Investments
Hana denies asking Lone Start to cut KEB sale price
Hana Financial Group has denied reports that it had asked Lone Star to cut the $4.16 billion acquisition price for Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) by one fifth. It was claimed that the US private equity firm responded by threatening to walk away from the deal...
CDC invests $50 million in Pragati India Fund
CDC Group, the UK development finance institution, has committed $50 million to Narayanan Shadagopan's Pragati India Fund.
Yahoo founder refuses to rule out sale to Alibaba, private equity
Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has refused to rule out the possible sale of the company to Alibaba Group’s Jack Ma or to a private equity interests. “There are plenty of options,” he told a conference in Hong Kong Wednesday.
China exits: How much longer can the pre-IPO party last?
Chinese private equity funds that were drawn into the market by high public exit valuations are being given pause for thought. It represents a tipping point for Shenzhen’s ChiNext and SME Boards
Corporate Japan looks for growth overseas
Japanese companies need to take on the world. Local private equity professionals at the 2011 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum Japan conference in Tokyo, which I am chairing, see globalization as the major current theme for corporate Japan. Indeed,...
KKR, MBK bid for Samsung’s procurement arm
KKR and MBK Partners are among the bidders for a majority stake in iMarketKorea, Samsung Group’s procurement arm. Based on Tuesday’s closing share price, the asset is worth KRW372 billion ($326 million).
Affinity picks up 70% stake in Australia’s Primo Smallgoods
Affinity Equity Partners has finalized its acquisition of Australian meat products firm Primo Smallgoods in a deal that values the company at A$740 million ($758 million). Previous reports suggested that the valuation was at least A$900 million.
Legend Capital, DCM commit $30 million to China’s Happy Elements
Legend Capital has led a Series B round of funding worth $30 million for Chinese social gaming company Happy Elements. Existing investor DCM also participated.
Lone Star has six months to reduce KEB stake
Lone Star may have no more than six months to reduce its stake in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) to 10% or lower after Korea’s Financial Services Commission said Monday that it had begun the process of ordering a divestment. The move comes in response to...
PE-backed Technovator International to list in Hong Kong
Technovator International, China’s leading energy management systems company, is seeking to raise up to HK$146 million ($18.7 million) through a Hong Kong IPO. The company is controlled by Shanghai-listed Tsinghua Tongfang, which is part-owned by the...
Tsing Capital backs solar panel maker Sunpreme
Tsing Capital has participated in a $50 million round of financing for existing portfolio company Sunpreme, a Silicon Valley-based solar cell manufacturer. The round was led by International Finance Corp. (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, and...
Saban Capital Group takes 5% stake in Media Nusantara
Saban Capital Group, the Los Angeles-based private equity firm controlled by billionaire Haim Saban, has purchased a 5% stake in PT Media Nusantara Citra from PT Global Mediacom for INR692 billion ($78.2 million). Saban Capital, which is investing through...
Blackstone buys NZ Burger King franchise from Anchorage
The Blackstone Group has agreed to buy Antares Restaurant Group, which operates the Burger King franchise in New Zealand, from Anchorage Capital Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Archer sells Rebel to Super Retail Group
Archer Capital has exited Rebel Group, Australia’s largest sporting goods chain, to camping and auto parts store owner Super Retail Group for A$610 million ($630 million). The transaction is expected to close on October 31.
NVP India broadens focus to include into seed, late-stage deals
Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) India is expanding its investment strategy to include seed and late-stage transactions, having previously focused on venture and growth deals. The firm is also broadening its sector coverage to include healthcare, education...
Carlyle-led group buys into Asian cinema digital server provider
A consortium led by The Carlyle Group has purchased an 80% stake in GDC Technology, Asia’s largest cinema digital server provider. The investment was led by the $1 billion Carlyle Asia Growth Partners IV and the other participants included Yunfeng Capital,...
SEC approves Volcker rule as market watchers express concerns
Concerns are being raised that the Volcker rule, which limits bank exposure to asset classes such as a private equity, will be postponed or weakened by lobbyists and that some forms of proprietary trading will be exempted completely. The rule was approved...
Tokio Marine targets $903m Showa Yakuhin Kako sale - report
Tokio Marine capital has launched the sales process for its 50% stake in Japanese drug producer Showa Yakuhin Kako, targeting up to JPY70 billion ($905 million), according to Reuters.
Carlyle, Advent to launch joint bid for Tech Mahindra stake
The Carlyle Group and Advent International are expected to launch a joint bid for British Telecom’s 23.2% stake in Tech Mahindra, India’s fifth-largest IT services firm. The deal could be worth $500 million.
Xunlei backs out of IPO due to market volatility
Xunlei, the Chinese software company backed by Morningside Technologies, IDG Ventures and Ceyuan Funds, has shelved plans for a $200 million IPO on NASDAQ.
Aureos sells Thai wastewater purification firm ECM
The Aureos South East Asia Fund has exited its stake in Thai industrial wastewater purification firm Environmental Care Management (ECM) to an undisclosed consortium of investors for $3.7 million.
Standard Chartered backs South Korea’s Daelim Motor
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has agreed to invest $61 million in Daelim Motor, South Korea’s leading motorcycle and auto parts manufacturer. The private equity firm will take a stake of unspecified size by subscribing to new shares in the...
Asia buyouts struggle as banks clamp down on lending
Buyout deals in Asia are becoming more difficult as banks hold back on lending. Rising capital costs have made lenders wary of the risks tied to mispricing a loan, leaving private equity firms to increase the cash portion of buyouts.
Japan’s secondary funds look to consolidate
The cross-ownership of Japanese companies creates rich pickings for secondaries players looking to gather up and exit