Investments
Carlyle backs Indian affordable housing firm
The Carlyle Group's $26 million commitment to Value & Budget Housing Corporation (VBHC) last week is significant in that it marks the affordable housing developer’s graduation to the investment mainstream. The company was founded in 2009 by what Shankar...
Hahn & Company closes first fund
Hahn & Company, the South Korea-focused private equity firm founded by Scott Hahn, formerly Morgan Stanley Private Equity (MSPE) Asia’s (MSPEA) chief investment officer, has recorded a final close on its first fund, reaching the hard cap of $750 million....
Australia pursues Myer profits offshore
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) tells AVCJ that it can’t comment on an ongoing legal matter. This is unfortunate because no else understands how the country’s main revenue collector picks its fights – or what message it wants to send to foreign investors....
AXA, LGT buy $901m in secondary assets from German bank
AXA Private Equity and LGT Capital Partners have acquired a EUR620 million ($901 million) private equity portfolio from Germany’s HSH Nordbank. The portfolio is said to include stakes in about 47 private equity funds, including European vehicles managed...
ANZ in talks to buy Cerberus' Aozora Bank stake – report
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) has begun negotiations to buy Cerberus Capital’s 50% stake in Aozora Bank, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the situation. ANZ is said to be attracted by the Japanese lender’s strong deposit...
Bright Foods anticipates more acquisitions in Australia
China’s Bright Foods is looking to continue its buying spree in Australia following the completion of its acquisition of a 75% stake Manassen Foods. It hopes to use the market as springboard to becoming an international food producer of scale.
Nomura appointed to oversee sale of Tokyo Star Bank
Lone Star Funds and its fellow creditors have hired Nomura to sell off Tokyo Star Bank, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Lone Star sold the asset to Advantage Partners (AP) less than four years ago but resumed...
Bank of America raises $8.3b in partial exit from CCB
Bank of America (BofA) on Monday sold about half its 10% holding in China Construction Bank (CCB), raising $8.3 billion. The lender, which is in the process of shedding non-core assets and boosting its tier-one capital, sold 13.1 billion shares to group...
VC-backed Chinese children's clothing retailer signs Disney deal
Greenbox, a venture capital-backed Chinese online retailer specializing in children’s clothes, has agreed to integrate Disney brands into its product lines. The Chinese company will design clothing lines inspired by Disney franchises including Mickey...
United Technologies may edge out PE for FirePro buyout
US-based United Technologies has reportedly emerged as the front runner to buy Bangalore-based fire-protection firm FirePro Systems for $200 million – an asset that is said to also have been courted by global private equity firms.
ETIC becomes largest shareholder in Japanese engineering firm
Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp of Japan (ETIC) has underwritten 150 million of common shares issued by ARRK, a listed company engaged in die and mold engineering, worth JPY9 billion ($117 million).
Bendigo-led consortium invests in Akatsuki Financial
A consortium led by Bendigo Partners has made a strategic investment in Akatsuki Financial Group, a Japan based mid-sized financial services firm, specializing in retail brokerage and asset management. Financial details were not announced.
Indian ethnic fashion retailer seeks private equity investment
Wolfensohn Capital Partners is going to sell its 8% stake in ethnic fashion retailer Fabindia. The exit comes as Fabindia looks to raise around INR2 billion from new investors.
ANZ linked to potential acquisitions of Tokyo Star Bank, Aozora Bank
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) is reportedly looking to acquire Lone Star-controlled Tokyo Star Bank or Cerberus-owned Aozora Bank.
Bank of America expected to exit over half its CCB stake this week
Bank of America (BofA) is on course to sell more than half its stake in China Construction Bank (CCB) for up to $10 billion this week. A consortium of Asian and Middle East sovereign wealth funds as well as several private equity firms are in negotiations...
China's Zhongpin seen as potential PE target
Chinese pork processor Zhongpin has been tipped as a potential target for private equity investors. Tim Tiberio, an analyst at Chardan Capital Markets, said that the long-term opportunity for consolidation in China’s food processing industry “is too attractive...
India's Axis Private Equity to sell portfolio companies
India’s Axis Private Equity is reportedly negotiating the sale of Vishwa Infrastructure and Corrtech International, and plans to dilute its stake in Neesa Leisure through an IPO.
Carlyle invests $26m in Indian affordable housing firm
The Carlyle Group has committed $26 million to Value & Budget Housing Corporation (VBHC), a constructor and developer of affordable housing in India
Australian VC firms back Spinifex Pharmaceuticals
GBS Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Uniseed Management and UniQuest have participated in the Series B round of financing for Spinifex Pharmaceuticals. The Australian drug development company raised a total of $19 million, $6.5 million more...
Bright Food finally seals overseas acquisition
China's Bright Food Group is set to acquire a 75% stake in CHAMP Private Equity-controlled Manassen Foods, finally making a breakthrough in its long-held but often thwarted ambitions to take a significant step into overseas markets. The parties did not...
PEP, Unitas exit Independent Liquor to Asahi
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital last week agreed to sell New Zealand beverage firm Independent Liquor to Japan’s Asahi Group for NZ$1.525 billion ($1.27 billion). The private equity firms secured a 1.5x return on their original NZ$1.2...
Lexington eyes bumper deal flow
Brent Nicklas founded Lexington Partners in 1994 and currently serves as managing partner, overseeing private equity secondary and co-investment funds. He discusses global opportunities for secondary investors
PE's love-hate relationship with corporates
This week's AVCJ highlights three deals, all located down under, involving corporates in private equity – Bain Capital outbidding Sage for Archer and HarbourVest’s MYOB, Asahi taking over Independent liquor from Pacific Equity Partners and Unitas, and...
China's outbound investments increase 40% in H1 2011
Outbound Chinese M&A activity rose 40% in H1 2011 from the same period in 2010, Robert W. Baird & Co. announced in its China M&A Market report, translating to a 50% rise in the collective deals’ value.