A private investment fund linked to billionaire investor George Soros has appeared on the register of Guinness Peat Group, which is winding down its portfolio of assets to return funds to shareholders.
Quantum Strategic Partners, a fund managed by Soros Fund Management, has raised its stake in GPG to 7.9 per cent, GPG said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange.
The existence of the Soros fund as a GPG shareholder had not previously been disclosed.
Quantum is described as focusing on "capital-intensive start-ups, buyouts, and growth equity transactions and seeks to acquire world-class assets that can generate strong and growing cash flows".
The move comes as former GPG director Gary Weiss mounts a hostile takeover bid for the financial services company, ClearView Wealth, in which GPG holds a 48 per cent stake.
Earlier this week, ClearView directors urged shareholders to reject the $A220 million ($NZ284.3m) offer from buy-out firm Crescent Capital Partners, who plan to install Dr Weiss as ClearView's chairman, if successful.
It also follows a notification from GPG on Thursday that Hong Kong investor Tan Chin Tuan Pte had sold its 5.4 per cent stake in GPG.
GPG has been in the process of selling assets and returning capital to shareholders, with its primary remaining asset being the global thread-maker, Coats.
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