News
Milestone Capital approached with merger, buyout offers
Milestone Capital Advisors is considering a merger or buyout that has the potential to be the largest transaction ever seen in India’s private equity industry. It comes two months after Ved Prakash Arya, Milestone’s founder and CEO, died in a freak accident....
Yahoo founder refuses to rule out sale to Alibaba, private equity
Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has refused to rule out the possible sale of the company to Alibaba Group’s Jack Ma or to a private equity interests. “There are plenty of options,” he told a conference in Hong Kong Wednesday.
Blackstone appoints Costello chairman for Australia, New Zealand
Paul Costello, who stepped down as general manager of Future Fund late last year, has been appointed The Blackstone Group’s non-executive chairman for Australia and New Zealand. He will report to Tony James, the private equity firm’s president, and Michael...
KKR, MBK bid for Samsung's procurement arm
KKR and MBK Partners are among the bidders for a majority stake in iMarketKorea, Samsung Group’s procurement arm. Based on Tuesday’s closing share price, the asset is worth KRW372 billion ($326 million).
CDH invests in Chinese appliance maker Midea
CDH Investments has teamed up with an investment unit of ICBC International Holdings to buy a 15.3% stake in Midea Group, a leading Chinese household appliance manufacturer.
Towers Watson hires professionals from Squadron, Navis
Professional services provider Towers Watson has appointed Richard Tan and Agnes Lee as senior private markets consultants in Hong Kong. As part of the company’s private markets research team, they will focus on helping private equity firms and other...
Japanese industries see post-earthquake renewal - AVCJ Japan
Japan’s private equity industry is anticipating greater changes in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Affinity picks up 70% stake in Australia's Primo Smallgoods
Affinity Equity Partners has finalized its acquisition of Australian meat products firm Primo Smallgoods in a deal that values the company at A$740 million ($758 million). Previous reports suggested that the valuation was at least A$900 million.
Macquarie, SBI target second India infrastructure fund
Macquarie Group and State Bank of India (SBI) are targeting $1-1.5 billion for their second India-focused infrastructure fund. Plans for the new vehicle come as the first fund, SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Trust, which closed in March at $1.2 billion,...
Legend Capital, DCM commit $30 million to China's Happy Elements
Legend Capital has led a Series B round of funding worth $30 million for Chinese social gaming company Happy Elements. Existing investor DCM also participated.
Lone Star has six months to reduce KEB stake
Lone Star may have no more than six months to reduce its stake in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) to 10% or lower after Korea’s Financial Services Commission said Monday that it had begun the process of ordering a divestment. The move comes in response to a...
PE-backed Technovator International to list in Hong Kong
Technovator International, China’s leading energy management systems company, is seeking to raise up to HK$146 million ($18.7 million) through a Hong Kong IPO. The company is controlled by Shanghai-listed Tsinghua Tongfang, which is part-owned by the...
Tsing Capital backs solar panel maker Sunpreme
Tsing Capital has participated in a $50 million round of financing for existing portfolio company Sunpreme, a Silicon Valley-based solar cell manufacturer. The round was led by International Finance Corp. (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, and...
Saban Capital Group takes 5% stake in Media Nusantara
Saban Capital Group, the Los Angeles-based private equity firm controlled by billionaire Haim Saban, has purchased a 5% stake in PT Media Nusantara Citra from PT Global Mediacom for INR692 billion ($78.2 million). Saban Capital, which is investing through...
Corporate Japan urged to look overseas – AVCJ Japan Forum
The need for Japanese companies to expand overseas into fast-growing Asian markets emerged as a key theme on the opening day of the AVCJ Japan Forum, which takes place today and tomorrow in Tokyo.
Blackstone buys NZ Burger King franchise from Anchorage
The Blackstone Group has agreed to buy Antares Restaurant Group, which operates the Burger King franchise in New Zealand, from Anchorage Capital Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Archer sells Rebel to Super Retail Group
Archer Capital has exited Rebel Group, Australia’s largest sporting goods chain, to camping and auto parts store owner Super Retail Group for A$610 million ($630 million). The transaction is expected to close on October 31.
WL Ross struggles to raise new fund
WL Ross & Co. has cut its target for its latest fund to $2-2.5 billion, having raised little more than one tenth of the $4 billion it set out to attract last year, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation.
Accountants to be investigated over Lilliput allegations
India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs is investigating the role of Ernst & Young (E&Y) and its member firms in the alleged accounting problems at Lilliput Kidswear. It wants to establish if there was any conflict of interest.
NVP India broadens focus to include into seed, late-stage deals
Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) India is expanding its investment strategy to include seed and late-stage transactions, having previously focused on venture and growth deals. The firm is also broadening its sector coverage to include healthcare, education...
Carlyle-led group buys into Asian cinema digital server provider
A consortium led by The Carlyle Group has purchased an 80% stake in GDC Technology, Asia’s largest cinema digital server provider. The investment was led by the $1 billion Carlyle Asia Growth Partners IV and the other participants included Yunfeng Capital,...
SEC approves Volcker rule as market watchers express concerns
Concerns are being raised that the Volcker rule, which limits bank exposure to asset classes such as a private equity, will be postponed or weakened by lobbyists and that some forms of proprietary trading will be exempted completely. The rule was approved...
Road operator Ashoka Buildcon seeks $150m
Indian roads and bridges operator Ashoka Buildcon has entered talks with potential private equity and strategic investors to raise $150 million to finance seven road projects.
Tokio Marine targets $903m Showa Yakuhin Kako sale - report
Tokio Marine capital has launched the sales process for its 50% stake in Japanese drug producer Showa Yakuhin Kako, targeting up to JPY70 billion ($905 million), according to Reuters.