Europe

Profile: Vickers Capital's Finian Tan

One of the men who bet on Baidu before anyone knew what it was, Vickers Capital founder Finian Tan worked as a counselor, university don, oil trader and politician before settling on venture capital

China’s Bright Food denies Weetabix acquisition talks

China’s Bright Food Group has denied reports that it is in talks to buy Weetabix from private equity firm Lion Capital. Several media outlets have claimed that negotiations began several weeks ago over a deal that would value the UK-based cereal company...

exits-go-wrong
European GPs seek exits to Asian corporates

The trend for European GPs to set up portfolio teams in Asia helps expand their companies into new geographies. But forming local joint ventures offers significant exit prospects as well

India's IHG buys UK food producer from Duke Street

India Hospitality Group (IHC) has acquired UK-based ready-made food producer Adelie Food Holding from Duke Street Capital for $350 million. The deal – the largest overseas acquisition by an India-focused food and beverage company in six years – is...

3i chief Michael Queen resigns

UK-based private equity firm 3i Group has announced that its CEO, Michael Queen, will be leaving the company once a successor has been appointed. The move is thought be prompted by continuing shareholder discontent over poor performance and lack of deal...

INCJ to buy UK wind power firm for $850m

Japanese state-sponsored fund Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ) is tipped to buy a 50% stake in British wind power engineering firm Seajacks International for around $850 million.

Blackstone, PAI prepare for United Biscuits carve-up

Private equity-owned United Biscuits, a one-time target of China’s Bright Food Group, is preparing to spin out its salty snacks business in a potential GBP500 million ($780 million) sale. The Blackstone Group and PAI Partners are keen to separate the...

Family offices eye larger private equity allocations

Family offices are looking to invest more in private equity over the next 12 months at the expense of their cash allocations. A survey of 32 family offices conducted by London-based private market advisory firm Somerset Capital found that 63% plan on...

  • LPs
EQT Partners invests in China Healthcare

EQT Partners has teamed up with the founder of China Healthcare and put in a cash offer to take the Singapore-listed company private. The deal values China Healthcare at S$80.4 million ($64 million).

Japan’s Asahi favorite to buy StarBev from CVC – report

Asahi has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to buy east European brewer StarBev from CVC Capital Partners in a deal worth up to $3 billion. It is another indication of Japanese corporates’ interest in expanding overseas, offering an exit opportunity...

Carlyle’s Applus+ buys Australian inspection firm JDA

The Carlyle Group has acquired John Davidson and Associates (JDA), an Australian extraction industry services provider, through its portfolio company Applus+. The size of the transaction wasn’t disclosed but JDA had revenues of around EUR25 million...

Hutchison Whampoa to acquire Orange Austria

Hutchison 3G, a unit of Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa, agreed to acquire Orange Austria, a mobile telecommunication company owned by France Telecom and buyout firm Mid-Europa Partners.

China nearly matches Europe for VC funding in 2011

Chinese companies attracted $6 billion in venture capital funding in 2011, up 8% year-on-year, and putting the country at near parity with Europe, which saw commitments of $6.1 billion. On a country basis, the US remains the runaway leader, with VC funding...

PE and Chinese outbound investment

Who writes CITIC Private Equity's scripts? The day after the conclusion of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, where China and its role in the global economy was inevitably an area of focus, it was announced that Sany Heavy Industry would purchase...

Japan’s SMFG beats CDB to aircraft-leasing deal

Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) and Sumitomo Corp. have agreed to purchase Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) aircraft-leasing business in a deal worth $7.3 billion. SMFG will take around 70% of RBS Aviation Capital, with trading company...

Actis moves closer to full management buyout

The UK government is moving closer to the sale of its remaining stake Actis, with the private equity firm’s management team the most likely buyers after a 12-month search failed to deliver any rival bidders. However, deep divisions remain over the price...

Asian bidders compete for RBS’ aircraft leasing business

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, China Development Bank and a consortium led by Australia’s Macquarie are among the final bidders for RBS Aviation Capital, the aircraft leasing business being divested by Royal Bank of Scotland. The only other potential...