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Samsonite, the luggage maker owned by buyout shop CVC and the Royal Bank of Scotland, is considering a $1 billion initial public offering in Hong Kong, Reuters reported, citing a story in the Sunday Times. The Luxembough-based company has hired Goldman Sachs as an advisor.
Polish billionaire Zygmunt Solorz-Zak may enter the race for Polkomtel, the country’s largest mobile phone company, Reuters reported, adding that advisors to Solorz-Zak have spoken with private equity firms about a potential bid. Bankers value Polkomtel at roughly 4 billion euros ($5.3 billion), Reuters said.
Russian private equity shop Baring Vostok Capital Partners will buy a roughly 20% stake in Russia’s Orient Express Bank, Reuters reported. Financial terms of the deal were not released, though Reuters quoted one analyst estimate valuing a 30% stake in Orient Express Bank at roughly $255 million. Baring Vostok, which focuses on investments in Russia and the former Soviet Union, has $2 billion in assets.
Southern Cross Healthcare Group is in talks with potential suitors after New York and London-based private equity firm Towerbrook Capital walked away from a potential deal, Reuters reported. Southern Cross, a U.K.-based home healthcare operator, was in talks with Towerbrook in August but the private equity firm declined to make an offer for the company.
Buyout shop Clayton, Dubilier & Rice has received regulatory approval from the European Union to buy a minority stake in Dutch company Univar, Reuters reported. The firm will take a 42.5% stake in the chemical company and gain joint control, Reuters said. The deal values Univar at $4.2 billion.
Private equity group Acromas Holdings has increased its bid for Nestor Healthcare by 10%, to 110 pence per share, Reuters reported. The new terms value Nestor at about 124.1 million pounds ($195.6 million). Under the terms, Nestor would also see a second interim dividend of 2.5 pence per share. Acromas is partly owned by funds advised by Permira and Charterhouse. As of Friday, Nestor said it is in talks with Acromas, Reuters reported, but no formal offer has been received.
Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and German media giant Bertelsmann will pay 107.4 million pounds ($168.8 million) for U.K.-based music publisher Chrysalis, Reuters reported. At 160 pence per share, the deal represents a 45.5% premium over the company’s closing price on October 29, the day before acquisition talks were announced.
New York-based private equity firm Veritas Capital said it will pay $525 million for telecom equipment manufacturer CPI International, Reuters reported. The firm will pay $19.50 per share in cash, representing a 35% premium over CPI’s closing price Wednesday. Palo Alto, Calif.-based CPI makes microwave and radio-frequency products for defense, communications and other industries. The firm was previously an acquisition target for its rival Comtech Telecommunications, which offered $372 million for the company before dropping the bid three months ago, Reuters said.
Eleven bidders have expressed interest in buying part of South Korea’s Woori Finance Holdings, Reuters reports. Woori is not releasing the names of potential investors that would vie for as much as 57% of the financial services firm - a stake worth around $6 billion, Reuters said. Other media reports have said that potential suitors could include The Carlyle Group and Vogo Fund.
Oakley Capital Private Equity has acquired a 50% stake in international publisher Time Out. Financial terms of the investment were not released. Time Out publishes city-focused entertainment and event magazines as well as travel guides, and has more than 17 million readers each year. Oakley will help the company with continued growth, the firm said in an announcement.