Safran SA (ENXTPA:SAF) could make a decision on the potential sale of its Morpho biometrics and security business for more than 2 billion by the end of September 2016, a person close to the process said on September 14, 2016. Safran expects to receive offers from five shortlisted bidders by September 15, 2016. Chief Executive Officer Philippe Petitcolin said in June 2016 that a buyer could be identified by the end of the year, but the company is preparing for a quick decision, the source said.
"Everything is happening so that it can be done by the end of this month," the person said, asking not to be identified. The shortlist of bidders is believed to include Oberthur Technologies AB and Gemalto AB as well as three funds: Bain Capital Private Equity, LP, CVC Capital Partners Asia and KKR Income Opportunities Fund (NYSE:KIO). In an earlier round, all five made indicative offers over 2 billion, a person familiar with the sale said in June 2016.
KKR Income Opportunities Fund (Fund) is diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fundâs primary investment objective is to seek a high level of current income with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by employing a dynamic strategy of investing in a targeted portfolio of loans and fixed-income instruments of U.S. and foreign issuers and implementing hedging strategies in order to achieve attractive risk adjusted returns. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its managed assets in loans and fixed-income instruments or other instruments, including derivative instruments, with similar economic characteristics. The Fund seeks to invest primarily in first and second lien secured loans, unsecured loans, and high-yield corporate debt instruments of varying maturities. KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC serves as the investment adviser of the Fund.