Actis to pump in $1 bn in India in 3-4 yrs

Despite the terror attacks in Mumbai on 26th November 2008, Actis is going ahead with its plan of investing Rs.5000 crore in the next 3-4 years. The firm continues to be positive on the India's growth potential.

A pioneer in management buyouts, Actis has been a consistent private equity investor in India for over 10 years.Over this period Actis has worked in partnership with a number of promoters and management teams to create tremendous value for their businesses.Actis has successfully closed its 2.9 billion dollar PE fund - Actis Emerging Markets 3 (AEM3)- which exceeded the target of 2.5 billion dollar. AEM3 included commitments from a diversified group of 100 investors from across the globe, including a number of first time investors in emerging markets.

Read more in The Economic Times article.

Dabur's Unza buyout plan faces hurdles

Dabur India’s proposed buyout of Singapore consumer goods company Unza is delicately poised, with the management resisting the Indian company’s takeover bid. It’s learnt that the private equity (PE) investors who own Unza may begin independent negotiations with other interested parties.

However, talks between Dabur and the PE investors — Actis and Standard Chartered — haven’t fallen through and the Indian FMCG company is hopeful of a breakthrough this week.

At around Rs 650-675 crore, it would be Dabur’s most expensive buy so far and the largest overseas deal in the consumers goods space. Unza, a $150-million company, is majority-owned by Actis and Standard Chartered.

Unza is South-East Asia’s independent manufacturer of personal care products with 48 brands in its portfolio and presence in five markets like China, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

Read more in The Economic Times article.

Dabur to buy 60% stake in Singapore-based FMCG company Unza for Rs. 675 crores

Dabur is about to acquire over 60% stake in Singapore-based consumer goods company Unza Holdings for Rs. 600-675 crores. Dabur is expected to buy out the holdings of private equity funds Actis and Standard Chartered who hold 30% each in the $150 mn-Singapore company. The deal is touted to be one of the largest overseas acquisition deals in the FMCG space, and make it the third-largest FMCG company in India behind HLL and ITC with manufacturing facilities in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Unza is a leading personal care manufacturer and marketer in South-east Asia with 48 brands in its portfolio, and is equally owned by the company management and the two private equity funds.

Read more in The Economic Times article.

Ujala maker Jyothy Laboratories plans Rs. 300 crore-IPO

Mumbai-based fast moving consumer goods company Jyothy Laboratories, famous for its Ujala brand of fabric whiteners, is planning to list on the stock exchanges by end of 2007. Jyothy Laboratories will raise Rs. 300 crores in an initial public offering. The company has reportedly appointed Kotak and Enam as advisors to the issue.

Jyothy Labs is a closely held company with about 70% stake being held by founder chairman and managing director M P Ramachandran and his family. The balance 30% is held by private equity firms CLSA and Actis along with a foreign subsidiary of ICICI Bank. The foreign investors are likely to exit the company at the time of the IPO.

Sales of Jyothy Laboratories are pegged at between Rs. 400-500 crores. The company is said to have been valued at around Rs. 1000 crores.

Read more on Moneycontrol.com