Investments
Catalyst exits Aperio for $251 million
Catalyst Investment Managers has reached an agreement with Amcor to sell its stake in Aperio Group, Amcor’s largest rival in the Australian flexible packaging market, in a transaction worth A$238 million ($251 million).
Australia's Elcano Capital hits the fundraising trail
Australian venture firm Elcano Capital is seeking to raise capital from small investment funds to finance its planned investments into early stage companies.
Warburg Pincus and GA in talks to invest $200m in Aegis
US-based Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic (GA) are in talks to invest as much as $200 million for a stake in Aegis, the IT services arm of Indian industrial conglomerate Essar Group.
CVC plans to sell Nine ticketing arm
CVC Asia Pacific is seeking buyers for Nine Entertainment's ticketing arm in order to generate funds that will be used to restructure the media group’s A$2.7 billion ($2.9 billion) in senior debt, which is due for repayment next February.
Sequoia, Accel sell Amobee to SingTel
Sequoia Capital and Accel Partners have agreed to sell US-based mobile advertising start-up Amobee to SingTel, Southeast Asia’s largest cell phone company, for $321 million.
CDH, CITIC, New Horizon buy Luye Pharma from MBK
CDH Capital, Citic Private Equity and New Horizon Capital, three of China's largest private equity firms, have bought Luye Pharma from Korea-based MBK Partners.
Infinity backs Chinese specialist chip maker
Infinity Group, the Israel-based private equity firm created by China Development Bank and Israeli conglomerate IDB Group, has committed RMB8 million ($1.2 million) to Solorein Technology. It is the first investment made through Infinity’s Chengdu Shuangliu...
L Capital to invest $150m in Raymond Apparel - report
L Capital Asia, the private equity arm of LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods group, is said to be in talks to invest INR7.5 billion ($150 million) in Indian clothes company Raymond Apparel.
VC-backed Komli Media bolts on Admax
Komli Media, the Indian media technology company backed by Norwest Venture Partners, has completed the bolt-on acquisition of digital media network.Admax.
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...
Gaja backs Indian auto sales network
Gaja Capital Partners has committed INR850 million ($17.3 million) to Carnation Auto, India’s largest independent multi-brand auto sales and service network. The capital will be used to consolidate Carnation’s service business and expand its secondhand...
JC Flowers circles ING Asia assets - report
US private equity firm J.C. Flowers is said to be considering a bid for the Asian insurance assets being sold by ING Group.
Avigo-backed Spykar on the block
Avigo Capital Partners has put Spykar Lifestyle up for sale. The private equity firm, which targets investments in small- and medium-sized enterprises, acquired a 60% stake in the Indian apparel chain less than a year ago.
Premji invests $25m in Fabindia
Premji Invest, the $1 billion private equity vehicle backed by Wipro Group chairman Azim Premji, has invested INR1-1.25 billion ($20-25 million) for a 7% stake in Indian fashion company Fabindia.
CHAMP gets court approval for oOh!media takeover
CHAMP Private Equity has won approval from the Federal Court of Australia for its A$163 million ($176 million) acquisition of outdoor advertising company oOh!media. The firm consequently ceased trading on the Australian Stock Exchange on March 1.
Accel and Tiger Global boost Zansaar with $6m
Accel Partners and Tiger Global have invested $6 million in Bangalore-based e-commerce start-up Zansaar.com to support the brand’s organic growth.
IFC provides $20m loan to Baring-backed GIIS
International Finance Corp. (IFC) has provided a loan of up to SGD25 million ($20 million) to Global Indian International School (GIIS), which is backed by Baring Private Equity Asia.
TPG rivals mull bids for Billabong – report
The Blackstone Group and KKR are reportedly considering bids for Billabong after the Australian surfwear company rejected TPG Capital’s A$841 million ($904 million) offer but said it was willing to engage with any party that make an attractive proposal....
PE bets on Asia's growing food demand
Food assets – notably fresh produce – are increasingly attractive to private equity firms as they potential trade sale exits to Asian corporates looking to satisfy rising domestic demand
An Australian-Asian story
Australia is the exception in Asian private equity: a market in which buyouts are routine, leveraged finance is readily available and entry and exit activity is relatively transparent. It is, one is tempted to say, Japan without the intrigue and inscrutability....
IFC backs Saratoga-led investment in power producer
International Finance Corp. (IFC), the World Bank’s investment arm, has paid up to $25 million for an 11% stake in Indonesian electricity producer Medco Power International (MPI). It is part of a $112 million investment by a Saratoga Capital-led consortium...
Billabong rejects improved $904m offer from TPG
TPG Capital has increased its takeover bid for Billabong International by 10% to A$841 million ($904 million) but the Australian surfwear company is still not interested. It said that the increased price of A$3.30 per share, up from A$3 per share, doesn’t...
JSM Corp seeks $30m in PE funding
JSM Corp., the Indian franchisee for Hard Rock Café, California Pizza Kitchen and Trader Vic’s, is hoping to raise INR1.2-1.5 billion ($24 million -$30 million) from private equity investors.
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.