VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Cirque du Soleil is in advanced talks with two private equity consortia about selling a majority stake in what is the largest theatrical production company in the world, according to people familiar with the matter.

Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners will invest over $200 million for a stake in Chinese education company EIC Group. CVC will buy the stake from rival investment firm Actis Capital.

RAG Foundation chief Werner Mueller said the state-owned trust looks to reduce its stake in German chemicals and plastics manufacturer Evonik Industries to about 25%. RAG currently owns two thirds of Evonik.

London-based leveraged buyout firm CVC Capital Partners Ltd told investors it plans to exit its remaining stake in North American travel chain Pilot Travel Centers LLC.

Nine Entertainment Co., Australia's second-largest media company, seeks to raise AUD643 million (USD582 million) in its initial public offering. If successful, the deal could give Nine a market capitalization of AUD1.93 billion.

Resolution Ltd. is looking to sell its business unit Lombard located in Luxembourg. However, terms of the deal were unknown as talks on the sale of Lombard are still in a preliminary stage.

Chinese drug retailer Asia Health Century International, backed by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners Ltd, is planning a Hong Kong IPO of up to $300 million next month, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.