Unitas Capital
Unitas agrees $694m sale of Chinese condiments business
Unitas Capital, which is in the process of exiting its remaining investments after abandoning plans to raise a new fund in 2016, has agreed to sell Chinese condiments producer Jiahao Foodstuff to Huabao International Holdings for $694.5 million.
Unitas exits Chinese noodle shop chain
Unitas Capital has sold Gourmet Noodle House – a Chinese casual dining chain that operates under the Jiayo brand – to GreenTree Inns Hotel Management.
Asian club deals: Big ambitions
A resurgence in club deal activity has proven symptomatic of the evolution of Asia's private equity buyout market. But while the structure and the nature of deals has changed, the underlying rationale remains fixed
Ex-Unitas CIO Eugene Suh joins CVC as Asia COO
Eugene Suh, formerly CIO at Unitas Capital, has joined CVC Capital Partners as partner and Asia chief operating officer.
Unitas cancels fundraising plans, China team joins Permira
Unitas Capital has decided against raising a fourth fund, and its China team, led by Jim Tsao, will join Permira under a multi-year transition agreement.
Unitas Capital's Korea team to spin out
Unitas Capital's Eugene Suh and Jay Lee will spin out to raise a Korea-focused fund. They will take the four-person Seoul-based team with them.
Asahi in $175m settlement with PE firms over Independent Liquor
Asahi has received NZ$220 million ($175 million) from Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital in a settlement that brings to a close their dispute over the sale of New Zealand beverage producer Independent Liquor.
PE firms settle with Asahi over Independent Liquor sale
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital have agreed a private settlement with Asahi over the sale of Independent Liquor that means the dispute will not proceed to trial.
Operational value-add: Home-made remedies
Private equity firms, and the LPs, are placing greater emphasis on adding value to portfolio companies. But what is the best way of developing operational capabilities in Asia, and who should pick up the tab?
PEP, Unitas file counter claim over Independent Liquor sale
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital have filed a cross claim against two senior Asahi executives in Australasia regarding their involvement in the Japanese company’s purchase of Independent Liquor from the private equity firms in 2011.
Unitas completes Edwards reorientation
When Unitas Capital and CCMP Capital came across specialist vacuum products developer Edwards Group, the business was hamstrung by geography. Asia was responsible for 60% of revenues but only 30% of manufacturing activity; in Europe these figures were...
Unitas, CCMP set for 3.5x return as Atlas Copco buys Edwards for $1.6b
Unitas Capital will make up to 3.5x its money on Edwards Group after Sweden’s Atlas Copco agreed to buy the specialist vacuum products developer for approximately $1.6 billion, including debt. Unitas and CCMP Capital have owned the business since 2007...
Unitas patches up Australian auto parts firm
It seems counter-intuitive for a private equity firm to invest in inventory - if anything, they are known in the West for cutting working capital post-buyout - but this is what Unitas Capital did on acquiring Exego, a car parts supplier that operates...
Unitas sees 3x return on Australia auto parts turnaround
Unitas Capital has secured a 3.3x return on its investment in Australian car parts supplier Exego, after selling the business to US-based Genuine Parts in two tranches worth a combined $950 million, including debt. The private equity firm was unable to...
Unitas to complete $800m Exego exit to Genuine Parts
Unitas Capital will complete its exit from Australian car parts supplier Exego in April through an $800 million sale, including debt, to Genuine Parts.
Asahi accuses Independent Liquor of ‘channel stuffing’
Asahi claims that Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital resorted to “channel stuffing” – where companies supply retailers with more product than they are capable of selling to boost sales figures – to artificially inflate Independent...
Asahi, PE firms set for legal battle over Independent Liquor sale - update
Japanese beverage giant Asahi has taken legal action against private equity firms Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital over its acquisition of New Zealand firm Independent Liquor in 2011 for NZ$1.5 billion ($1.5 billion).
Unitas buys controlling stake in ZTE subsidiary
When ZTE decided to divest Shenzhen ZTE Netview Technology (ZNV), a subsidiary focused on power and environment monitoring and video surveillance, it wanted to act quickly. Unitas Capital was up to the task, overcoming rival bids from several financial...
Unitas snaps up majority stake in Shenzhen ZTE Netview
Unitas Capital has taken a controlling interest in Shenzhen ZTE Netview Technology (ZNV), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed tech company ZTE Corporation, for RMB1.3 billion ($208 million). The transaction came out of ZTE’s broader program to divest non-core...
Q&A: Unitas Capital's John Lewis
John Lewis, chief investment officer at Unitas Capital, talks to AVCJ about the importance of reputation in Asia from fundraising through post-deal value-add to exiting portfolio companies to multinational buyers
Profile: Unitas Capital's Jim Tsao
After years spent trouble-shooting as a grain trader, brewery exec and food company CEO, Jim Tsao became a partner at what is now Unitas Capital. He first discovered what PE was when headhunted for the role
OTPP, Unitas target PE-owned Infastech – report
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) and Unitas Capital have reportedly teamed up to bid for Singapore-based industrial fasteners manufacturer Infastech, currently owned by CVC Capital and Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE). The deal could be...
AVCJ China Awards: PE Exit of the Year – Beijing Leader & Harvest
Much is made of the commercial implications of China’s clean energy drive. The government has pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and energy intensity, promote industrial efficiency and minimize industrial pollution, protect forests, curb motor...
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...