Investments
Yahoo chairman to step down, future of Asian assets unresolved
Yahoo is replacing its chairman and three other directors as it continues to restructure its business, a process that includes the potential spin-out of its Asia-based assets to a consortium comprising Alibaba Group, Softbank and some private equity players....
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...
Wolseley exits Freshmax to Maui Capital
From cattle ranchers to fruit and vegetable farmers, PE interest in Australasia’s agricultural space is wide-ranging. In each case, investors are seeking to leverage the perception, particularly in Asia, that produce from Australia and New Zealand is...
Beacon India acquires 1.3% stake in PE-backed construction firm
Beacon India Private Equity Fund, a $200 Million Indian growth capital vehicle, has acquired a 1.3% stake in NCC, a listed construction and infrastructure enterprise backed by The Blackstone Group and ChrysCapital Advisors. The transaction is worth INR216.4...
MCap, IDFC invest $20m in ReGen Powertech
Subbu Subramaniam, who spun out from Baring Private Equity Partners India three years ago to form MCap Fund Advisors, has backed ReGen Powertech in his first pure private equity deal. MCap’s previous investments were PIPE deals for companies including...
Yawadwipa targets $750m buyout of Indonesia's Bank Mutiara
Yawadwipa, the startup Indonesia-focused merchant banking operation that recently unveiled plans for a $1 billion private equity fund, has express an interest in acquiring state-owned PT Bank Mutiara for around $750 million. The price is based on the...
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.
Hutchison Whampoa to acquire Orange Austria
Hutchison 3G, a unit of Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa, agreed to acquire Orange Austria, a mobile telecommunication company owned by France Telecom and buyout firm Mid-Europa Partners.
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).
Warburg Pincus, Oak Hill seek exits from Indian BPO firms
Warburg Pincus and Oak Hill Capital Partners are both lining up exits from Indian outsourcing companies listed in the US. WNS plans to offer 10.5 million new and ordinary shares, which would reduce Warburg Pincus’ holding in the company from 47.84% to...
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.
China nearly matches Europe for VC funding in 2011
Chinese companies attracted $6 billion in venture capital funding in 2011, up 8% year-on-year, and putting the country at near parity with Europe, which saw commitments of $6.1 billion. On a country basis, the US remains the runaway leader, with VC funding...
Swire enters the bidding for Baring-backed Courts Asia
Hong Kong conglomerate Swire is reportedly among the bidders for Baring Private Equity Asia-invested electronics and furniture retailer Courts Asia. The sale could be worth close to $400 million.
Warburg Pincus completes partial exit from Kotak Mahindra
Warburg Pincus completed a public market sell down of part of its holding in India’s Kotak Mahindra Bank on Wednesday. The private equity firm raised about $170 million through the transaction.
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).
Warburg Pincus, Carlyle consider backing Indian NBFC – report
Au Financiers, an Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC), is reportedly in talks with Warburg Pincus and The Carlyle Group for a third round of funding.
Indian MFI Ujjivan secures $25m in fifth round funding
Indian microfinance institution Ujjivan Financial Services has raised INR1.28 billion ($25.5 million) from seven investors in its fifth round of equity funding. Wolfensohn Capital Partners and Dutch development finance company FMO committed INR400 million...
Carlyle plans to sell part of HDFC stake - sources
Carlyle Group is said to be planning to sell 20 million shares in mortgage lender Housing Development Finance Corp. (HDFC). The exit could generate significant returns from the private equity firm's five-year investment in the mortgage company.
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.