Toby Lewis

South Korea’s National Pension Service has sparked off a fundraising drive for buyouts in South Korea shortly after US buyout firm Lone Star was found guilty of stock price manipulation in the country.

The listed affiliate of the US buyout firm has delayed payment on debt relating to two asset-backed vehicles for the second time. KKR Financial raised $500 million in funds last year following losses related to the US mortgage sector.

The buyout firms selling the satellite operator for $16.5 billion have benefitted from their lenders’ decision to part-finance the BC Partners-led acquisition agreed shortly before the credit crunch.

Gala Capital, the Spanish buyout firm which led a €3.7 billion offer for Spanish airline Iberia, has sold a stake in a domestic utility company Bridgepoint and Mercapital exited in 2006.

Australia’s government has reportedly become the first to systematise its regulation of sovereign wealth funds.

The US bank has recruited the team of Asia Pacific-focused firm TVG Capital Partners, becoming the latest bank to increase its direct investment role in the region.

The European mid-market firm has done its second deal after closing its debut fund in April last year on an undisclosed amount.

The firm has set off on the fundraising trail having doubled the amount of money it plans to invest in Africa.

The Dubai investment firm has made its third luxury acquisition, marking the latest buyout by a Middle Eastern firm of an up-market establishment in London.

The struggling UK bank’s nationalisation is despite interest from various bidders including distressed debt investor WL Ross as part of the Virgin consortium.