Australia
Billabong turns to refinancing options as buyout talks falter
Embattled Australian surfwear company Billabong has discarded the possibility of a takeover by two PE-backed suitors and is now looking at asset sales and alternative means of refinancing its debt. The private equity firms involved in the bids – Altamont...
PE firms target SingTel’s Australian satellite unit
Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has put its Australian satellite unit up for sale, seeking at least A$2 billion ($1.9 billion), and a string of private equity firms and strategic investors are said to be chasing the asset.
End of an era as KKR sells Seven West
With KKR's exit from Seven West Media, the two investments that arguably defined Australia’s boom market of the mid-2000s have now entered the history books.
Silver lining: Investing in Asia's elderly
An established investment trend in developed markets, private equity players in emerging Asia are considering how they can best meet the needs of the region’s aging population
VC-backed companies lead the way in Australia R&D - study
Venture capital-backed companies in Australia spend an average 200 times more on R&D per employee than other businesses, according to a report by the Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (AVCAL).
PE-owned Australian power producer targets US debt issue – report
Alinta Energy, the Australian power producer controlled by TPG Capital, is said to be planning to raise at least $1 billion through a debt offering in the US. It joins a growing list of private equity-owned companies that are looking outside of Australia...
China's Cathay resumes pursuit of Discovery Metals
Chinese private equity firm Cathay Fortune Corporation (CFC) has made a renewed takeover bid for Australia-listed mining company Discovery Metals. The offer is the latest development in ongoing spat between CFC and Discovery Metals, whose principal asset...
AMCG invests $30m in Chevalier for Moraitis acquisition
Asia Mezzanine Capital Group (AMCG) has invested in $30 million in Chevalier International Holdings, aiding its acquisition of Australia's Moraitis, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler backed by Catalyst Investment Managers. AMCG provided the financing via...
KKR exits Australia's Seven West Media
KKR has exited its stake in Australia’s Seven West Media via the public market, raising around A$265 million ($260 million). The private equity firm invested in what was then Seven Media Group in 2006 at the height of the buyout boom, before merging...
Quantum seeks to reclaim Intrepid Indonesian mine asset
Quantum Pacific Investment, the third-biggest shareholder in Australia's Intrepid Mines, is looking to recover some of the explorer's stake in a key Indonesian asset as it brings in a new leadership team.
Australia's Quadrant exits Virtus Health, Summerset
Quadrant Private Equity has exited its investment in fertility services provider Virtus Health via a A$339 million ($330 million) IPO, while making another partial exit from retirement village chain Summerset.
Palisade, Northleaf invest in Australian wind farm
Palisade Investment Partners and Northleaf Capital Partners have refinanced and bought a 75% interest in an Australian wind farm from EnergyAustralia, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed CLP Holdings. The seller will realize proceeds of A$228 million ($228...
SCPE invests $75m in Asian gas project developer
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has invested $75 million in Asia Pacific gas specialist Energy World Corporation (EWC) through a corporate exchangeable bond issue. The capital will be used to support liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in the...
Gresham-owned mining contractor refinances $485m in debt
Barminco Holdings, an Australian mining contractor owned by Gresham Private Equity, has refinanced its debt through a $485 million senior note offering. The offering was oversubscribed, allowing the company to upsize the Australian dollar value to take...
Bain-owned MYOB completes BankLink bolt-on
Bain Capital-owned accounting software firm MYOB has agreed to buy BankLink, an accounting services provider, from New Zealand-based Media Transfer Services. The private equity firm will contribute NZ$61 million ($50.6 million) in equity funding to support...
Carlyle pursues Rio Tinto's Australia mining asset - report
The Carlyle Group is said to have made an initial bid for Rio Tinto's 80% stake in an Australian copper-gold mine. KKR previously showed an interest in the Northparkes mine in New South Wales but didn't follow up with a bid.
PEP-owned Hoyts seeks US debt financing
Australian movie theater operator Hoyts Group, which is owned by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), is looking to raise $450 million in the US high-yield debt market. It is the latest in a string of Australian corporates to take advantage of strong liquidity...
Denham Capital invests $75m to join Australian wind power JV
US private equity firm Denham Capital will invest $75 million in a 1 gigawatt portfolio of Australian wind power projects. The projects are currently being developed by Enersis Australia, National Power and Kato Capital. Denham will join them to create...
Guinness Peat exits Australia’s Ridley Corp to PE buyer
Guinness Peat Group (GPG), an investment holding company with interests in Europe and Australia, has sold its 19.5% stake in Australian animal feed company Ridley Corp to a PE firm for A$54 million ($55 million).
Quadrant-backed Summerset eyes Australia listing
Summerset, a New Zealand care home operator backed by Quadrant Private Equity, is seeking to list on the Australian Securities Exchange in response to increased interest from local investors.
Citi bags Australian PE banker from UBS
Citigroup has hired leading Australian private equity banker Aiden Allen from UBS.
OneVentures leads $1.1m round for Australia mobile video spin-out
Australian venture capital group One Ventures has led a A$1.1 million ($1.1 million) round of seed investment in Incoming, a mobile video start-up spun out of NICTA, a government-funded information and communications technology research company.
Mercury takes 30% stake in Australia's Novotech
Mercury Capital has taken a 30% stake in Novotech, Australia's largest independent clinical trials provider, with a view to aiding its Asia-Pacific expansion. The amount invested was not disclosed.
Quadrant-backed Virtus Health launches IPO
Quadrant Private Equity-owned in-vitro fertilization (IVF) business Virtus Health launched its IPO road show on Monday. It is poised to be the largest equity offering since SCA Property in November last year and the biggest significant private equity-backed...