First-round bids for Swedish bedmaker Hilding Anders and binding bids for cinema chain SF are due this week, deal advisers said, a sign buyout activity in the Nordic region is picking up pace after a sluggish end to last year, Reuters reported. Hilding Anders, controlled by private equity firm Arle Capital Partners, is seen fetching at least 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion), several advisers said, while the SF cinemas, owned by Swedish publisher Bonnier, could command a price of roughly 200 million to 250 million euros.
3 min read · 12 March 2013
Online coupon company WhaleShark Media said it was changing its name to RetailMeNot and acquiring the leading online coupon site in Holland, Actiepangina.nl, Reuters reported. The acquisition marks RetailMeNot's fourth in Europe, in addition to online-coupon companies VoucherCodes in the United Kingdom; Poulpeo in France; and Deals.com in Germany.
1 min read · 12 March 2013
The board of MGM, the Hollywood studio that exited bankruptcy in 2010, will discuss a long-awaited initial stock offering when it meets on March 18 amid indications that debt-holders who control the company may be nearing a decision to file, writes Reuters. MGM is being advised by Goldman Sachs Group and JPMorgan Chase & Co on a possible IPO, writes Reuters.
3 min read · 12 March 2013
Apollo Global Management-backed company Constellium, which makes aluminum products for the aerospace and transportation industry, is starting to interview banks for an initial public offering, writes Reuters. The company, based in Paris, is 51 percent owned by Apollo, 39 percent owned by metals and mining giant Rio Tinto and 10 percent owned by the French investment fund FSI.
1 min read · 12 March 2013
Has "South-by" lost its direction? For several years running, that question has hovered over the iPhone-clutching tech cogniscenti who made the annual springtime pilgrimage to the mecca of geek- and hipster-dom in Austin, Texas.
5 min read · 11 March 2013
Three executive assistants are suing venture firm CMEA and one of its former partners for harassment and retaliation, marking the third lawsuit in less than a year alleging unfair treatment of women in Silicon Valley's clubby world of venture capital.
2 min read · 11 March 2013
Icahn Enterprises said it had entered into a confidentiality agreement with Dell Inc., and looked forward to commencing a review of the company, Reuters reported Monday. Carl Icahn, who has a reputation for demanding changes after amassing stakes in companies, argued in a letter to Dell's board last week that the proposed $24.4 billion buyout of Dell by co-founder Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners short-changed shareholders, undervalued the company and benefited mainly the company's co-founder.
1 min read · 11 March 2013
KKR & Co., Carlyle Group, Bain Capital and other private equity firms urged Japan's government on Friday to shrink the role of state-backed funds, saying they could squeeze out opportunities for private capital and delay restructuring for troubled companies, Reuters wrote. Japan's two largest state-backed funds have the capacity to raise up to $37 billion to inject money into Japanese companies.
2 min read · 11 March 2013
CVC Capital Partners and PT Multipolar Tbk launched on Monday an up to $1.36 billion offering of shares in retailer PT Matahari Department Store, seeking to benefit from growing investor appetite for consumer stocks in Indonesia and partially cash out of one of their most profitable investments in the region, Reuters reported. CVC, through one of its subsidiaries, and Multipolar are offering 1.167 billion shares in Matahari in a range of 10,000 to 11,250 rupiah, putting the total deal at 13.13 trillion rupiah ($1.36 billion), according to the term sheet.
2 min read · 11 March 2013
Hostess Brands Inc. creditor Silver Point Capital and hedge fund Hurst Capital have expressed interest in buying Hostess's snack cake brands, including Twinkies, the New York Post reported. Silver Point Capital sent a letter to Hostess's bankers in the last few days expressing interest in buying all or part of the business, the Post said, citing a source. Hurst Capital, which said in November it wanted to buy Hostess's business, has formed a partnership with other private-equity firms to make an offer, the Post said.
2 min read · 11 March 2013
