buyout
MBK named preferred bidder for Korea’s Hi-Mart
MBK Partners has been chosen as the preferred bidder for South Korean electronics retailer Hi-Mart. The company said in a statement to the Korean Stock Exchange that its largest shareholder, Eugene Corp, had made the decision.
KKR to establish investment team in Singapore
KKR will open an office in Singapore as a base for its investment activities across Southeast Asia. AVCJ understands that an announcement is forthcoming, with about eight investment professionals working out of the new office, although Ming Lu, the firm’s...
Asiasons buys Australian pre-school show from CVC's Nine
Southeast Asian private equity firm Asiasons Group has acquired Australian pre-school television show Hi-5 from Nine Network Australia and Southern Star Entertainment. Nine Network is owned by the debt-laden Nine Entertainment Group, which is backed by...
Australian businesses don’t trust PE – PwC survey
Only 5% of small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia that are currently seeking funding would consider private equity as a source of capital, according to a survey published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Unitas in timely bet on Korea’s outdoor market
As in most proprietary deals, timing was everything when it came to Unitas’ most recent investment. By fortuitous coincidence, the Asia-focused private equity firm approached Korean outdoor apparel and equipment manufacturer NEPA at the very moment...
PE firms plan AsiaInfo bids – report
Silver Lake, TPG Capital and Primavera Capital are said to be among the PE firms that have expressed an interest in AsiaInfo-Linkage, the US-listed telecoms software manufacturer that is subject to a buyout offer from CITIC Capital.
Cathay Life Insurance invests $30m in KKR’s Asian fund
Cathay Life Insurance has committed $30 million to KKR’s second pan-Asian fund, which has a target of $6 billion. Cathay Financial Holding, the Taiwan insurer’s parent company, announced the investment in a stock exchange filing dated June 11.
PE firms consider bid for Australian packaging firm – report
The Blackstone Group, KKR and The Carlyle Group are said to be in talks with banks over a bid for Australian packaging company Pact. The deal could value the firm at as much as $1.4 billion.
Qantas appoints Macquarie to defend against PE bids
Qantas Airways has hired Macquarie Group to set up an internal team “to advise on the defense against potential private equity bids,” a company spokesman has confirmed. The news prompted an 11% spike in the airline’s share price to A$1.08 during...
Maui Capital closes fund at $190m hard-cap
Maui Capital has closed its Aqua fund at its hard-cap of NZ$250 million ($190 million). The New Zealand-based private equity firm had to turn away some larger investors.
Warburg Pincus finalizes $125m Future Capital deal
Warburg Pincus has reportedly agreed to buy a majority stake in India's Future Capital Holdings (FCH), the financial services unit of the Future Group, for $100-125 million.
Australia's ASX may join bid for PEP’s Link - report
Australia's bourse operator ASX may join the auction for Link Market services, the share registry owned by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), in a deal that could be worth as much as $1.36 billion. If the transaction goes through, it would be Asia’s biggest...
KKR receives $225m from Oregon Investment Council
KKR has won a $225 million commitment from the Oregon Investment Council for its second Asia buyout fund. The buyout firm is currently raising around $6 billion for its KKR Asian Fund II, which will invest across the region.
Fairbridge buys Thomas Cook India for $150m
Thomas Cook has now sold its India business twice in the space of six years. The asset was first offloaded to Dubai Financial in 2005 as a package deal including licenses to operate the brand in the Middle East, as Thomas Cook divested non-core assets...
Reliance Infratel buyout on the rocks
The Carlyle Group and The Blackstone Group’s proposed buyout of Reliance Communications’ telecoms tower unit looks to be in a state of limbo as the Indian firm said the sale can only proceed following clarification from the regulatory authorities.
Navis gets full control of Indian restaurant chain Nirula’s
Malaysia-based private equity firm Navis Capital Partners has acquired the remaining shares it did not already own in Indian restaurant chain Nirula's Corner House.
Crest Capital acquires 51% of Australia’s Questus
Singapore-based Crest Capital Asia has agreed to recapitalize Western Australia’s Questus in exchange for a 51% stake in the investment company.
Fairbridge Capital acquires Thomas Cook India for $150m
Fairbridge Capital, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings, has acquired the Indian arm of Thomas Cook, the second-largest holiday maker in Europe, for INR8.17 billion ($150 million).
Hahn & Co. buys Korean cement firm out of bankruptcy
One of the standout PE investment trends in Korea is taking ownership of assets from second-tier conglomerates that have run into difficulty and are forced to divest non-core assets. MBK Partners acquired Kumho Rent-A-Car in this fashion and it was also...
Nippon Mirai Capital in ALC buyout
ALC Press, a listed language-focused educational service provider, has approved a tender offer from Nippon Mirai Capital and plans to go private.
PE-owned oOh!Media tipped to buy Ten’s outdoor ad business
Australia’s Ten Network Holdings has entered into exclusive negotiations with a bidder for its outdoor advertising business, Eye Corp. The company didn’t disclose the identity of the bidder, but it is thought to be oOh!Media Group, which was bought...
Alibaba to buy back 20% of Yahoo’s stake for $7.1b
Alibaba Group has agreed to repurchase about a 20% stake in itself from Yahoo for $7.1 billion ahead of an initial public offering. The US internet company bought 40% of Alibaba - founded by Jack Ma (pictured) - in 2005, paying $1 billion plus ownership...
Carlyle to raise $3.5b for fourth Asia buyout fund
Carlyle Group plans to raise $3.5 billion for its fourth buyout fund in Asia, which would be the private equity firm’s biggest targeting Asia. An initial close is expected to happen in the second half of the year.
KKR ends takeover talks with Pacific Brands
Melbourne-based underwear manufacturer Pacific Brands said on Tuesday that a takeover from parties including KKR is unlikely in the near term.