Restructuring
Sailing, Sanpower-owned Brookstone files for bankruptcy
US specialty retailer Brookstone, which was acquired in 2014 by Sailing Capital and Chinese retail conglomerate Sanpower Group, has filed for bankruptcy again and will close its 102 retail stores located in shopping malls.
Carlyle merges India growth, buyout teams
The Carlyle Group has merged its growth and buyout teams for India in order to streamline operations in the country.
Creditors to assume control of KKR-owned Bis Industries
Australian mining services provider Bis Industries has reached a debt-to-equity restructuring agreement with creditors that will see current owner KKR relinquish its majority position.
Korea to create $7b restructuring fund
South Korea has announced plans for a KRW8 trillion ($7 billion) fund – of which half will come from private sector feeder vehicles – as part of government efforts to initiate a more market-based approach to corporate restructuring.
Investors need boots on the ground to target China distress - AVCJ Forum
The credit and distress investment opportunity is significant – and expected to grow – but an on-the-ground presence is seen as essential to accessing it, industry participants told the AVCJ China Forum.
Q&A: STIC Investments' Hans Jung
STIC Investments has raised $530 million for a fund that will target restructuring opportunities involving Korean conglomerates. Executive Managing Partner Hans Jung explains the strategy
Q&A: Shoreline Capital's Xiaolin Zhang
Xiaolin Zhang, co-founder and managing partner at China-focused distress specialist Shoreline Capital, discusses the NPL opportunity and what private equity firms must do to address it
Farallon raises $1.1b for Asia, Latin America special situations fund
Farallon Capital Management has closed its third special situations fund focused on Asia and Latin America at $1.1 billion.
KKR forms China distressed investment partnership
KKR has formed a partnership with China Orient Asset Management and China Orient Summit Capital (COS Capital) to make credit and distressed opportunities in the country, with real estate likely to be a key area of focus.
China distress: After the boom
China’s slowing growth has created a wave of corporate defaults, and these bad debts should be put up for sale. Not all foreign investors are ready to jump in, though, conscious of the difficulties in extracting value
Japan to lead boom in Asia restructuring activity - survey
Corporate restructuring activity in Japan should lead to a broader rise in the number of distress opportunities in Asia, as a result of both regulatory change and added pressure from investors.
Corporate governance: Thin end of the wedge?
Japan’s corporate governance code will not trigger a torrent of non-core divestments, but it may encourage boards to think strategically about how – and with whom – they can improve performance
Deal focus: CLSA tools up with Astro Products deal
Two years ago CLSA Capital Partners made its maiden investment from Sunrise Capital II, a $210 million Japan-focused fund that launched 16 months earlier. The company was BCN, a used car auction site operator based in Saitama prefecture, which CLSA acquired...
Greenland to take controlling stake in KKR-backed Rundong Auto
China's Greenland Holding Group will buy a controlling stake in KKR-backed Chinese car dealership Rundong Auto for HKD1.55 billion ($200 million).
Portfolio: CHAMP Private Equity and Accolade
For a long time the UK and Australia operations of US wine giant Constellation Brands had been a drain on the parent company. Nevertheless, CHAMP Private Equity saw the potential for a category leader
Clearwater's Petty becomes EMPEA chairman
Robert Petty, managing partner and co-founder of Asia-focused special situations and credit investor Clearwater Capital Partners, has been elected chairman of EMPEA.
KKR’s McVey expects China restructuring, recapitalization opportunities
KKR expects to see increasing restructuring and recapitalization opportunities in China as the country’s role in the global economy adjusts, resulting in a sustained period of slower growth.
PE investors near deal for China NPL manager Huarong - report
A group of private investors is nearing a $2 billion deal for a minority stake in China Huarong Asset Management, one of four groups tasked with managing non-performing loans (NPLs) from state-owned banks.
Oaktree, China Cinda form distressed assets JV
Oaktree Capital Group has entered into a joint venture with China Cinda Asset Management Corp. that will see the two groups invest in distressed assets in China. Cinda was originally set up to absorb non-performing loans (NPLs) from China’s Big Four...
Asia distress: Playing doctor
Asia appears to be destined for a spate of corporate restructurings. Although they are studying a wealth of potential investments, distress specialists say the obvious targets are not always the most accessible
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.
Japan's Dogan closes Kyushu SME fund at $34m
Japanese GP Dogan Advisors has reached a JPY3.3 billion ($34 million) close on its latest regional fund, Kyushu BOLERO (Buyout for local enterprise and reform organization) Fund 2.
KKR leads race for Panasonic healthcare unit - report
KKR is said to have taken the lead in the bidding for a majority stake in Panasonic's healthcare unit - a potential $1.5 billion deal that would represent the firm's largest Japanese buyout to date.
Governance issues could undermine Japan's economic reforms - AVCJ Forum
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic reforms have provided a boost for Japanese private equity but issues surrounding corporate governance continue to be a barrier to opportunities, industry participants told the AVCJ Japan Forum.
