Baring Private Equity is planning its first investment in Australia after closing a $2.46 billion new fund, Reuters reported. Baring Asia has invested around 50% of its previous funds in China, Reuters said. The firm is now looking for ways to bring investors from China and India into Australia, Reuters said.
1 min read · 17 February 2011
Saputo Inc. will acquire Deerfield, Illinois-based Fairmount Cheese Holdings Inc., a company owned by private equity investor GTCR, for an undisclosed amount. GTCR formed Fairmount Cheese in 2003 as a means to consolidate companies in the high-growth, highly fragmented specialty cheese industry, the firm said. The acquisition is expected to close in March.
2 min read · 17 February 2011
Oak Hill Investment Management has named David Bizer to the post of managing partner. Bizer was most recently an executive with Nomura, and will join Oak Hill’s existing managing partners Partners in leading all aspects of the firm's investment strategy, the firm announced. Oak Hill is based in Menlo Park, Calif.
3 min read · 17 February 2011
J Crew Group, which has received a $2.86 billion buyout offer in November from private equity firms TPG and Leonard Green & Partners, wrapped up its “go shop” period with no new offers, Reuters reported. The company had been in talks with parties including Sears Holdings Corp., Urban Outfitters Inc., and at least two private equity firms, but none resulted in an offer, Reuters said.
2 min read · 17 February 2011
Danish outsourcing group ISS, which is owned by Goldman Sachs and Swedish buyout firm EQT, is planning to raised 13.3 billion Danish crowns ($2.41 billion) in a public offering, Reuters reported. Last month, ISS’s backers ended talks with private equity shop Apax Partners about a potential $8.5 billion buyout.
2 min read · 17 February 2011
Swedish private equity group EQT has received at least five bids for German cable operator Kabel Baden-Wuerttemberg, Reuters reported, adding that the company may still opt for a public offering. Among the bidders are U.S. cable operator Liberty Global, and buyout shops CVC, Cinven, Providence and Hellman & Friedman, Reuters said. A sale of the company is estimated to reach as high as $3.38 billion.
2 min read · 17 February 2011
Private equity firm Castanea Partners has acquired a majority stake in footwear designer and marketer Donald J. Pliner. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Formed in 1989, Donald J. Pliner is based in New York. Founded in 2001, Castanea Partners is a $575 million fund. The firm is based in Newton, Mass.
3 min read · 17 February 2011
Buyout shop Silver Lake plans to invest $1 billion in Brazilian information technology companies in the next five years, Reuters reported, citing an article in the Brazilian newspaper newspaper Valor Economico. Silver Lake is also planning to open an office in Sao Palo, Reuters said.
1 min read · 17 February 2011
Risk management company Blue Hackle Group, which is backed by Torch Hill Investment Partners, has added two directors from the firm. Retired U.S. General John Abizaid, an operating partner at Torch Hill, joins the company’s board. George Lund, chairman of Torch Hill's executive committee, also joined the board.
2 min read · 16 February 2011
Landfill Energy Systems, which is backed by Energy Investors Funds, has acquired Innovative Energy Systems. Oakfield, New York-based Innovative Energy Systems owns and operates a portfolio of nearly a dozen landfill gas-to-energy projects located in New York and Vermont. Formed in 1987, Energy Investors Funds are focused on the independent power and electric utility industry. The firm has offices in Boston, New York and San Francisco.
3 min read · 16 February 2011
