Apax Partners has agreed to acquire the Cole Haan handbag and shoe brand from Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE), for $570 million. The deal is expected to close early next year. Rival bidders reportedly had included Berkshire Partners and TPG Capital. www.apax.com
Billabong (ASX: BBG) said that director Paul Naude would temporarily step down from its board of directors, as he considers a leveraged buyout of the Australian surfwear company. Naude currently manages Billabong’s North American business. It is unclear if he would try to work with either Bain Capital or TPG Capital – two private equity firms that had previously expressed interest in Billabong before abandoning the process. www.billabong.com
Golden Gate Capital has agreed to acquire Ex Libris Global Holdings, a Jerusalem-based provider of library automation solutions, from Leeds Equity Partners. No financial terms were disclosed.www.exlibris.co.il
Lloyds Banking Group has agreed to sell its portfolio of Irish commercial real estate loans to Apollo Global Management for £149 million in cash. www.agm.com
Terra Firma Capital Partners is in talks to acquire Annington Homes, manager of more than 50,000 British army houses, from Nomura for approximately £3.5 billion, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Terra Firma boss Guy Hands used to work at Nomura, and was responsible for its 1996 purchase of Annington Homes. www.terrafirma.com
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