Buyout
CHAMP PE gets GE financing for Accolade Wines expansion
CHAMP Private Equity has secured $300 million in cross-border financing from GE Capital International for Accolade Wines, the firm behind mass-market brands such as Hardys and Banrock Station.
Baring Asia-backed Nord Anglia raises $304m, jumps on debut
Nord Anglia Education, a school operator controlled by Baring Private Equity Asia, saw its shares close up 12.5% on the first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. This followed an IPO that raised $304 million.
The soft middle
What has become of the mid-market GP in Asia? If there is one area of the fundraising landscape that has hollowed out in the last year or so, this is it, giving credence to the notion of bifurcation.
EQT confirms acquisition of Australia's I-Med
EQT Partners has confirmed its acquisition of Australian radiology provider I-Med Network Radiology alongside Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec of Canada and Singapore's GIC Private.
Japanese banks commit to CVC's fourth Asia fund
CVC Capital Partners has received $100 million in commitments from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (SMTB) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for its fourth Asia fund, which is expected to close above its $3.5 billion hard cap.
Cerberus-backed Seibu eyes April Tokyo listing
Japanese railway and hotel operator Seibu Holdings is targeting a JPY186 billion ($1.8 billion) IPO in Tokyo next month, potentially ending a three-year battle between the management and shareholder Cerberus Capital Management.
Portfolio: CITIC Capital Partners and Elgin Equipment
When CITIC Capital Partners joined Audax Group in acquiring Elgin Equipment, its brief was to re-position the clean coal equipment business from low-growth America to high-growth China
Korea M&A: Regulatory relief
The Korean government’s recently announced M&A stimulation package includes a relaxation of restrictions on domestic private equity firms. But how much change are these reforms likely to bring?
Temasek tables $2.1b bid for full ownership of Olam
A consortium led by Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings has offered to pay $2.1 billion to take full ownership of agricultural commodity trading conglomerate Olam International. The consortium already owns a 52.5% stake in the firm.
Unison Capital targets $581m for Japan fund
Japanese mid-market buyout firm Unison Capital is targeting JPY60 billion ($581 million) for its fourth Japan fund. The fund - which launched in early February - is scheduled for a first close by the summer.
A story that sells
One of the observation's made in last week's Australia-themed viewpoint was that private equity fundraising tanked in 2013, although there was a caveat.
Australia’s Quadrant in $758m quick-fire fundraise
Australian GP Quadrant Private Equity has closed its seventh fund at A$850 million ($758 million) after just over one month in the market. The vehicle was two times oversubscribed with interest from both domestic and offshore investors.
Carlyle vies with local, Chinese bidders for Transpacific NZ - report
The Carlyle Group is expected to face competition for Transpacific Industries Group's New Zealand waste management unit from a competing bid from a local consortium involving two Maori tribes.
EQT buys restructured I-Med from hedge fund owners
Australian radiology provider I-Med Network Radiology is being sold by its hedge fund owners to a consortium led by EQT Partners.
Q&A: Partners Group's Andreas Baumann
Partners Group has raised $2 billion for its latest PE direct investment program, up to 40% of which can be deployed outside of the US and Europe. Andreas Baumann, head of the firm’s Singapore office, highlights the opportunities in Asia
KKR eyes Asia opportunities as valuations fall
KKR sees increasing opportunities in Asia for private equity and special situations as valuations fall amid growing investor uncertainty about the prospects for emerging markets globally.
Cerberus completes Kokusai Kogyo exit - report
Cerberus Capital Management has reportedly completed the sale of its stake in Japanese property operator Kokusai Kogyo for about JPY140 million ($1.37 billion).
Sony agrees to sell Vaio PC unit to JIP
Sony has confirmed that it plans to sell its loss-making Vaio PC division to Tokyo-based mid-market buyout shop Japan Industrial Partners (JIP). Financial details have not been disclosed but previous estimates valued the deal at around JPY40-50 billion...
Navis raises $1.3b for seventh Asia fund
Navis Capital Partners will complete fundraising for its seventh Asia vehicle next week with up to $1.3 billion in commitments from LPs. Work will then begin on a shariah-compliant parallel fund, which is expected to close in June, taking the final total...
CVC hires Asia consumer sector specialist as advisor
CVC Capital Partners has appointed consumer sector veteran Jeremy Hobbins as a senior advisor to the pan Asia team.
CDH to close upsized Fund V at $2.55b
Speaking to AVCJ last year, Shangzhi Wu (pictured), chairman and managing partner of CDH Investments, addressed the issue of certain China managers’ fund sizes rising with each vintage. He put the phenomenon down to a combination of rising valuations,...
EQT’s new fund goes global
The acquisition of a 65% stake in Qinyuan Bakery in 2010 was EQT Partners’ debut food service sector investment in China. Yet the deal was familiar territory for the GP, which was able draw on previous portfolio investments in Europe, including Vaasan&Vassan,...
Tempting offers: Australian IPOs
Following a prolonged drought, Australia has seen a recent spike in private equity-backed IPOs. Is this a flash in the pan or are public market exits on the cusp of a sustained comeback?
Unitas completes Edwards reorientation
When Unitas Capital and CCMP Capital came across specialist vacuum products developer Edwards Group, the business was hamstrung by geography. Asia was responsible for 60% of revenues but only 30% of manufacturing activity; in Europe these figures were...