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Private equity shop Cerberus Capital is looking to sell auto lender Chrysler Financial, Reuters reported, citing a Bloomberg report. Cerberus bought the Farmington, Michigan-based business as part of its 2007 buyout of Chrysler LLC. The business has a book value of between $6 billion and $7 billion, Reuters said.
Buyout shop 3i Group will pay 103 million pounds ($205 million) for Netherlands-based Stork Materials Technology, Reuters reported. Stork Materials provides materials testing services in labs across Europe and the U.S. 3i Group is based in London.
KSL Capital Partners will pay an undisclosed amount for The Squaw Valley Development Company, which operates the Squaw Valley ski resort. Financial terms of the deal were not released, though the companies said the acquisition would close by the end of the year. Squaw Valley is located near Lake Tahoe in Northern California and is comprised of more than 4,000 acres. KSL Capital Partners has offices in Denver and New York, and focuses on investments in the travel and leisure industries.
Paris-based private equity firm PAI Partners is expecting offers to buy its 50% stake in Yoplait, Reuters reported. One offer, an unsolicited $1.9 billion bid from European dairy group Lactalis, was rejected last week as too low, and because it would have forced out French shareholder Sodiaal, Reuters said. Possible new bidders for the stake could include Nestle and General Mills.
New York Life Capital Partners, the private equity arm of New York Life Investments, has added Alan Weinfeld as managing director. Weinfeld will also serve as head of business development for the private equity firm. Previously, Weinfeld worked as director of business development for Darby Private Equity.
Private equity firm Veritas Capital has completed an $815 million deal for Lockheed Martin’s Enterprise Integration Group business unit, Reuters reported. The division advises government agencies on weapons platforms, Reuters said, adding that Lockheed Martin sold the unit in order to avoid conflicts of interest.
Menlo Park, Calif.-based Sierra Ventures has promoted Robert Walker and Gamiel Gran to partner. Walker joined Sierra in 2008, was previously a principal with the venture firm’s hardware practice. Gamiel Gran also joined the firm in 2008, and was most recently a vice president. Gran focuses on business development for Sierra.
London-based technology company Laird PLC said that it will pay $90 million for Cattron Group, a wireless and automation technology company owned by investors including private equity firms RFE Investment Partners, Weatherly Group, and Argosy Investment Partners. The deal will help Laird expand its software-driven products, the company said. Cattron is based in Sharpsville, Pa.
TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners are close to an agreement to buy the clothing retailer J Crew Group for $2.8 billion, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the deal. The deal would value J Crew at $43.50 per share – a 15% premium over the company’s closing price Monday. Reuters said an agreement could be announced as early as Tuesday, when J Crew is expected to report quarterly earnings.
Paris-based buyout shop PAI Partners will buy the Hunkenmoeller lingerie chain from Maxeda Retail Group, Reuters reported. Financial terms of the deal were not released. Hunkemoeller has roughly 500 stores in the Benelux, France and Germany.