Exits

3i Group is exploring the sale or public listing of Nordic care home operator Ambea, Reuters reported. Possible bidders for the health care company include Advent International, BC Partners and Investor AB working alongside Goldman Sachs, according to two bankers. Ambea could fetch somewhere in the €700 million to €1 billion range.

Affinity Equity Partners has hired Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank, to advise on options for Australian pallet maker Loscam. A public listing is possible, while a sale would come with a minimum asking price of around A$500 million.

American Tire Distributors Holdings Inc., a Huntersville, N.C.-based replacement tire distributor, has filed for a $230 million IPO. It plans to trade on the NYSE under ticker symbol ATD, with BoA Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank Securities serving as co-lead underwriters. The company reports around $1.65 billion in revenue for the nine months ending Oct. 3, 2009—up slightly from the $1.5 billion in revenue from the similar period in 2008. ATD shareholders include Investcorp, Berkshire Partners and Greenbrier Equity Partners.

Billionaire Len Blatavatnik placed a second-round bid for MGM, Bloomberg reported. Other reported bidders for the struggling Providence Equity and TPG-backed movie business include Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Time Warner Inc., Liberty Media Corp. and Elliott Management Corp., working with Hollywood financier Ryan Kavanaugh. Lions Gate may partner with One Equity Partners, the buyout arm of JPMorgan.

Brantley Partners has agreed to sell Best Brands, a Minnetonka, Minn.-based bakery manufacturer, to CSM. The deal is valued at $510 million in cash.

BSN Medical, a German bandage-maker owned by Montagu Private Equity, has retained Morgan Stanley to advise on a possible €2 billion floatation. A sale to strategic or financial players also remains possible.

Champ Private Equity, the Australian affiliate of Castle Harlan, is considering underwriters for an IPO of Manassen Foods. The floatation reportedly could raise more than A$400 million.

Douglas Dynamics Inc., a Milwaukee-based maker of snow plows and salt spreaders for light trucks, has filed for a $150 million IPO. It plans to trade on the NYSE, with Credit Suisse and Oppenheimer & Co. serving as co-lead underwriters. The company reported net sales of $125.2 million for the first three quarters of 2009, down 5.8 percent from the same period one year earlier. Shareholders include Aurora Capital Group (68.65 percent pre-IPO stake), Ares Corporate Opportunities (33.03 percent) and the GE Pension Trust (15.23 percent).

Flint, a German ink maker owned by CVC Capital Partners, is planning to go public later this year. The company reportedly has retained Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley as lead underwriters.

FT Group purchased Medley Global Advisors, a provider of macroeconomic intelligence to hedge funds and banks. Boston Ventures and Castanea Partners acquired Medley Global Advisors (MGA), in partnership with existing management, in 2005.

Generac Holdings Inc., a Waukesha, Wis.-based maker of standby and portable generators, has increased the proposed size of its IPO from $300 million to $427.66 million. It still plans to trade on the NYSE under ticker symbol GNRC, with J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs serving as co-lead underwriters. CCMP Capital and Unitas Capital bought Generac for approximately $2 billion in late 2006.

Graham Packaging Co., a plastic container maker owned by The Blackstone Group, has set its IPO terms to 23.33 million common shares being offered at between $14 and $16 per share. It plans to trade on the NYSE under ticker symbol GRM, with Citi, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank Securities serving as co-lead underwriters.

Imperial Capital Group Inc., a boutique investment bank, postponed its initial public offering, an underwriter said, citing market conditions. It planned to use net proceeds from the IPO to buy partnership units from ICGI Holdings.

International Mining Machinery Holdings Ltd., a Chinese maker of coal-mining equipment, has raised HK$2.54 billion ($327 million) in a Hong Kong IPO. The stock was scheduled to begin trading on Feb 10. IMM was formed in 2006 by The Jordan Co., in order to acquire Jixi Coal Mining Machinery Co. and Jiamusi Coal Mining Machinery Co.

Istithmar, Dubai World’s investment arm, aims to sell port and shipping agent Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) for up to $700 million, and has drawn interest from private equity.

Lloyds Banking Group is in talks to sell a control stake in its Integrated Finance group to private equity firms, according to a U.K. press report. Possible suitors include 3i Group, Advent International and Coller Capital.

Medica, a French care homes operator backed by AXA Private Equity and BC Partners, priced its €275 million IPO at €13 per share. It had been seeking between €16 and €19 per share.

New Look, a U.K. budget fashion retailer owned by Apax Partners and Permira, launched its London IPO with a £650 million target.

Travelport, a New York-based travel services company owned by The Blackstone Group, has set its London IPO terms to between 382 million and 528 million shares being offered at between 210 pence and 290 pence. The deal would value Travelport at $3.13 billion, were it to price in the middle of its offering range.