CAPITAL MARKETS - Asya Up as Buyout Firm Said to Be Near Deal on Part-Owned Stores

www.bloomberg.com - Asya Katilim Bankasi AS (ASYAB), an Islamic bank that’s part-owner of a grocery chain, gained for the first day in three after a U.S. buyout firm was said to be close to acquiring a stake in the retailer.

Asya shares rallied 1.6 percent to 1.96 liras at 5:08 p.m. in Istanbul. The deal values A101 Yeni Magazacilik AS at 900 million liras ($505 million), three people with knowledge of the matter said.

Capital Group International is nearing an agreement to buy 35 percent of A101, the people said. The retail chain has 1,075 stores in Turkey and is majority owned by the Aydin family. Asya has a 22 percent stake in the company, the people said. (source)

FINANCE - Turkish Retailer A101 Set To Clinch Sale To Private Equity - Sources

www.nasdaq.com - LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Turkish retailer A101 Yeni Magazacilik AS is set to clinch a sale to private equity highlighting a continued interest in the country's retail sector, people familiar with the situation told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.
Capital Group is frontrunner for the business which has attracted several other buyout firms including TPG, Investcorp and Permira, one person said. (source)

BANKING - 7 bids for retailer 101 - Bank Asya planning to sell participation

JUST-FOOD.COM - Turkish discount retailer A101 has reportedly attracted seven bids in the first round of an auction.

TPG and Permira are among the private-equity firms that submitted bids by the deadline ten days ago, alongside several trade buyers, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

A101 has been valued at between TRY800m (US$448m) and TRY1bn. Next-round bids are due at the end of the month, the news agency said. (source)