VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Hong Kong-based Shuanghui International Holdings intends to offer a counter bid for Spanish meat processor Campofrio. Mexican food company Sigma Alimentos earlier offered Campofrio a takeover deal worth EUR695 million.

On Wednesday, sources disclosed that the board of directors of Spanish oil major Repsol will resolve to agree on compensation for its 51% ownership stake in YPF, of which the latter will be nationalized by the government of Argentina.

Spanish bank Banco Popular announced the sale of its property management units to US-based investment companies Varde Partners and Kennedy Wilson for an undisclosed amount.

The Wall Street Journal said private equity firms may soon be returning to Spain and Italy. The report cited data from Preqin and the information presented given by several sources.

Japan's Fast Retailing Co. is planning a secondary public offering in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange next year. If successful, the Tokyo-listed retail holding company would become the third Japanese company to list in Hong Kong.

Spanish multinational oil firm CEPSA bought Canadian Coastal Energy Co. for CAD2.3 billion (USD2.21 million) including debt. CEPSA will pay CAD19 per Coastal Energy share in cash.

Spain's largest media firm Promotora de Informaciones or Prisa was close to reaching a refinancing agreement with its creditors for its EUR more than 3 billion debt, sources told Bloomberg.

American investment firm Apollo Global Management LLC raised USD3.9 billion to buy distressed European assets. Specifically, the private equity firm is hunting for hotels and resorts in Spain.

Mexico-based food conglomerate Sigma Alimentos announced it plan to take over Spain's meat processing company Campofrio after it agreed to buy 40% of of the Spanish company from its current shareholders.

London-based Armajaro Holdings Ltd sold its coffee, cocoa, and sugar trading arm to Swiss agricultural trader Ecom Agroindustrial Corp Ltd after reporting a loss of USD7.5 million.

Basel-based Novartis AG sold its California blood unit to Spain's Grifol's SA for USD1.68 billion.

Some say the Euro is overvalued while others claim it is not.

In a move to comply with local regulations as well as economic slowdown in China, BBVA would be able to sell off some of its shares in CITIC.

After its review under the Global Financial Stability Report study, Italy, Spain and Portugal stand to be financially distressed because of their exposure to possible loan defaults from corporations.

Spain's Bankia had been in exclusive discussions with brokerage GVC to sell its own brokerage unit valued between EUR20 million and EUR40 million, said sources.