VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. is reportedly looking to sell its asset management business Russell Investments, citing that it is not a core part of its business. Russell Investments has $247 billion in assets under management.

Japan-based food and beverage giant Kirin Holdings Ltd has no plans to sell its 9.99% holding in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Ltd to Canadian firm Saputo Inc as it wants to secure a cheese supply agreement with the latter.

Health insurer WellPoint Inc. on Tuesday announced that it would sell its online contact lens business 1-800 Contacts to private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners for an undisclosed sum. WellPoint bought 1-800 Contacts for about $900 million.

Bourbon, a Paris-based operator of supply and crew ships for the oil industry, sold a dozen vessels to China's ICBC Financial Leasing as part of its plan to make a dent on its debt, Bloomberg reported.

Denmark-based oil and shipping conglomerate AP Moeller Maersk AS said it will reduce its ownership in Dansk Supermarked and F. Salling in a deal that will generate proceeds of about DKK17 billion.

The government of India has cancelled its plan to divest a 5% stake in state-owned miner Coal India Ltd due to persistent opposition from trade unions, according to a finance ministry official.

Japan-based trading house Marubeni Corp sold its 30% interest in Australia-based Milmerran Power Station to a buyer in South Korea for under A$200 million ($179 million), according to a source familiar with the deal.

Petroleum companies Royal Dutch Shell and BP are reportedly looking to sell its oil refineries and petrol stations in Australia to generate cash for their energy production business segments. Chevron Corp. reportedly may follow suit and exit its service stations in the country.

World food giant Nestle has sold its US frozen pasta business Joseph's Pasta Co. to private equity firm Brynwood Partners VII. Nestle acquired the Haverhill, Massachusetts pasta marker in 2006.

London, UK-based private equity group Arle Capital Partners is planning either an exit or a listing of its British oil services company Expro this year, according to a report citing inside sources.

Sharp Corp President Kozo Takahashi said the Japanese company intends to sell plants and stock holdings as it extends the reforms it had started in 2013, Bloomberg reported.

Arseus, a Belgium-based healthcare group, said it has sold its Dentals software Julie, Arseus Dental Lab, Arseus Dental Solutions Benelux and Arseus Dental Solutions France Ouest to Henry Schein Inc for €50 million.

United Dairy Power, the biggest privately owned milk supplier in Australia, is looking to dispose a stake in the firm to an Australian diary investor for an undisclosed sum.

Commerzbank is anticipating opportunities to expand its wealth management business after Swiss Credit Suisse Group sold its private bank in Germany to Bethmann Bank last month.

A Mississippi bankruptcy judge on Friday approved the sale of bankrupt car rental company Advantage Rent A Car to Canadian private equity firm Catalyst Capital Group.