Financing
Standard Chartered's financial sponsors head gets Indonesia role - report
The head of Standard Chartered’s financial sponsors group in Hong Kong, Sarab Bhutani, has reportedly been appointed co-head of wholesale banking for Indonesia. He will be responsible for deal origination and client coverage.
CVC-backed Nine avoids receivership as lenders reach agreement
Lenders to CVC Capital Partners-backed Nine Entertainment, the beleaguered Australian TV network, have reached an agreement to save the company from being put into administration.
TPG, Affinity-backed UTAC seeks to refinance debt – report
United Test & Assembly Center (UTAC), the Singapore precision engineering firm owned by TPG Capital and Affinity Equity Partners, is said to be seeking to refinance a portion of its debt through a $600 million bond issue.
PE consortium in $330m take-private bid for China's Yongye
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) and Abax Global Capital are backing a $330 million bid by the chairman of Yongye International to take private the US-listed Chinese animal and plant feed maker.
Carlyle, Unison-backed Covalent avoids bond default
Covalent, the Japanese semiconductor materials manufacturer owned by The Carlyle Group and Unison Capital, has averted a debt default by agreeing to buy back securities from its bondholders. Much like its counterpart Renesas Electronics, which is seeking...
PE firms, sovereign funds support Alibaba's Yahoo buyback
China Investment Corporation (CIC), Boyu Capital, CITIC Capital and CDB Capital participated in a $3.9 billion equity issue by Alibaba Group alongside existing investors including Silver Lake, DST Global and Temasek Holdings. The financing was used to...
Goldman rejects hedge funds' Nine restructuring plan
Goldman Sachs has rejected a counter-proposal from hedge funds Oaktree Capital and Apollo Global Management for restructuring Nine Entertainment, the Australian media company owned by CVC Capital Partners.
Banks invited to finance PE-backed Focus Media buyout - report
Banks in Asia are reportedly being approached to provide up to $1.7 billion in financing for the private equity-backed management buyout of NASDAQ-listed Focus Media Holding.
Goldman tables Nine Entertainment debt proposal – report
Goldman Sachs has reportedly put together a restructuring proposal for Nine Entertainment that would see the Australian company’s A$3.8 billion ($3.9 billion) in debt convert to equity, writing off the vast majority of CVC Capital Partners’ investment....
CVC's Nine sells magazine unit to service debts
CVC Capital Partners-owned Nine Entertainment has sold its ACP Magazines division to German publisher Bauer for A$500 million ($510 million). The proceeds will go towards paying down some of the Australian media company’s debt, with a senior tranche of...
Quadrant in quasi-secondary retail deal
Does Quadrant Private Equity's investment in Super A-Mart and Barbeques Galore constitute a quasi-secondary transaction?
PE firms hedge their bets
Numerous private equity and hedge funds are pursuing alliances with one another in Asia. Could a multi-strategy approach be the golden strategy for the region’s investment environment?
KKR-backed Seven West launches $450m share issue
KKR investee Seven West Media plans to raise approximately A$440 million ($450 million) through the sale of new shares in order to reduce debt levels. The Australian company, which owns the Seven free-to-air network, the country’s second-largest magazine...
CIC poised to invest $2b in Alibaba Group – report
China Investment Corp. (CIC) may take a $2 billion stake in Alibaba Group in order to finance the Chinese internet company’s purchase of a 20% stake in itself from Yahoo. Last week, Alibaba agreed to purchase half of Yahoo’s 40% holding for $7.1 billion...
IFC lends $6.5m to Indian food logistics company
International Finance Corp. (IFC), the World Bank's investment arm, will lend $6.5 million to food supply chain Snowman Logistics, in a move to foster efficiency and organization in India’s logistics sector.
IFC to roll out $100m microfinance debt fund
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, will set up a $100 million debt fund to meet the funding needs of microfinance institutions in emerging economies.
Leveraged lenders seek common ground
Australia’s banks have proposed a standard set of rules on who can do what in the event of a default. They say it will stimulate the mezzanine market but junior lenders claim the measures are too restrictive
Sony, Toshiba get state funding for outbound investment
Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. will be the first companies to receive capital from a $100 billion government fund set up last year to finance overseas acquisitions and minimize the impact of a rising yen. The strength of Japan’s currency has hurt export...
MMI relies on US investors for $300m high-yield bond
KKR-owned MMI International successfully issued its $300 million high-yield bond, principally attracting interest from US investors due to their familiarity with the sector and the company’s customer base. The five-year non-call bond was priced at a yield...
CVC-backed Nine in talks to sell magazine business – reports
CVC Capital Partners-owned Nine Entertainment has held talks with Seven West Media over the potential sale of its ACP magazines division. The funds raised would help pay down some of the beleaguered company’s A$2.7 billion ($2.8 billion) in senior debt...
KKR-backed MMI plans $300m high-yield bond issue
MMI International, a KKR portfolio company, plans to issue a $300 million high-yield bond to refinance debts incurred through its 2007 buyout. The move indicates that non-traditional funding channels are opening up for private equity firms at a time when...
PE financing: Lagging leverage
Spooked by wider economic issues, European banks are pulling back from the leveraged buyout market. This presents a further challenge to private equity firms already adjusting to tighter financing conditions
CVC's second Asia fund sees value drop by 10%
CVC Asia Pacific’s second regional fund, which closed in 2005 at $1.975 billion, has reportedly lost 10% of its investment value due to failing portfolio companies such as Australian television network Nine Entertainment.
TPG considers investment into Takefuji - report
TPG may be considering making a much-needed investment into debt-ridden Japanese consumer lender Takefuji, coming as the latest effort to prevent the firm from liquidating.