Lawrence Aragon

Jeweler John Hardy is attracting bid interest from a string of U.S. private equity firms, sources close to the matter said, the latest potential deal in a sector outpacing the broader luxury industry thanks in part to financially independent Asian women, sister news service Reuters reported.

British media and education group Pearson said it has sold its M&A-focused Mergermarket news service for 382 million pounds ($624 million) to funds advised by private equity group BC Partners, sister news service Reuters reported.

Industrial conglomerate Danaher Corp and private equity firm Blackstone Group LP are pursuing a joint bid for chemicals manufacturer Ashland Inc’s water technologies unit, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, in a deal that could top $1.5 billion, sister news service Reuters reported.

Struggling teen clothing retailer Aeropostale Inc, which has shareholders including private equity firms Crescendo Partners and Sycamore Partners Management, has adopted a poison pill that would be triggered if a stockholder buys 10 percent of the company, sister news service Reuters reported.

Private equity firm Sycamore Partners LLC is in advanced talks to acquire apparel retailer Jones Group Inc and is working toward a deal in the next few weeks, according to sources familiar with the process, sister news service Reuters reported.

Buyout firms Apollo Global Management LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP are interested in buying hospital operator Capella Healthcare from its private equity owner, according to several people familiar with the matter, sister news service Reuters reported.

TPG Capital and Abraaj Group have teamed up to compete against KKR & Co as the private equity firms eye a majority stake in Saudi Arabian fast-food chain Kudu, three banking and industry sources told sister news service Reuters.

Private equity firms are circling UK mutual The Co-operative Group, hoping the food-to-funerals group will be forced into selling off parts of its business as it battles to contain a scandal engulfing its banking arm, sister news service Reuters reported.

Carlyle Group LP and a consortium of Danaher Corp and Blackstone Group LP have advanced to the final stage of negotiations for Johnson & Johnson’s diagnostics unit, according to people familiar with the matter, sister news service Reuters reported.

Private equity firm Roark Capital Group has clinched a deal to acquire Apollo Global Management-based restaurant group CKE Inc, the parent of the Hardees and Carl’s Jr fast food chains, sister news service Reuters reported.