Financing
Australia distress: Sifting the strain
The low-hanging fruit created by the post-global financial crisis troubles of highly-leveraged Australian companies has mostly been picked. Distress investors are looking in smaller and less obvious places
KKR provides $100m in structured finance to India's Avantha
KKR has agreed to provide $100 million in long-term financing to Avantha Group in order to help the Indian conglomerate pay down debt and continue investing in its businesses. The capital will come from KKR India Financial Services, the private equity...
India to allow LBOs for distressed assets
Indian banks will be allowed to support leveraged buyouts of distressed companies by “specialized entities” according to plans released by the Reserve Bank of India. Under a liberalized regulatory regime for asset sales, sector-specific private equity...
Japan's Sompo agrees purchase of Bregal-owned insurer Canopius
Sompo Japan Insurance has agreed to acquire Canopius Group, a UK insurer which is 84%-owned by London-headquartered private equity firm Bregal Capital.
Acquisition finance: Familiar territory?
Once regarded warily by banks due to the lack of security in providing offshore financing against onshore assets, Asia buyouts that rely on offshore holdco structures are increasingly sought after.
Billabong drops Altamont for Oaktree, Centerbridge rescue
Australian surfwear company Billabong had accepted a refinancing plan from Oaktree Capital Management and Centerbridge Partners, walking away from a previous deal with a consortium led by Altamont Capital Partners and replacing top management.
KKR India NBFC raises $100m from US pension fund - report
KKR India Financial Services, the global private equity firm's non-banking financial company (NBFC), has reportedly raised $100 million from The Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
Oaktree raises $700m for emerging markets distress fund - report
Oaktree Capital Management has reportedly raised more than $700 million for its first emerging markets distressed debt fund.
KKR's Kravis bullish on Asia private equity, credit
Henry Kravis, co-founder of KKR, believes that Asia’s macro headwinds have created an attractive environment for private equity investment, although the asset class is just one of several strategies that feature in his longer-term outlook for the development...
RRJ invests $100m in China property developer
RRJ Capital has committed $100 to Chinese property developer CIFI Holdings by subscribing to a senior notes issue. The Hong Kong-listed firm has raised $225 million in total, the remainder being placed with Citigroup, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank,...
Focus Media targets $500m dividend recap - report
Focus Media, a Chinese advertising company backed by The Carlyle Group, FountainVest Partners, CITIC Capital Partners, China Everbright and Fosun International intends to return to the loan market with recapitalization plan of around $500 million.
Billabong posts $777m loss, brand value drops to zero
Distressed Australian surfwear retailer Billabong International- which is currently negotiating a A$325 million ($290 million) refinancing deal with a consortium led by Altamont Capital Partners - has booked a net loss of A$860 million, while cutting...
Lloyds sells Australia loan portfolio to Bain credit affiliate
Bain Capital credit affiliate Sankaty Advisors has agreed to pay Lloyds Banking Group A$371 million ($335 million) for loans held by BOS International Australia. It is the latest in a series of divestments from the BOS loan portfolio after KKR and Allegro...
Oaktree, Centerbridge make renewed Billabong refinancing offer
Oaktree Capital and Centerbridge Partners have made a fresh recapitalization offer of A$325 million ($292 million) for ailing Australian surfwear brand Billabong to compete with a revised proposal put forward by an Altamont Capital Partners-led consortium...
CPE backs Adamas China credit fund, first close expected by end of August
China Private Equity Investment Holdings (CPE) is to invest $1 million in Adamas Asset Management's $275 million Greater China Credit Fund. The vehicle has received commitments from around 35 LPs and is on course to reach a first close of $78 million...
Australian regulator declines PE request to delay Billabong deal
The Australian Government Takeover Panel - the country's takeover regulator - has declined a request from Oaktree Capital Management and Centerbridge Partners to delay a A$395 million ($359 million) refinancing deal for surf-wear company Billabong International....
Billabong strikes $331m refinancing deal with Altamont, Blackstone
Australian surf wear company Billabong has a reached an agreement with US private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners and Blackstone Group's credit arm GSO Partners for a A$395 million ($331 million) refinancing package.
Baring-backed Nord Anglia returns to Asia high-yield market
Baring Private Equity Asia-owned Nord Anglia Education has once again tapped Asia’s high-yield market, raising $165 million through a bond issue. This is the third time Nord Anglia has raised debt financing in the last 18 months – and the first of these...
Q&A: Clearwater Capital Partners' Rob Petty
Clearwater Capital Partners is currently investing is $575 million fourth fund. CEO Rob Petty identifies the opportunities in Asia – offshore, onshore in China and India, and a generous helping of restructuring
PEP-owned American Stock Transfer refinances debt – report
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is said to have tapped the US markets to refinance $480 million in debt held by portfolio company American Stock Transfer (AST). This is the third time in less than two months that firms owned by the Australian GP have completed...
KKR-backed GenesisCare taps US debt markets
GenesisCare, a healthcare business controlled by KKR, has become the latest Australian PE-backed company to refinance its debt via the US high-yield market. A string of corporates are taking advantage of strong liquidity in the US leveraged market, where...
PE-owned MediaWorks New Zealand enters receivership
Creditors are poised to take control of Ironbridge Capital-owned MediaWorks as the New Zealand broadcaster and its subsidiaries went into receivership.
Australia's PEP eyes US debt financing market
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is considering US refinancing options for several of its portfolio companies after a well received debt offering for movie theater chain Hoyts in May. The Australian GP is one of several to opt for US over domestic debt markets,...
Billabong turns to refinancing options as buyout talks falter
Embattled Australian surfwear company Billabong has discarded the possibility of a takeover by two PE-backed suitors and is now looking at asset sales and alternative means of refinancing its debt. The private equity firms involved in the bids – Altamont...