Buyouts
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.
Integral buys Japanese contact lens maker
Integral Corporation has acquired T-Garden, a Japanese company that makes cosmetic contact lenses, for an undisclosed sum.
Coronavirus & take-privates: Opportunity knocks
With public equities prices sliding to multi-year lows across the region as a result of coronavirus disruption, GPs willing to take the leap might find value in privatizations
KKR-backed IndiGrid acquires transmission asset for $134m
India Grid Trust (IndiGrid), an infrastructure investment trust backed by KKR and GIC Private, has acquired a power distribution company in northeast India for INR10.2 billion ($134 million).
Coronavirus & leverage: Room to maneuver?
Economic disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak is likely to leave many private equity portfolio companies in breach of their leverage covenants. Borrowers and lenders are looking for a fix
GLP backs $1.37b take-private of Hong Kong's Li & Fung
The founders of Hong Kong-listed Li & Fung have teamed up with PE-owned warehouse operator GLP on a take-private offer that values their company at HK$10.7 billion ($1.37 billion).
Village Roadshow suitors continue work despite coronavirus disruption
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and BGH Capital are continuing their due diligence on Australian cinema and theme park operator Village Roadshow despite the company experiencing difficulties due to coronavirus outbreak.
PE targets sensual wellness: Good vibrations
A recent commitment by China’s CDH Investments to Wow Tech underlines how sensual health products such as vibrators are moving from the margins to the mainstream, globally and in Asia
Partners Group rebuffed in pursuit of Australia's Healius
Australian healthcare services provider Healius has rejected a A$2.1 billion ($1.4 billion) buyout offer from Partners Group, saying it doesn’t reflect the fundamental value of the company.
US GP Jaguar acquires China logistics player
US private equity investor Jaguar Growth Partners has launched its first Asia fund with the acquisition of Chinese logistics operator Brilliant.
Take-privates: Going large
Large GPs are screening public companies more carefully so they can get comfortable with elevated valuations for public-to-private deals. At what point does discomfort become the default option?
PEP's secure assets fund to buy Australia-listed Zenith Energy
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to acquire 100% of Australia-listed off-grid power company Zenith Energy in deal that values the company at A$250 million ($163 million).
Coronavirus in Asia: Ongoing analysis
Coronavirus concerns among GPs not solely focused on China vary based on their direct or indirect exposure to China, but gauging private equity responses to the crisis is like chasing a moving target
Macro factors not slowing private debt in Australia - AVCJ Forum
Leveraged lenders focusing on Australia and New Zealand continue to see strong demand from financial sponsors, with the impact of global macroeconomic volatility likely to be delayed and perhaps muted.
Profile: Baring Asia's Jean Eric Salata
Jean Eric Salata has built Baring Private Equity Asia from a one-man-shop into a firm with $20 billion in assets, negotiating financial crises and changing economic realities. He has never been one to stand still