Investments
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.
Longreach reaps 60% IRR on Sanyo Logistics sale
The Longreach Group has reaped an IRR of 60% and a money multiple of around 2.5x on its 24.2 billion yen ($300 million) sale of Japanese logistics company Sanyo Electric Logistics.
Citigroup sells $1.9b stake in Carlyle-backed HDFC
Citigroup has sold its 9.85% stake in India’s largest mortgage lender Housing Development Finance Corp (HDFC) for $1.9 billion. The deal comes three weeks after The Carlyle Group sold part of its stake in the company for a 2x money multiple.
Billabong still in talks with TPG over buyout offer
Talks are ongoing between TPG Capital and Billabong over the private equity firm’s A$765 million ($820 million) takeover bid for the Australian surfwear manufacturer. TPG made a revised offer last week but it was still at the same indicative price of...
Providence-backed WTC bolts on USM Events
World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), the Australian athletic events organizer owned by Providence Equity Partners, has acquired event management company USM Events.
IDFC PE injects $30m into Staragri Warehousing
Infrastructure investor IDFC Private Equity has led a INR1.5 billion ($30 million) funding round for Indian agri-services provider Staragri Warehousing and Collateral Management.
South Korea’s Hi-Mart attracts interest from Tesco – report
Hi-Mart, the South Korean electronics retailer that Affinity Equity Partners exited in 2008, is about to change hands once again, with UK retailer Tesco tipped to bid for the asset. Several South Korean retailers are also said to be interested, as are...
Sony, Toshiba get state funding for outbound investment
Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. will be the first companies to receive capital from a $100 billion government fund set up last year to finance overseas acquisitions and minimize the impact of a rising yen. The strength of Japan’s currency has hurt export...
Red Fort boosts 3C Gurgaon project with $30m
Private equity firm Red Fort Capital Advisors has injected INR1.5 billion ($30 million) into a residential project designed by developer 3C Company in New Delhi, India.
Quadrant, APN announce outdoor advertising JV
Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to form an outdoor advertising joint venture with APN News & Media worth A$272 million ($289 million). APN had decided further investment was required to support expansion and entered into exclusive negotiations with...
Abraaj acquires emerging markets SME specialist Aureos
When Omar Lodhi took charge of Abraaj Capital’s Asia business, the idea was to pursue organic growth. The private equity firm opened an office in Singapore early last year and then one in India, where it already had a joint venture with Sabre Capital...
KKR, TPG consider AsiaInfo bid – report
Several private equity firms – including KKR and TPG Capital – and strategic investors are reportedly considering bids for AsiaInfo-Linkage, the US-listed firm that is already subject to a buyout offer from CITIC Capital.
Narula to sell Lilliput, allowing Bain and TPG to exit
Lilliput, the kidswear brand that has been embroiled in bitter fight with shareholders Bain Capital and TPG Capital, plans to sell off its brands and retail business.