BOSTON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German minerals miner K+S (SDFGn.DE) has shortlisted hedge fund billionaire James Simons’ family office as well as private equity firms for a sale of its $2 billion Morton Salt business, people familiar with the matter said. K+S’s salt business, the world’s largest salt supplier and owner of the Morton Salt brand, was put up for sale as part of efforts by the German company to reduce debt that had soared after an investment in a new potash mine in Canada. Meritage...

(Reuters) - Airbnb Inc’s new $1 billion investment from private equity firms Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners has terms that imply a reduced valuation of the home rental company, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Silver Lake and Sixth Street received warrants that can be exercised at an $18 billion valuation, below the $26 billion Airbnb was valued in early March in its internal valuation, one source said. The deal was seen as a sign of investor support as the coronavirus...

BERLIN (Reuters) - Leveraged buyouts are the priciest they have been at anytime since the 2007-2008 financial crisis, but private equity firms are not sitting on the sidelines. Some of the private equity sector’s top executives told the industry’s annual get-together on Tuesday that they still found attractive deals to pull the trigger on, even as acquisition prices remained at record highs. “There are always pockets of opportunity,” Prakash Melwani, Blackstone Group LP’s (BX.N) chief...

(Reuters) - Private equity firm HGGC LLC has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in HelpSystems, valuing the U.S. information technology management software company at more than $1.2 billion, including debt, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal, which is expected to be announced later on Monday, is the latest example of the private equity sector’s appetite for U.S. business software companies with predictable maintenance and subscription revenue and a loyal client...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ares Management LP (ARES.N) said on Thursday it would convert its structure from a publicly listed partnership into a corporation, the first private equity firm to decide such a move following the enactment of U.S. tax reform. The switch will expand the potential shareholder base of Ares, because it will allow index funds that were previously restricted from owning its stock because of tax considerations to now do so. Ares is hoping this will boost its valuation. Ares’...