The new collateral-free microfinance program set to be implemented next year by the Finance Ministry of Thailand to fight illegal loan sharks may not gain wide acceptance due to its high interest rate, according to a report on The Nation.
Investors
China's Qinhuangdao Port to bring in USD717 million in IPO
Chinese coal port operator Qinhuangdao Port Co. is seeking to raise up to USD717 million in a Hong Kong listing. The firm will be putting up for sale 829.9 million shares at HKD5.25 to HKD6.70 apiece.
BIS Industries buys Powertrans for USD30 million
Australia-based mining logistics firm BIS Industries is buying industrial transport company Powertrans for USD30 million in a debt-funded transaction which will be finalized in January.
Mining revenue may comprise portion of Sovereign Wealth Fund of Zimbabwe- report
Citing a draft of the fund, a report from Bloomberg said the planned Sovereign Wealth of Zimbabwe may obtain a portion of the country's share of mining revenues.
Carlyle looking to sell Taiwanese Eastern Broadcasting for USD700 million
American private equity firm Carlyle Group LP is considering to sell its 67% stake in Eastern Broadcasting Co. for up to USD700 million. Carlyle built a majority holding in the Taiwanese broadcaster after acquiring its parent company for USD1.5 billion.
Latest News
Commonwealth Property Office Fund Ltd (CPA) terminated a takeover offer from Dexus Property Group Ltd and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) after the the consortium failed to top a rival bid within the specified time.
Singapore-listed AIMS AMP Capital Industrial REIT entered the Australian market by buying a 49% stake in Optus Center at Sydney's Macquari Park for over USD184 million.
UK equity-based crowdfunding platform Seedrs announced that it is crowd-raising GBP500,000 using its own site to reach out to European investors and startups outside of the UK.
Royal Bank of Scotland, which is 82% owned by taxpayers after a government bailout, is accused of pushing struggling small firms into its turnaround unit, for it to have reasons to charge higher interests, and in turn, take over their assets.
British financial institution Lloyds Banking Group Plc will reportedly put up for sale 30% to 50% of its stake in 631 bank branches. The said bank branches are being rebranded as TSB, which is expected to float on the stock market middle of next year.
Canada-based milk processor Saputo Inc raised its acquisition offer for Australia-based Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Co to AUD515 million in a three-way bid contest with dairy firms Bega Cheese Ltd and Murray Goulburn Cooperative Co.
Switzerland-based Trafigura Beheer BV had put up for sale its stake in Puma Energy for USD500 million. Trafigura sold a part of its interest in the African unit to Angola's Sonangol Corporation and Cochan Ltd.
China Cinda Asset Management Corp, one of China's four bad loan managers, is seeking up to $2.5 billion in an initial public offering in Hong Kong attracting global investors like Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC and Norway's sovereign wealth fund.
According to sources interviewed by Bloomberg, Cairn India is planning to buy back USD 1 billion worth of shares in order to give Anil Agarwal more control of the company.
