals are a rarity in Australia’s mid-market. Most opportunities pass through a fragmented network of advisors, which means private equity firms must get noticed to stay relevant
Coronavirus & MAC clauses: Devil in the details
Business breakdowns caused by COVID-19 have spurred investors to re-examine their legal options with deals in pre-close limbo. That could spark a major evolution in M&A contracting
Capricorn acquires Hong Kong corporate services player
UK-based family office Capricorn Capital has made its second investment in Asia with the 100% acquisition of Hong Kong corporate services provider Ethos for an undisclosed sum.
Hamilton Lane backs Polaris-led privatization of Japan's Sogo Medical
Hamilton Lane has participated as a co-investor in a Japanese take-private for the first time, supporting a Polaris Capital Group-led tender offer for Sogo Medical Holdings, a Japanese pharmacy chain operator and B2B healthcare management platform.
KKR to acquire India solar assets for $204m
KKR has announced plans to acquire five solar energy assets from Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital (SP Infra) for INR15.5 billion ($204 million).
Portfolio: Navis Capital Partners and Hanoi French Hospital
Navis Capital Partners has taken a boutique private hospital to a new level of competence and professionalism just in time for the biggest healthcare emergency in living memory
Baring Asia restructures retailer Cath Kidston
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed a restructuring of Cath Kidston, a UK lifestyle retailer it has backed since 2014, under which the company has entered administration and will reemerge as a smaller business.
Deal focus: Korean GPs seal semiconductor carve-out
Alchemist Capital Partners and Credian Partners' acquisition of MagnaChip Semiconductor’s foundry services group was the largest PE buyout in Korea during the first quarter. AVCJ and Mergermarket offer some insights
Deal focus: Integral discovers booming cosmetics niche
Now under private equity ownership, T-Garden is credited with pioneering fashion model-led contact lens marketing in Japan - and helping an often-overlooked market creep into the mainstream
VIG makes second Korea funeral services acquisition
Korea’s VIG Partners has made the second investment from its fourth fund – which closed at $810 million in January – with an agreement to acquire Preedlife, the country’s leading funeral services provider.
Macquarie buys Asia data center player Airtrunk
Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets (MIRA) is leading a consortium to acquire an 88% stake in Asia-focused data center player AirTrunk at a valuation of A$3 billion ($1.9 billion).
Asia PE investment falls to six-year low in first quarter
Private equity fundraising, investment and exits all fell to multi-year lows in the first quarter of 2020 as the economic fallout from coronavirus outbreak forced investors to focus on existing portfolio exposure and made them wary of making new commitments....
Ocean Link seeks $7b privatization of China's 58.com
Ocean Link, a Chinese private equity firm that targets travel, tourism and related consumer subsectors, has made a take-private offer for online classifieds marketplace 58.com that values the business at approximately $7 billion.
Portfolio: Capital Square Partners and Aegis/StarTek
Capital Square Partners’ acquisition of Indian business processing outsourcing (BPO) player Aegis ultimately helped two different companies find global relevance after a turbulent and disruptive decade
BGH, OTPP pull out of New Zealand dentistry deal
BGH Capital and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) have scrapped plans to acquire New Zealand dentistry chain Abano Healthcare citing material changes caused by COVID-19.
China's Wanda exits Ironman to strategic, PE buyers
Wanda Sports Group, the sports, media and marketing subsidiary of Chinese real estate conglomerate Wanda Group, has sold the Ironman brand to two US-based investors for an enterprise valuation of $730 million.